Listed in order of appearance
Conference Speakers
State Representative David Martin (68th District)
Rep. David Martin represents the 68th House District, which spans portions of Genesee and Oakland counties. David began his career by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force and served for 20 years, retiring as the weather operations manager at the U.S. Army Aviation Center in Fort Rucker, Ala. David also oversaw security for the Pontiac Silverdome, which had him directing security during a presidential visit. He then served as Operations Manager for VirSec Protective Services in Troy before becoming Mott Community College’s veteran services coordinator. Prior to his election to the House, David served as a Genesee County Commissioner from 2016 to 2020 and on the Davison City Council from 2009 to 2013.
David chairs the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee. He also serves on the House’s Energy, Finance, and Rules committees.
State Representative Will Snyder (87th District)
A proud lifelong resident of the City of Muskegon, state Rep. Will Snyder is serving his second term representing the 87th House District. Currently residing in the Glenside Neighborhood, he has long been dedicated to community activism in the Greater Muskegon area. Prior to his work as a legislator, Rep. Snyder spent six years working for his predecessor, state Rep. Terry Sabo. He also served on the Board of Directors of Read Muskegon, where he worked to break the generational cycle of illiteracy in Muskegon County. He is involved with his local Knights of Columbus and served as Building Association President for the Dan M. Kennedy Council. With positions on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and Insurance and Financial Services, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Michigan State Police, and the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government, Rep. Snyder is poised to enact positive change for all Michiganders.
Kelly Wolgamott, Vice President, Pure Michigan
Kelly Wolgamott is the Vice President of Pure Michigan at the Michigan Economic
Development Corporation, where she leads the Travel Michigan team and marketing
efforts for the award-winning Pure Michigan campaign. Kelly has been an integral part of the Pure Michigan brand for nearly 15 years – which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year – and has dedicated herself to promoting Michigan as a premier, four-season destination to in-state, out-of-state and international travelers. Kelly’s wealth of experience in travel marketing includes digital marketing, creative development, agency
management, marketing effectiveness, consumer insights, and working in close collaboration with tourism industry stakeholders throughout Michigan. She previously served in marketing and public relations roles with General Motors and advertising agency Leo Burnett Worldwide.
Dr. Lu Zhang, PhD., Michigan State University, School of Hospitality Business
Dr. Lu Zhang is a full professor and the interim Director of the School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University, where she joined in 2013. Her research, published in leading journals including the Journal of Business Research and Tourism Management, examines consumer experiences with emerging technologies such as service robots and AI. She serves on multiple editorial boards and as Associate Editor for the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, and her work has earned awards such as the Robert Johnston Award and the John D. and Dortha J. Withrow Endowed Emerging Scholar Award.
Missy Stultz, PhD., Sustainability and Innovations, City of Ann Arbor
Dr. Missy Stults is the Sustainability and Innovations Director for the City of Ann Arbor. In this role, she works with all city operations, residents, businesses, the University of Michigan, nonprofits, and others to achieve a just transition to community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030, as outlined in the A 2 ZERO Carbon Neutrality Plan. Prior to joining the City, Missy worked with cities and tribal communities around the nation to advance their climate and sustainability goals, including during her time as the Climate Director at ICLEI-
Local Governments for Sustainability and as a consultant to philanthropic organizations. Missy has a PhD in urban resilience from the University of Michigan, a Masters in Climate and Society from Columbia University, and undergraduate degrees in Marine Biology and Environmental Science from the University of New England.
Alison Watson, Michigan Arts & Culture Council
Alison Watson has served as the Director of the Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC) since 2018, following seven years as the agency’s Programs Manager. She brings more than 20 years of leadership and development expertise within Michigan’s arts and cultural sector, spanning local and statewide nonprofits. Throughout her career, Ms. Watson has been a dedicated champion for the creative economy, working continuously to foster a robust, inclusive, and accessible arts environment across the state.
Jon Mayes, MI Department of Natural Resources
Jon Mayes has been with the DNR for over 30 years and has worked in programs dealing with land use and acquisition, farmland and forest conservation, and environmental protection. He currently manages the Recreation Grants Unit within the DNR Grants program where he deals primarily with the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Recreation Passport Local Grants programs. Jon has been with the Grants Section since early 2011. Prior to his arrival, he was Land Acquisition and Exchange Manager in the DNR’s Real Estate Section. Jon is a graduate of Michigan State University with a B.S. degree in Resource Development.
Ryan Tarrant, Jackson County Chamber and Explore Jackson
Ryan Tarrant is the President & CEO of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Experience Jackson.
In this role, he leads the strategy and vision to improve the regional quality of life in Jackson County for businesses, residents and visitors through advocacy, collaboration and destination development.
He has led both state and national award-winning chambers of commerce, where his successes included securing more than $1 million in public-private funding for talent attraction and retention initiatives, and spearheading Drive Jackson, Jackson County’s 20-year vision plan that led to broad cross-sector alignment and more than $50 million in economic impact in its first 6 months of implementation.
Breakout Session Speakers
Jill Halpin, Halpin Media Group
Jill is the founder of Halpin Media Group, a digital travel media company that connects
Michigan destinations, attractions and small businesses with travelers across the country through
MyMichiganBeach.com, LittleChicagoGuide.com, social media and her weekly travel
newsletter. She appears as a travel expert on WDIV Local 4 and FOX 2 Detroit, with frequent
appearances on FOX 17 West Michigan, FOX 32 Chicago, WGN, and WILX and she has been
featured in the Washington Post, The Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press and on NewsNation.
A journalist by training with two decades at newspapers, magazines and Gannett, she serves on
TICOM’s NTTW Media Committee and the TICOM Tourism Conference Committee.
Kim Corcoran, Meetings Michigan
Kim Corcoran, CMP, is an experienced tourism professional that currently owns and operates Destination Michigan and as the Executive Director of Meetings Michigan.
In 2007, Kim was instrumental in starting Meetings Michigan, a state-wide marketing initiative with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). This organization bands together CVBs, hotels and service providers throughout the state for the common cause of bringing more out-of-state meetings revenue to Michigan.
Kim holds a BSBA in Marketing/International Business, a M.Ed. degree in Sports/Recreation Administration, and a Certified Meeting Professional designation. She has served on numerous committees with TICOM and served as the organization’s President in 2024.