Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy Participants Embark on Experiences of a Lifetime

ORLA Announces Inaugural Participants for New Experiential Learning Program

Wilsonville, OR – The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is excited to announce the 2020 participants for the inaugural Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy (OTLA). Participants begin their first multi-day program experience in Central Oregon, July 22-24. Recruits will go beyond the walls of their businesses to gain in-depth experiences and knowledge that will elevate their passion and excitement for our state’s extraordinary offerings. 

“We believe we are embarking on a leadership experience which will prove to be transformative for program participants,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “The academy will bring lasting personal and professional benefits to those who participate.” 

Developed in partnership with Travel Oregon and the Oregon Destination Association, this new experiential learning program is targeted to tourism professionals seeking to polish their leadership and professional skills and make positive and lasting contributions to the state’s tourism economy. An advisory committee of tourism industry representatives helped shape the development of the program through a shared vision of cultivating stronger champions for Oregon's tourism industry. The program consists of four multi-day excursions to be completed over the course of a year. The 2020 program will take place in Central Oregon, Southern Oregon, the North Oregon Coast and the Willamette Valley in the Spring of 2021. Experiences for the second-year class starting in the Summer of 2021 will include visits to Eastern Oregon, the Columbia Gorge, Portland Region, and Oregon’s Mid-Coast Range.

ORLA has been intentional in its pursuit of activating industry champions and the OTLA program supports that goal. The academy provides a compounding benefit of bringing people together for learning through experiences and empowering them to make lasting contributions to Oregon’s tourism and hospitality industries. Participants will create lifelong relationships and networking pathways through their connections.

Participants of the 2020 Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy:

• Heather Anderson, Tourism Professional
• Justin Aufdermauer, Tillamook Chamber of Commerce
• Mackenzie Ballard, Visit Central Oregon
• Ashley Cates, Travel Medford
• Kristen Dollarhide, Travel Pendleton
• Terri Ferguson, Escape Lodging LLC
• Beverly Garcia, FivePine Lodge
• Ken Henson, Pelican Brewing/Kiwanda Hospitality
• Calvin LeSueur, City of Canby
• Matt Maletis, The M. Maletis Co., OLCC
• Wela Negelspach, Columbia County Economic Team
• Samara Phelps, Clackamas County Tourism
• Wendy Popkin, Oregon Hospitality Foundation 
• Arica Sears, Oregon Coast Visitors Association
• Dawnielle Tehama, Willamette Valley Visitors Association
• Liz Wan, VinoVerse Consultants
  
• Matthew Weintraub, City of Oregon City

For more information on the Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy, visit OregonRLA.org/OTLA.

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The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which is comprised of over 10,220 foodservice locations and 2,000 lodging establishments with a workforce of 183,191, and a total economic impact of $13.8 billion in annual sales for Oregon. 

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