Leadership sets the pace for success.
The Tourism Authority Board of Directors set the policy and strategic direction of the Bureau. The Board of Directors consists of stakeholders within the community who come together to guide the Bureau in driving visitation to Cabarrus County to generate the maximum impact through hotel stays and visitor spending.
Duties
Board Members are required to attend 75% of the meetings annually, be willing to serve actively on committees as needed as well as in the bi-monthly meetings. Board Members are eligible to request for Appointment for an additional three-year term upon their initial term expiration. The Board is also required to abide by the bylaws and the conflict of interest policy set forth by the Bureau.
The Executive Committee consists of James Ross as Board Chair, Jonah Ritter as Treasurer and Lloyd Payne as Secretary.
| Nominated By Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners |
|
| Kelly Sifford Cabarrus County Seat Number 4 BOC Member or County Manager (At-Large) kfsifford@cabarruscounty.us |
Appointment: 10/20/25 (unexpired term) Term Expiring: 6/30/27 |
| Devante Watkins Hampton Inn & Suites Concord/Charlotte Seat Number 7 Hotelier (At-Large) devante.watkins@hilton.com |
Appointment: 3/20/23 (unexpired term) Term Expiring: 6/30/28 |
| Ian Patrick Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners Seat Number 1 At-Large iwpatrick@cabarruscounty.us |
Appointment: 7/21/26 Term Expiring: 6/30/29 |
| Nominated By Cabarrus County Tourism Authority | |
| Lloyd Payne – Secretary City of Concord Seat Number 5 At-Large paynel@concordnc.gov |
Appointment: 6/17/24 Term Expiring: 6/30/27 |
| Jonah Ritter – Treasurer Embassy Suites Seat Number 8 Hotelier jonah.ritter@atriumhospitality.com |
Appointment: 1/20/26 (unexpired term) Term Expiring: 6/30/28 |
| Matt Long Charlotte Motor Speedway Seat Number 2 Tourism Activist mlong@charlottemotorspeedway.com |
Appointment: 7/21/25 (unexpired term) Term Expiring: 6/30/26 Reappointment: 6/15/26 Term Ending: 6/30/29 |
| Kenny Robinson Cabarrus Arena & Events Center Seat Number 10 Tourism Activist klrobinson@cabarrusarena.com |
Appointment: 7/21/26 Term Expiring: 06/30/29 |
| Vinay Patel SREE Hotels Seat Number 11 Hotelier vinay.patel@sree.com |
Appointment: 6/21/21 Effective: 7/1/21 Term Expiring: 6/30/24 Reappointment: 6/17/24 Term Ending: 6/30/27 |
| Jennifer Teague Town of Harrisburg Seat Number 12 At-Large jteague@harrisburgnc.org |
Appointment: 7/21/25 Term Expiring: 6/30/28 |
| Nominated by the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce | |
| Melissa Ewart Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte/Concord Seat Number 6 Hotelier melissa.ewert@hilton.com |
Appointment: 6/17/24 Term Expiring: 6/30/27 |
| James Ross – Chair Concord Mills Seat Number 9 At-Large jross@simon.com |
Appointment: 11/21/22 (unexpired term) Term Expiring: 6/30/28 |
| Alison Paladino The Chamber Seat Number 3 At-Large apaladino@cabarrus.biz |
Appointment: 6/19/23 Term Expiring: 6/30/26 Reappointment: 6/15/26 Term Ending: 6/30/29 |