Board Members

---

Theresa is a retired 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. 

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. 

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 the Director of Sales for the Hiatus Clearwater Beach, Curio Collection by Hilton 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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

Cynthia is an accomplished professional with over 30 years of experience in the event and tourism industry. In 2005, she made the move from Chicago to the Tampa Bay area to escape the harsh winters. Currently, she is the Owner of Silent Slayer Ghost Tours. Throughout her career, Cynthia has also worked in various leadership positions such as Director of Sales, Special Event Producer, and Assistant Marketing Director.

Cynthia's academic qualifications include an Associate’s Degree in Tourism and Travel Services Management from the College of DuPage. With her wealth of experience and expertise in the event and tourism industry, Cynthia is a valuable asset to her current organizations and the wider community. 

Beth is a Travel and Tourism Management graduate who started her career in the travel industry working for a tour operator that represented the Caribbean Islands & Mexico.

Beth’s love for travel and exploring new destinations was immediate as well as the desire to learn as much as possible about the travel & tourism industry.  Following the time spent with the tour operator, Beth moved to the hotel industry and worked in the leisure group sales and reservations department and eventually segued into the retail travel agency environment. This led to the creation and establishment of Honeymoons & Beyond, a full-service travel agency.

Beth believes education is the key to a successful career in the Travel & Tourism Industry and is committed to our joint success by supporting mentorship programs and organizations such as The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), Engage Tourism and Women In Tourism.

Beth has several favorite destinations, but London, England is one of her best-loved places to visit. “Live, Travel, Adventure…”

With more than three decades of operational and  management experience in the tourism business, Missy (Pike) Hahn has built a reputation as an effective sales & marketing resource and as a proud champion of the volunteer causes and councils that are at the foundation of the industry. Missy’s official introduction to tourism began on an entrepreneurial note with a charter boat business she launched upon her relocation to Florida in 1988. While she enjoyed a successful career in healthcare management in her home state of Pennsylvania, she approached her new career with passion and purpose. From Charter Boat " Lucky Lady" to President of two local Chamber of Commerce, she loves the Hospitality industry. 

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.  

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.

Mary Frances, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, brings a diverse and dynamic background to her professional journey. While her career has not been rooted specifically in tourism, her extensive work experience across various fields has shaped her into a well-rounded and adaptable professional.

Mary Frances' career kicked off with a captivating role in the front office of the Baltimore Orioles providing her with invaluable insights into the world of sports and entertainment, honing her skills in communication and event management. She later transitioned to a position where she served as an integral part of the Convention Manager's team during the Republican National Convention and Presidential Inaugural Committee. This experience allowed her to work on high-profile, national-level events, further expanding her skill set in event coordination and logistics. Mary Frances then delved into the realm of Commercial Real Estate Development, where she gained a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of the real estate industry. 

In 2017, Mary Frances embarked on a new chapter in her life by relocating to Florida. She joined RGA Network, taking on the role of Community Coordinator. RGA is a prominent organization that plays a vital role in the tourism industry, collaborating with various entities such as SKAL and AMPLIFY Clearwater Chamber of Commerce. RGA's mission is to provide resources and support to tourists while bolstering local businesses, and Mary Frances' role is pivotal in achieving these objectives.

Outside of her professional life, Mary Frances is a loving wife who shares her adventures with her husband. Her passion for exploration leads her to new places and experiences, often exploring through biking and embracing tranquility through yoga. Her heart is filled with love for her fur baby, Freddie, who adds joy and companionship to her life.