Board of Directors
Meet the People Behind SITE Texas
Julie Blank, CRP, CITP – President
Director, Strategic Accounts – Brightspot Incentives and Events
Tel. 972-661-6042 | julie.blank@brightspot.email | Brightspot Incentives and Events
Julie embodies the saying “Not all Who Wander are Lost”. She is a 25 year veteran of the meeting and event industry, working the last 15 years at Brightspot Incentives and Events. She is currently the Director of Strategic Accounts, where she fulfills her passion of sharing the joy of travel with others, by helping her clients design and operate meetings and incentive travel programs around the globe. Prior to Brightspot, Julie worked for Warner Brothers Records. There she managed events and event marketing for big-name entertainers, which ignited her passion for creating engaging and exciting group experiences.
When not working, Julie loves spending time with her husband, 3 grown kids, 2 dogs, and a good glass of Italian wine.
Todd Zint, CMP, CMM, CITP – Immediate Past President
VP, Senior Director, Events – ACCESS Destination Services
Tel. 512-573-1154 | todd.zint@accessdmc.com | ACCESS Destination Services
Todd is the VP, Senior Director, Events for ACCESS Destination Services. Todd oversees the strategy and leadership for the Texas Events Team. Prior to joining ACCESS in 2018, he managed and led several corporate travel, incentives, and event teams mainly in the Insurance and Financial sector for over two decades.
Todd has also committed his time to volunteer for an industry that has given him so much by writing industry articles and participating in board-level assignments including the Incentive Research Foundation, SITE Texas and FICP, where he served as its national Chairman in 2011.
Alexa Kinney, CITP, CED – President-Elect
Senior Director – Lamont Associates
Cell 702-245-0785 | akinney@lamontco.com | Lamont Associates
Alexa is a Senior Director with Lamont Associates and has spent her 25 plus years succeeding in the hospitality industry in Account Development & Management, and has represented amazing brands such as Caesars Entertainment, Wynn and Encore Resorts, Hilton Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, Station Casinos and Coast Casinos. Alexa is passionate about being involved in the industry and giving back to the community which has given her so much. She has served on numerous industry committees and boards, and most recently Alexa has served on the SITE Texas Board of Directors as Director of Events (2020), and VP of Membership (2021-2022), and is thrilled to serve as SITE Texas President Elect for 2023!
After spending most of her career in Las Vegas and then New York, Alexa and her husband Greg relocated to Dallas Fort Worth area in 2019. They are proud parents of Kayla and Gregory, who are both keeping very busy finishing up their final year of grad school. They love spending time boating, camping, and pretty much anything outdoors. Alexa loves music and sporting events as well!
In addition to the Corporate and Association markets, Alexa will focus on the Incentive and Golf markets for Lamont Associates and will bring a wealth of knowledge & expertise to the customers she represents.
Jeorge Zepeda – Vice President of Membership
Regional Director of Sales Southern Plains – AIC Hotel Group
jzepeda@aichotelgroup.com | AIC Hotel Group
Passion has driven Jeorge Zepeda from the start of his career in Hospitality, making him a true believer, that anything you do with passion, you will triumph, without it, it’s just a Job. Today he holds the Regional Director of Sales for Southern Plains at AIC Hotel Group, company he has dedicated now 12+ years, holding different positions at the company’s portfolio properties; NOBU Hotel Miami Beach, Eden Roc Miami Beach, Hard Rock Hotel Cancun, holding positions such as; Director of Leisure travel, Sr Group Sales Manager and more. His biggest professional focus is Service, his personal motto; “Your Success, is our Success”.
Owen Chiu – Director of Member Services
Account Director – Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre
ochiu@wallcentre.com | Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre
Owen is currently the Account Director for Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, she joined in September 2022. Owen has shared 13 amazing years in the Tourism and Hospitality industry working at Destination Vancouver, Business Events Sydney and for a local DMC, Canadian Tours International. In addition, Owen created OC Events to help contract and organize Asia Pacific in-bound incentive programs in North America between 2016 to 2019.
Aside from her day job, Owen is the 2022 incoming President for PCMA Canada West, current SITE TX Young Leader committee member and she is looking forward to serve on the SITE Texas board as Director of Member Services. When Owen is not travelling or sharing her passion for Tourism, you will find her petting dogs, singing or on an expedition to find the next best eats!
Ruben Perez – Vice President of Sponsorships
Senior Director of Sales – Discover Denton Texas
ruben@discoverdenton.com | Discover Denton
Ruben Perez is the Senior Director of Sales & Services for Discover Denton Texas. He is responsible for promoting Denton to Travel and Meeting buyers nationwide as well as visitor service experience. He is charged with developing and implementing strategic guidance, industry relationship engagement, increase brand awareness and deliver robust service experiences driving measurable success that positively impacts the Denton economy through tourism, meetings, conventions, sporting and special events.
Prior to joining Discover Denton, he served as the Executive Vice President at Lamont Associates, a site selection and meeting planning firm based in Southlake Texas. Leading to that role, Ruben spent six years with Visit Dallas and held leadership roles as Director of Convention Sales, Senior Director of Sales and Vice President of Sales. Before joining Visit Dallas, Ruben held several sales leadership roles with Starwood Hotels and Resorts at several properties in Dallas and in the Starwood Global Sales Organization in New York City where he was consistently recognized for several top performing sales leadership awards.
