Contact US

DMAP Accredited LogoThe team at Visit Lake Charles welcomes the opportunity to serve you. Please phone or e-mail one of our friendly staff listed below for more information on our area.

Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau 
1205 N. Lakeshore Drive
Lake Charles, LA 70601
337-436-9588
info@visitlakecharles.org

Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point and CVB Satellite Office
2740 Ruth Street
Sulphur, LA 70665
337-502-4358

Administration

Kyle_Edmiston

Kyle Edmiston, CDME President/CEO

Leads efforts to drive economic development through tourism for Calcasieu Parish, overseeing the organization’s sales, marketing, finance, and business operations

Operations

Shanna Landry

Shanna Landry, CDME Chief Operating Officer

Oversees administrative operations, board of directors’ management, and high-priority projects for the organization

Anne Klenke

Anne Klenke, CDME Vice President of Destination Development/Community Engagement

Collaborate/Facilitate projects that enhance local tourism economy

Heather Savoie

Heather Savoie, CDME Sr. Vice President of Finance

Oversee/Direct financial functions of business operations for VLC, Human Resources

Cindy Johnson web 2014

Cindy Johnson Director of Accounting

Accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing and asset management

Melissa Bertrand web 2014

Melissa Trahan Director of Visitor Experiences

Assist Visitors, Oversee Visitor Experience Operations, CRM Product Management

Kristen Shiver

Kristen Shiver Visitor Experience Manager

Assist Visitors, Process Inquiries, Gift Shop Operations

Sharon Ellender, Staff, Adventure Guide

Sharon Ellender Adventure Guide

Phone

337-502-4358

Assist Visitors, Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point Gift Shop

Brandi Smith, Staff, Adventure Guide

Brandi Smith Adventure Guide

Phone

337-502-4358

Assist Visitors, Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point Gift Shop

Sports

Eric Zartler

Eric Zartler, TMP, CDME Sr. Vice President of Sports

Manages/Oversees execution of vision & strategies of sports department, recruitment/procurement of sporting events to SWLA

Sam Moore VLC Staff Headshot

Sam Moore Director of Sports Relations

Cultivate relationships with tournament organizers, facility managers, community volunteers, and industry organizations for hosting sports events in SWLA.

Aubrey Caldwell Headshot

Aubrey Caldwell Sports Events Coordinator

Execution/coordination of large-scale sporting events, Meeting Max software

Sales

Taylor Beard

Taylor Beard Stanley, CHIA, TMP Vice President of Sales

Manages/Oversees execution of vision & strategies of sales department, Partner Extranet (Hotels), Corporate Meetings

Kaitlyn Gallegos

Kaitlyn Gallegos, MBA, TMP Director of Global Sales

International Tour Groups, Domestic Tour Groups, Foreign Individual Travelers (FIT)

emily treme director of association sales

Emily Treme Director of Association Sales

Association Meetings, Conventions, Tradeshows

Morgan Dodd Meeting Sales Manager

Morgan Dodd Meeting Sales Manager

Social, Military, Education, Religious, Fraternal Meetings

Madison Yates

Madison Yates Destination Services Specialist

Gumbeaux Gator, Spousal Tours, Welcome Bags, Destination SWLA Program

Marketing

Timothy Bush

Timothy Bush, CDME, TMP, CDTP Chief Marketing Officer

Leads the marketing and communications teams; responsible for advertising, communications, content, research, and data strategies

Colten Miller 2016

Colten Miller, MBA, TMP Sr. Director of Brand Marketing

Oversees brand marketing and positioning, as well as advertising budget, creatives designs and media production

Kathryn Duncan Headshot

Kathryn Shea Duncan, MBA Sr. Director of Social Media/Communications

Leads social media strategy and implementaion, photography, and oversees communications team in content creation, partner and stakeholder communications, and media relations

Candy Rodriguez

Candy Rodriguez Director of Communications

Leads communication efforts through local media relations, partner and stakeholder engagement, storytelling in printed and digital publications and media channels, and Just Imagine SWLA.

Brady Renard

Brady Renard Director of Content/Video Marketing

Generates video content to be utilized for marketing and social media & oversees the Louisiana’s Playground Podcast

Matt Young, Staff

Matt Young Director of Public Relations

Works with state, regional, national, and international media to generate positive editorial coverage of Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana

Toni Chapman, Destination Services Specialist

Toni Chapman Digital Content Manager

Manages digital marketing content strategies across advertising, website, and social media platforms to drive destination messaging

Board of Directors & Upcoming Meeting Dates