Nancy Vargas - Treasurer

Nancy Vargas is originally from Cherry Hill, NJ, and has been in the Tampa Bay area since January 1998. She has been in the hotel and hospitality since she moved to the area and has a background in operations, food & beverage, catering events, and sales. Currently, she is Dual Sales Manager for SpringHill Suites/ Residence Inn on Clearwater Beach and is happy to be working on her favorite beach everyday. Residing in Tampa, with her husband and cats, she enjoys traveling to new destinations, a great concert, or working on a project around her home.

Melissa Mabe – Board Member Advisor

Melissa is the President of Melrose Enterprises, a DMC and full service event planning company. Her event career began in Tampa over 30 years ago and she has planned and managed a wide variety of corporate and non-profit events, festivals and fundraisers. Her Bachelor's degree in Marketing has served her well as she also promotes many of the events she plans. In addition to Women in Tourism, she is a member of Meeting Planners International (MPI), Visit Tampa Bay, Visit St. Pete Clearwater, RGA Network, and Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce. Formerly from New Jersey, Melissa now lives in Tampa with her wonderful husband and their menagerie of animals.

Aimie Johnson - Board Member Advisor

Aimie Johnson has over 15 years’ of sales and marketing experience in the travel and tourism industry, primarily with global tour operators and suppliers. In 2017, Aimie moved from Denver, Colorado returning to the Gulf Coast of her childhood to begin working at The Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa-- a mission-based attraction focused on education, animal care and fun! Within two years, Aimie grew revenue by 98% with tourism and group partners.

A passionate learner and traveler, favorite places include Egypt, Greece, South Africa, Switzerland, and Spain where of course she visited L’Aquàrium Barcelona!

Theresa Crane - President

Theresa is a senior account executive for Duke Energy handling the hospitality industry and municipalities and many other large Duke commercial accounts.. Theresa acquired her passion for tourism during her 16 year tenure at Anheuser Busch Theme Parks. Along with serving on the board for Tampa Bay Women in Tourism, Theresa serves as a board member for the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber as well as Empath Health's Hospice, co-founded the Bay Area Concierge Association and served for over 10 years on the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Board. Theresa is a seasoned veteran in the Florida tourism industry.

Cynthia Dominick - Information Technology and Social Media

Cynthia moved to the Tampa Bay area from Chicago in 2005 to escape the harsh winters.  She has been in the hotel and hospitality industry for over 25 years. She is currently the Director of Sales for the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tampa Northwest-Oldsmar.  She has also worked as a Special Event Producer, Assistant Marketing Director and holds an Associate’s Degree in Tourism and Travel Services Management from the College of DuPage. Cynthia lives in Safety Harbor where she enjoys ghost hunting and fishing.

Stacey Reed Cash - Programs
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Stacey is currently the Director, Special Events and Programs for AMPLIFY Clearwater.
She is passionate about event planning and uses her knowledge of event planning to
develop, coordinate, and manage meetings, network meetings, teambuilding events, private
parties, trade shows, conferences and corporate events.  She is a native Floridian who
loves the beaches and the Florida sunshine. Stacey is currently a member of Tampa Bay
Meetings Professional International (MPI) and Association of Administrative Professionals
(IAAP). She is married and has three boys..
 

Peggy J. Gourley – Board Member Advisor

Peggy is a fourth generation native of Florida and has been involved in the Tourism Industry since 1988. Starting at the Peabody Orlando as a Reservationist, she worked her way up to be a Concierge on the Club Floor. While there she was able to interact with many Hollywood celebrities. After moving to Pasco County, Pinellas County Convention and Visitors Bureau, now Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, recruited her.  Peggy started in the Convention Services Department then moved to the Public Relations Department where she became an active member of Women in Tourism before she retired. Peggy is currently a Board Member Advisor. 

Helen Hilton Donelson – Past President Emeritus 
Helen is a founding member of Women in Tourism. She was successful in initiating a women executive’s group in the International Tourism Association and worked with local businesses to establish a Pinellas women's chapter which is now called Women in Tourism which she started in 1986 while she was President/Executive director of Discover Florida’s Suncoast, Inc. Helen retired from the American Red Cross as a manager in 2001. She now enjoys her retirement and playing golf (not very good), learning how to play pickleball, and enjoying lunches with her granddaughters. Helen also volunteers for My Hope Chest and the association where she lives.

Missy Hahn - Past President 

Missy has brought her enthusiasm and expertise to every facet of the industry that she knows is so integral to Florida’s economy. With more than two decades of operational and management experience in the tourism business, Missy has built a reputation as an effective sales and marketing resource and as a proud champion of the volunteer causes and councils that are at the foundation of the industry. 

Board Members

Tina Morrison – Board Member Advisor

Tina Morrison was transplanted to Pinellas County when she was two yeas old and never left.  She attended USF in Tampa and received a bachelor’s degree in Advertising. After college Tina went to work as a graphic artist for a print house. After seven years of working in the business, she started her own business Advertising Concepts of Madeira, a promotional products company.  Tina married her sweetheart Tony and started a family. Tina liked the freedom of raising her family and working on her terms. Tina Morrison is the proud mom of three boys. Fast forward 26 years.  All her boys are grown up and Tina is still making sure that your business will stand out with promotional products

Nancy Jennings - Secretary 

Nancy Jennings has served in the hotel/tourism business for 20 years. She has taken on such roles as Catering Manager, Senior Sales Manager and Director of Sales in Tampa and Brandon. Originally from New Jersey, Nancy has lived in Tampa Bay since 1999 when she first went to college and then graduated from University of Tampa in 2003. Nancy loves hiking, traveling the world with her husband and spoiling their dog/fur-baby, Pete.