Ruben is highly respected and regarded by his customers, industry colleagues and community leaders. He is actively involved in Site Texas and MPI/DFW Chapters. Throughout his career, he has lead his teams to achieve record-breaking performances across all metrics and has been featured in several industry trade publications including Collaborate Corporate Meeting Magazine, Connect Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 and Smart Meetings. Ruben is a native New Yorker but has lived in Denton County (Corinth) since 2004. He enjoys spending quality time with his family, grilling in his backyard, playing golf, smoking cigars, traveling and is a die hard 80’s rock enthusiast!
Scott Vastine – Director of Sponsorships
Principal, V2 Incentives, LP
svastine@v2incentives.com | V2 Incentives
Scott is 30-year industry veteran and the owner of V2 Incentives based in Dallas, Texas. With progressive, performance-driven programs, V2 Incentives is a full-service marketing and incentive travel company. Scott oversees the leadership, operational excellence and customer-centric strategies that continue to elevate his organization to the next level. Scott enjoys travel, golf and sports overall. His mantra is maintaining health and a spirit of paying it forward.
Tracy Torrez – Vice President of Marketing
Senior Sales Manager – Hotel Emma
Tel. 210-448-8312 | tracy.torrez@thehotelemma.com | Hotel Emma
Tracy is a Texas girl. Born in San Antonio to a military officer, she traveled the world with her family and has lived in places as far away as Misawa, Japan and Crete, Greece. She graduated from UT and her love for travel led her to the world of hotels. In an almost three decade career, she is Director of Sales and Strategy at Hotel Emma at Pearl.
In addition to traveling, Tracy loves cooking and is passionate about Golden Retrievers. She and her husband, Tony have two dogs, Wyatt, a Lab chow mix and Jaxon, a Golden, of course.
Brandon Bovre – Director of Social Media
National Sales Manager – RMC DMC
Being born and raised in Texas, good ol’ Southern hospitality got into Brandon’s blood. He has over a decade of experience in sales, marketing, and business development, and is always craving to learn new things to better himself.
Brandon currently serves as National Sales Manager with RMC DMC supporting over 30+ destinations in the USA. Prior to being on the Board of Directors, he started with SITE Texas in the Young Leaders chapter.
Brandon is based in Fort Worth, Texas and is very involved in his community, volunteering at various non-profit organizations.
Melissa Soto, CMP, CITP – Vice President of Experience Design
Meeting Planner, Events & Incentives – Lennox International
melissa.soto@lennoxind.com | Lennox International
Melissa Soto is a Meeting Planner with Lennox International and is responsible for planning sales and incentive meetings. Melissa has been in the events & incentive industry for over 15 years. She relocated to Texas 6 years ago from NY with her husband Dave. Their six children are grown and living on their own, 5 in NY.
Melissa joined SITE Texas and has created strong connections that have proven to be invaluable. She was VP of Events on the SITE TX BOD in 2021 and is proud to also be a part of this year’s Board.
Kerri Matthews, CIS, CITP – Vice President of Education & Events
Director of Global Sales – Associated Hotels International (ALHI)
Tel. 817-781-9106 | kmatthews@alhi.com | ALHI
Kerri Matthews has enjoyed 30 years in the hospitality industry and is currently based in Frisco, Tx serving as Director of Global Sales at Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) representing 250+ hotels worldwide. She has also spent a large portion of her career at illustrious hotels such as Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Maui, La Cantera Resort in San Antonio, Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center and the Hilton Anatole in the Dallas area.
When asked why she loves this industry, she says, “I have a passion to help others be successful. When I can help others achieve their goals, we ALL win.” This is also why she has participated in SITE Texas serving on the Events Committee, Awards Committee, and in the Mentor Program, as well as in other hospitality organizations. It gives her the opportunity to be of service to both planners and suppliers, learn new and better techniques, and help create a stronger, better hospitality family overall.
Kerri loves to travel and spend time with her three children, Natalie, Landon, and Jacob ranging in age from 14 to 29, who all reside in DFW.
Jana Hofer – Director of Education Events
Assistant Director of Sales, Strategic Partner Accounts – Visit Dallas
janet.hofer@visitdallas.com | Visit Dallas
Jana is a native-Texan and a 15-year veteran in the hospitality industry. Over the last 8 years with Visit Dallas, Jana has assumed multiple roles within the Sales Division and is currently managing strategic partnerships and developing relationships and business strategies to increase lead volume and year over year production growth. Prior to Visit Dallas, Jana thrived in sales roles at various Westin Hotels & Resorts and The Fairmont Dallas during her tenure.
When not working, Jana enjoys spending time with her family in East Texas, volunteering, cooking, wine tasting, kickboxing, snow skiing and exploring destinations abroad. In 2020, Jana rescued a French Bulldog named Stella and they are inseparable.
Andrea Wooten – Director of Social Events
Purchasing Director – V2 Incentives
awooten@v2incentives.com | V2 Incentives
A 29-year incentive industry professional, Andrea Wooten has experience in every aspect of the industry, with sourcing and purchasing being her predominant skill set. She has worked for two third-party planning companies, Mary Kay Europe, and Live Nation. Currently, Andrea is the Purchasing Director for V2 Incentives. The industry has allowed her to meet and form relationships with others from around the world. Now she is wanting to share her skills, knowledge, and love of the incentives industry with others.
On a personal note, Andrea is a proud Fort Worth girl and graduated from the University of Texas, Arlington with a BBA in Marketing. She is the proud mom of a daughter attending American University in Washington, D.C. and a son who recently married his Ukrainian wife.