Santa Monica Travel & Tourism Announces Staff Promotions And 2021-2022 Board Executive Committee Appointments

SMTT Promotes Evan Edwards To Chief Operating Officer, Todd Mitsuhata To Director Of Global Business Development, And Rachel Lozano To Chief People Officer

SANTA MONICA, Calif., (July 28, 2021) – Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) announced the staff promotions of Evan Edwards to Chief Operating Officer, Todd Mitsuhata to Director of Global Business Development, and Rachel Lozano To Chief People Officer, positions within the Executive Leadership Team, effective immediately. Similarly, SMTT confirmed the new slate for the 2021-2022 Board Executive Committee including Albin Gielicz, Chair, Neil Carrey, Vice Chair, Jan Williamson, Secretary, and Younes Attallah, Treasurer.

Edwards joined SMTT in 2014, with her most recent post as Director of Operations. In her new role as Chief Operating Officer she will be responsible for managing the overall business operations strategy of SMTT in this crucial time for the organization’s growth and continued success. Edwards will also be in charge of guiding the workflow strategy and organization of all essential business processes for SMTT and Santa MoniCARES.

Mitsuhata ingressou na SMTT em 2016 como Gerente da Ásia-Pacífico e América Latina e, posteriormente, foi promovido ao seu cargo mais recente de Gerente Sênior de Desenvolvimento de Negócios Globais. Em sua nova função como Diretor de Desenvolvimento de Negócios Globais, Mitsuhata posicionará ainda mais a Santa Monica nos mercados internacionais neste período crítico de recuperação, aproveitando seu conhecimento e compreensão do setor global, sua experiência em primeira mão trabalhando com os principais varejistas e operadores de viagens, criando campanhas cooperativas com gigantes como a United Airlines e liderando o lançamento de ativações no mercado, como o Pier One no porto de Sydney, na Austrália.

Lozano joined SMTT part-time in 2007 as Project Manager and became full-time in 2015 as Director of Visitor Experience, and continues to grow in her leadership role and responsibilities. She was instrumental in the visitor services department growth, retail services and “I am Santa Monica” program. In her new role as the Chief People Officer, Lozano will lead the implementation and development of the Workforce Strategy and continue to oversee Visitor Services management for SMTT. The Chief People Officer develops, implements, and aligns Human Resource programs with business objectives and supports employees in their day-to-day Human Resource needs.

Leading the Board Executive Committee as Chairman is Santa Monica resident Albin Gielicz. He served as a member of the board of directors for the past seven years, previously in the role of Vice Chair. Gielicz is a marketing-business development generalist and sustainability advocate with substantial international experience in the U.S. and in emerging markets. He is a working member of the Montana Ave. merchants association and volunteers with the City of Santa Monica’s Community Working Group (CWG) whose charge is to perform a comprehensive review and to make suggestions and recommendations on the future of the City’s boards, commissions and task forces.

Neil Carrey, morador de Santa Monica e advogado da Baker & Hostetler, LLP, agora atua como vice-presidente do Comitê Executivo da Diretoria. Carrey tem quase 50 anos de experiência como advogado de impostos, negócios e organizações isentas, representando clientes de vários setores, inclusive organizações sem fins lucrativos. Sua experiência também inclui a atuação na Santa Monica Recreation and Parks Commission e na Police Activities League (PAL). Carrey ajudou a estabelecer o Chris Carrey PAL Education Fund, que oferece bolsas de estudo para despesas de educação pós-ensino médio para membros da PAL. Agora em seu 19º ano, mais de 116 bolsas de estudo, totalizando mais de $310.000, foram concedidas a jovens da PAL.

Jan Williamson, a member of the community since 1995, continues to serve as board Secretary. Under her leadership as Executive Director of the 18th Street Arts Center, the organization has evolved from a small, alternative artist-run space to Southern California’s largest artist residency center. 18th Street Arts Center provides a platform for diverse local and international artists who provoke public dialogue through their art making. During her tenure, the organization purchased 18th Street Arts Center’s 1.25-acre property and Williamson has been leading the planning and fundraising efforts for the renovation and redevelopment of the site. She holds a certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Younes Atallah atua como tesoureiro da diretoria. Atallah tem mais de 20 anos de experiência em liderança em hotelaria e supervisiona as operações gerais do Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, com 347 quartos, localizado a poucos passos da areia e do icônico Santa Monica Pier. Ele também dirige os restaurantes do hotel e seus 30.000 pés quadrados de espaço para eventos internos e externos. Anteriormente, Atallah trabalhou no Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts e no Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. Ele é especialista em oferecer serviços de luxo com foco no crescimento, em experiências positivas para hóspedes e membros da equipe e no lucro final.

“We are fortunate to have high-caliber individuals that are so well-qualified to assume such important roles within our Executive Leadership Team and are now poised to help accelerate our tourism recovery efforts locally and internationally,” said Misti Kerns, President/CEO of Santa Monica Travel & Tourism. “And to now lead our board with tourism expertise and professionalism are four incredibly gifted individuals to serve on the 2021-2022 Board Executive Committee. Combined, our new team and committee members will contribute strong leadership qualities and in-depth hospitality experience that will serve Santa Monica well in the current economic environment and for the long-term challenges of recovery and sustained growth.”

Sobre a Santa Monica Travel & Tourism
A Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) trabalha para fortalecer nossa economia local, aprimorando e promovendo nossas comunidades como um destino de viagem diferenciado, atraente e acolhedor. Para obter mais informações, acesse santamonica.com, e-mail info@santamonica.com, ou siga a SMTT no Instagram (@SeeSantaMonica), Twitter (@GoSantaMonica) ou Facebook (@VisitSantaMonica).