Staff

Flagstaff CVB

Trace Ward

CVB Director · (928) 213-2921
tward@flagstaffaz.gov

As the Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau Director, Trace Ward brings more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality/destination marketing arena. His career includes senior-level sales & marketing positions with iconic brands such as Starwood, Hilton and Marriott. In his previous position he led the team as the Interim Executive Director for Experience Kissimmee, the convention and visitors bureau for Osceola County, FL. Ward enjoys working with the industry partners and community in which he serves to bring about positive change. A native of Omaha, Neb., Ward received a degree in business management from Bellevue University, has earned certificates of sales training from Starwood, Marriott and Hilton, as well as has earned his Certified Destination Marketing Executive (CDME) degree from DMAI. When he is not spending time strategizing on tourism development, Ward can be found playing tennis, hiking, skiing, traveling to new and exciting places or spending time with some of his 30 nieces and nephews. He is the youngest of fifteen siblings.

Carrie Nelson
Administrative Specialist · (928) 213-2919
cnelson@flagstaffaz.gov

Carrie is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operations of the Flagstaff CVB office and making sure that everything runs smoothly. Prior to joining the CVB, she worked in Human Resources for the City of Flagstaff. In her free time, Carrie loves hanging out in downtown Flagstaff, visiting the unique shops and restaurants. During the summer, she loves taking her kids to Movies in the Square in Heritage Square. Please contact Carrie if you need Visitor Guides, Calendars of Events, or other brochures to have on hand at your business. You can also contact her if you’d like to list your business in the Visitor Guide or on the web site, or if you have a listing for the Calendar of Events.

Cherri Lamont
Global Travel Trade Manager · (928) 213-2915
clamont@flagstaffaz.gov

Cherri joined the team in January 2018, and brings years of travel industry experience to the CVB. She started her resort career in Orlando, Florida at Vistana Resort, then accepted a promotion as Director of Travel Industry Sales with Marquis Hotels & Resorts in Ft. Myers. However, Arizona came calling, and she moved to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area working in the hotel industry for the next couple of decades, opening The Phoenician in 1988, and directing leisure sales and marketing efforts for the Pointe South Mountain Resort, Royal Palms Resort & Spa, Arizona Biltmore, and then remotely for The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. After ten years with Marriott International, on-property and in regional sales, Cherri moved to the Tourism Bureau side with Visit Mesa. When not traveling, she spends time in the outdoors with her husband, Jim and two Golden Retrievers, Wrigley and Mickey.

Lori Pappas
Marketing & Media Relations Manager · (928) 213-2916
lpappas@flagstaffaz.gov

With more than 20 years of strategic marketing experience throughout Arizona, Flagstaff resident Lori Pappas is a marketing professional with a track record of achievement in media and branding disciplines, advertising, communications and public relations. She has worked in a wide variety of professional capacities in both private and public sectors, and is a graduate of Northern Arizona University. Lori has managed and executed award-winning strategic programs with companies including Suddenlink, Westcor and Flagstaff Mall, and The Pointe Resorts. Professional, civic and social responsibilities have included multiple terms as a Flagstaff Tourism Commissioner, serving as a Greater Flagstaff Chamber Ambassador, Big Brothers Big Sisters board member and was instrumental in developing the local Teachers Supply Drive.

Jessica Young
Sales & Marketing Manager · (928) 213-2920
Twitter
jyoung@flagstaffaz.gov

Jessica recently joined the Flagstaff CVB in July of 2014 and specializes in conference and event sales. She is responsible for promoting Flagstaff as a meetings destination, specifically working with planners that represent associations, corporations and government entities. In addition, she responds to inquiries for social events, sports programs, weddings and reunions. To do this she builds and maintains relationships in the community to provide resources and guidance to planners, attends trade shows, coordinates sales missions and hosts site visits. Jessica is a native of Flagstaff and graduate from Northern Arizona University School of Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Meg Roederer
Communications Specialist · (928) 213-2924
mroederer@flagstaffaz.gov

Meg has more than 20 years of extensive experience in the communications field with a background that includes work as the City of Flagstaff Interim Communications Manager, CVB Public Relations Manager, co-owner/founder of downtown business Arizona Music Pro, as well as the Executive Assistant to the Flagstaff Mayor and Council. Meg graduated in 1992 from of Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. She has worked for the City of Flagstaff for more than 16 years and recently completed her role as the City of Flagstaff Interim Communications Manager. Examples of her skills are media and film relations, website management, council relations, constituent services, social media, photography, community outreach, special events, special projects, budgeting and strategic planning. She has established relationships with community partners including Northern Arizona University, Coconino County Community College, Flagstaff Unified School District, and Coconino County. She understands the complexities of communicating compelling messages on a variety of communication platforms. Meg is extremely excited to return to the tourism industry and join the Convention and Visitors Bureau team as the Communications Specialist.

