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.

Cabarrus County Tourism Authority Board
The Executive Committee consists of Greg Walter as Board Chair, Jay White as Treasurer and Steve Steinbacher as Secretary.

Nominated By Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners
Kenny Wortman
Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners
Seat Number 4
BOC Member or County Manager (At-Large)
kmwortman@cabarruscounty.us
Appointment: 6/17/24
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: 6/30/25
Mike Downs
Cabarrus County
Seat Number 1
At-Large
mkdowns@cabarruscounty.us
Appointment: 6/15/20
Term Expiring: 06/30/23
Reappointment: 06/16/23
Term Expiring: 06/30/26
Nominated By Cabarrus County Tourism Authority
Lloyd Payne 
City of Concord
Seat Number 5
At-Large
paynel@concordnc.gov
Appointment: 6/17/24
Term Expiring: 6/30/27
Angela Brown
Great Wolf Lodge
Seat Number 8
Hotelier
abrown@greatwolf.com
Appointment: 6/20/22
Term Expiring: 6/30/25
Greg Walter – Board Chair
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Seat Number 2
Tourism Activist
gwalter@charlottemotorspeedway.com
Appointment: 6/15/20
Term Expiring: 6/30/23
Reappointment: 6/19/23
Term Expiring: 6/30/26
Steve Steinbacher – Secretary
Cabarrus Brewing Company
Seat Number 10
Tourism Activist
steve@cabarrusbrewing.com
Appointment: 5/21/18
(unexpired term)
Reappointment: 6/15/20
Term Expiring: 6/30/23
Reappointment: 06/19/23
Term Expiring: 06/30/26
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
Jay White – Treasurer
Hartsell & Williams, P.A.
Seat Number 12
At-Large
jaywhite@hwpalaw.com
Appointment: 7/17/18
(unexpired term)
Reappointment: 6/17/19
Reappointment: 6/20/22
Term Expiring: 6/30/25
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
Concord Mills
Seat Number 9
At-Large
jross@simon.com
Appointment: 11/21/22
(unexpired term)
Term Expiring: 6/30/25
Alison Paladino
The Chamber
Seat Number 3
At-Large
apaladino@cabarrus.biz
Appointment: 6/19/23
Term Expiring: 6/30/26

Meet the Board

Get to know the local leaders who drive Cabarrus County’s hospitality industry!

Cabarrus County CVB President and CEO Donna Carpenter sits down with each Board Member to discuss topics such as what drives them, why tourism is critical to our local economy and what the future holds for our industry in the year ahead and beyond. Click on each Board Member’s name below to view the video.