CONTACT: Alana Cooper
318-387-5691
acooper@monroe-westmonroe.org

Alana Cooper elected as Chairman of Louisiana Travel Association’s board

New Orleans, La. (Jan 20, 2023) – Alana Cooper, President/CEO of Discover Monroe-West Monroe was installed as Chairman of the Louisiana Travel Association (LTA) Board of Directors at its annual meeting at The Higgins Hotel New Orleans.

“I am honored to be serving LTA and the more than 900 members the association represents throughout the state,” said Alana Cooper, LTA Chairman. “This organization has worked to lead and strengthen Louisiana’s tourism industry for 62 years, and I look forward to working with my fellow board members to keep the momentum going.”

New officers installed on the executive board committee include the following: Ralph Ney, with Baton Rouge Marriot, as vice chairman; Donna O’Daniels, with Louisiana’s Northshore, as treasurer; Nelson Gumm, with AJR Media Group, as secretary; and Kyle Edmiston, with Visit Lake Charles, as immediate past chair.

The executive board also includes representatives from each organization who join LTA as a Chairman’s Circle member: Visit Baton Rouge, Houma Area CVB, Lafayette CVC, Visit Lake Charles, Monroe-West Monroe CVB, New Orleans & Co., Louisiana Northshore, Shreveport-Bossier CTB and Tangipahoa Parish CVB.

New members on the board of directors are Stephen Hightower, with City Group Hospitality; Vimal “Ricky” Patel, with DIVI Hospitality; Adrienne Breaux, with Hyatt Centric French Quarter & The Eliza Jane; John Grubb, Cook Hotel & Conference Center; Jay Ducote, JDD Consulting LLC; and Scott Ballard, with Ballard Brands.

Returning members on the board of directors are Ralph Calhoun, with the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens; Cody Gray, with the Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou; Aaron Dirks, with Limousine Livery; Jeremy Cooker, with New Orleans & Company; Kevin Dolliole, with Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport; Joanna Folse-Alexander, with Sunrise Hospitality; Stephen Watson, with The National WWII Museum; Jady Regard, with Cane River Pecan Company; Morgan Moss, with The Myrtles Plantation; Mike Buckley, with the Golden Nugget Casino and Resort; Chris Landry, with LBA Hospitality; Jay Sharplin, with SharpCo Hotels; Stacy Brown, with Shreveport-Bossier CTB; Carla Tate, with Tangipahoa Parish CVB; Walt Leger, with New Orleans & Company; Jill Kidder, with Visit Baton Rouge; Sondra Corbitt, with Houma Area CVB; Ben Berthelot, with Lafayette CVC; Vito Zuppardo, with Miles Partnership; and Rebecca Blankenbaker, with Cane River National Heritage Area.

“Our executive committee and board of directors are responsible for helping us meet the needs of our members and making sure we accomplish our goals of providing educational and marketing opportunities while also advocating on the industry’s behalf,” said Kim Dodd Boasso, LTA president and CEO. “We are excited to be starting off another year with a great group of industry leaders that represent the entire state.”

Officers on the executive committee and members of the board of directors are elected during the annual meeting. Each year, the chairman of the board selects a nominating committee that is comprised of members who are not up for re-election and who are not seeking office. This committee is responsible for presenting a slate to the members of the association that recognizes all regions of the state and all segments of the tourism industry.

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About the Louisiana Travel Association:
LTA is a trade association leading and strengthening Louisiana’s vibrant tourism industry through promotion, education and advocacy on behalf of our members. Tourism generated $16.8 billion for Louisiana in 2021 and is the 5th highest employer in the state. For more information, visit LouisianaTravelAssociation.org.

About Discover Monroe-West Monroe:
Discover Monroe-West Monroe promotes Ouachita Parish as a destination for leisure travel, conventions, meetings, and sporting events creating a positive economic impact for our local community through increased visitor spending and sales tax collections. For more information about Discover Monroe-West Monroe, visit www.monroe-westmonroe.org.