Ralph Schmid
Creative Services Manager · 928-213-2925
rschmid@flagstaffaz.gov

Ralph Schmid joined the CVB team in the newly created position of Creative Services Lead Worker earlier this year. In this role Ralph coordinates CVB creative services production schedules and develops marketing and promotional collateral. Ralph was previously the Art Director for the Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff Live and Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine and received his BFA from the Laguna College of Art and Design. Born and raised in Switzerland, Ralph has lived in the United States for 20 years with the last 13 years in Flagstaff.

Jennifer Schaber
Creative Services Specialist, Advertising Creative & Print · (928) 213-2917
jschaber@flagstaffaz.gov

Jennifer is a graphic designer and part of the Marketing and Creative Services team, where she designs print and online creative for the CVB’s advertising campaigns, the Flagstaff Visitor Guide, marketing collateral, and oversees CVB branding and photography. Prior to joining the CVB, Jennifer worked as an art director, designer, book designer and illustrator at advertising agencies in Arizona and Colorado. Her 27-year experience includes advertising campaigns for national restaurant and hotel chains, corporate identity, zoological illustration and interpretive signage, book design, website design, and more recently, as part-time faculty at her alma mater, NAU. Raised in Flagstaff, Jennifer’s favorite things about living here include hiking area trails, First Friday ArtWalk, local musicians, dog parks and backyard chickens. Please contact Jennifer with questions about Visitor Guide submissions, photography and logo requests.

Michael Russell
Creative Services Specialist, Web & Social Media · (928) 213-2918
Facebook
Twitter
mrussell@flagstaffaz.gov

Michael is a Creative Service Specialist for the Marketing and Publications team of the Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau where he oversees the content of flagstaffarizona.com, the weekly production of Flagstaff Happenings and is a team contributor to the visual content of the CVB’s branding as well as social media. Prior to joining the CVB, Michael worked as a graphic designer in publishing, printing and public relations agencies, including owning his own freelance business. Locally Michael serves as the president of the Flagstaff Communicators and among the social media communities he enjoys tweeting, sharing photos on Instagram, and geocaching. A Flagstaff native and NAU graduate, Michael’s appreciation for Flagstaff grows every day as he watches his family grow up in his hometown. Please contact Michael for entries into Flagstaff Happenings, Calendar of Events listings, as well as any web site-related questions.

Candace Schipper
Creative Services Specialist
cschipper@flagstaffaz.gov

Candace is a Creative Services Specialist for the marketing and creative services team where she creates print and online creative for the Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau. Prior to joining the CVB, Candace worked as the lead graphic artist at the Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff Live and Northern Arizona's Mountain Living Magazine and received her BFA from Northern Arizona University. She and her husband enjoy camping, motorcycling, and exploring Flagstaff and its surrounding areas.

FLAGSTAFF VISITOR CENTER

Jessica Lawrence
Visitor Center Manager · (928) 213-2955
jlawrence@flagstaffaz.gov

Jessica directs the day-to-day operations of the Flagstaff Visitor Center, ensuring that it is a comprehensive and information-rich resource for visitors to Flagstaff. Jessica has been a part of the Visitor Center team the past five years, four of which she oversaw gift shop operations. Born and raised in Flagstaff, Jessica received her B.S. from Northern Arizona University and even after growing up in the area she loves to discover new places to explore. She and her husband enjoy taking their son camping, hiking and rafting in the beautiful areas in and around Flagstaff. Please contact the Visitor Center if you have questions about operations or have information that you would like to disseminate to tourists.

Debbie Moore
Visitor Services Specialist - retail lead · (928) 213-2952
dmoore@flagstaffaz.gov

FLAGSTAFF VISITOR CENTER

One E. Route 66 • Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928) 213-2951 • (800) 379-0065
www.flagstaffarizona.org/plan-your-trip/visitor-center/
VisitorCenter@flagstaffaz.gov

CVB ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES

Mailing: 211 W. Aspen Ave. • Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Physical: 323 W. Aspen Ave. • Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928) 213-2910 • (800) 217-2367
CVB@flagstaffaz.gov