2026 Spring Travel Forum Speakers 

Rich Bryant is a global citizen, having lived in three countries and traveled to more than 40. Rich has been deeply ingrained in the travel and tourism industry for fourteen years. He is a strategic thinker with a passion for the industry. He draws on his DMO background, working directly with tourism DMOs of all sizes to help them achieve their marketing goals. In a previous position, he was the Regional Marketing Communications Manager - Americas for Tourism New Zealand, his home country. Before joining Tiki as the SVP of Destination Strategy, Rich was the Senior Sales Director at Zartico and, before that, a Sales Director at Adara. Rich can be found skiing or hiking trails that rarely appear on maps, testing the limits of international coffee quality, and plotting his next adventure.

Traci Cunningham has over 22 years of experience in the Travel and Tourism industry, establishing a career marked by vision, innovation, and a strong commitment to community impact. Her work extends beyond simply promoting destinations; she focuses on creating experiences that connect people, celebrate culture, and drive economic growth.

In 2004, with the support of her board of directors, Traci transformed 50 acres along the War Memorial Walking Trail into a vibrant tourism oasis for the City of Oak Grove, Kentucky. What began as a bold idea quickly evolved into a cornerstone of the region’s identity. Through her leadership, she developed three signature festivals that attract thousands of visitors each year and have gained both regional and international recognition for excellence. These events have become significant drivers of tourism, community pride, and local economic development.

Traci's influence reaches far beyond just creating events. She graduated from the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College in 2014 under the Travel Marketing Professional program and remains actively engaged in shaping the future of tourism across Kentucky and the Southeast. She serves on several boards and committees, including the Kentucky Travel Industry Association, the Southeast Festival and Events Association, the West Kentucky Film Commission, and is the Treasurer for the Kentucky Western Waterlands region. Locally, she contributes to the City of Oak Grove’s Economic Development and Steering Committee, guiding strategic growth and long-term planning. 

Her dedication has not gone unnoticed. In 2022, Traci was honored as Christian County Woman of the Year by the Human Rights Commission, a recognition reflecting both her professional accomplishments and her unwavering commitment to service.

As the wife of a veteran, Traci brings a personal perspective to her work. She understands the unique needs of military families and has been a passionate advocate for Fort Campbell since 2006, supporting initiatives such as the Citizens for Fort Campbell trips to Washington, D.C. Her efforts have strengthened the bond between Oak Grove and Fort Campbell, ensuring that soldiers and their families feel welcomed, supported, and connected to the community.

At the core of Traci's work is her belief in responsible tourism, one that enriches visitors while strengthening the communities they experience. Whether developing award-winning festivals, leading regional initiatives, or championing military partnerships, she continues to position Oak Grove and Christian County as prime destinations.

When it comes to telling the story of Oak Grove and Fort Campbell, Traci Cunningham not only speaks the language of tourism, but she also helps define it.

Abby Dixon assumed the role of Executive Director of the Henderson Tourist Commission in 2017. Abby and her team play a pivotal role in elevating the county's status as a destination for visitors. A graduate of Western Kentucky University, Abby is a proud Hendersonian who holds a deep-seated affection for Henderson. Her passion for community building and storytelling has not only shaped her professional career but has also influenced her role as wife to Evan and mother to two future world-changers, Eliza, age 7, and Graham, age 4.  

Meg Fister is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Film Office, where she leads statewide efforts to attract and expand film, television, and media production across the Commonwealth. As the office’s inaugural director, she works closely with government leaders, business partners, and local communities to position Kentucky as a premier production destination, while creating meaningful economic opportunities for businesses across the state.

Fister brings a dynamic background in both entertainment and nonprofit leadership. Prior to her current role, she spent more than a decade as a film and television producer at NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Her earlier career includes senior artistic and casting roles at Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles and Actors Theatre of Louisville.

With deep industry connections and a passion for storytelling, Fister is focused on elevating Kentucky’s national profile, strengthening its film infrastructure, and building a sustainable ecosystem that ensure the impact of production extends far beyond the screen.

Samantha Johnson serves as the Director of Tourism for Staunton, VA. With nearly a decade in destination marketing, Samantha has built her career at the intersection of storytelling, community, and creativity. Before heading east to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, she spent six years as Executive Director of Prestonsburg Tourism, where the organization saw record-breaking growth and earned back-to-back “Most Innovative” Traverse Awards. 

A proud Kentucky native, Samantha credits much of her passion for tourism to the communities and mentors who shaped her along the way. She now brings that same energy to Staunton, where she continues to champion culture, creativity, and connective experiences as drivers of tourism. 

And while she loves Virginia wine, she’ll tell you - she still prefers bourbon. 

Julie Kirkpatrick serves as the President & CEO of meetNKY | NKY Tourism, where she leads the region’s tourism strategy with a focus on enhancing quality of life and driving economic development through destination marketing and tourism growth. Under her leadership, meetNKY has become a vital force in positioning Northern Kentucky as a dynamic and essential component of the Cincy Region travel experience.

A Lexington, KY native, Julie brings deep Kentucky roots and extensive professional credentials to her role. She is a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME), an Executive Bourbon Steward, and a Certified Tourism Ambassador for the Cincinnati region. She holds a degree in Organizational Leadership from Northern Kentucky University. She has won a bunch of awards that she doesn’t like to talk about because she would rather sit down with a bourbon and celebrate a region that moves people.  

From fine art to military boots, Chenelle McGee’s path to the travel industry has been anything but typical. She got her start at The Art Institute of California, where she discovered a passion for structure and creative strategy, before choosing adventure as an Intel Analyst in the United States Marine Corps.

After her service, she brought her analytical mindset to ShelbyKY Tourism CVB, blending data and storytelling. Now, as International and Domestic Sales Director, Chenelle thrives on building partnerships and showcasing the best of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to travelers from around the world.

Karly Melo has spent over 15 years immersed in the travel, tourism, and consumer marketing industries, building a reputation for driving measurable results through strategic storytelling and insight-led campaigns. 

Her career began with Destination Toronto, where she helped grow the city's tourism economy on a global scale. She then went on to represent numerous U.S. destinations as Regional Director for Brand USA in Canada, strengthening cross-border travel partnerships and market positioning.

Now, as Director of Public Relations at Reach Global Marketing Group, Karly leads strategy and execution for multiple U.S. destination clients. She has developed deep expertise in traveler behavior, booking trends, and audience segmentation, working closely with travel trade and consumer media. This experience has given her a unique ability to leverage cross-departmental promotions and integrated campaigns to expand reach and impact across target markets. 

For Travel South USA, Karly has developed robust, multi-state campaigns and managed partnerships across multiple media channels for over four years. Her programs — exclusive to Travel South’s Global Partner Program — bring regional voices together to build awareness and drive visitation from the Canadian market. 

Karly provides strategic direction and year-over-year evolution of the Canadian media strategy for US Travel’s IPW, expanding the network of attending outlets and attracting new demographics. Her leadership has contributed to consistent year-over-year growth in Canadian media attendance and strengthened host city visibility. 

Karly’s collaborative, insight-based approach has earned her recognition as a trusted communications strategist within North America’s travel sector. Her work has been celebrated with multiple trade media awards, reflecting her commitment to excellence, innovation, and partnership in destination marketing. 

Brandon Pennington is the Executive Director of the Harlan County Tourist and Convention Commission, where he has served since 2012. A proud native of Harlan County, Brandon has dedicated his career to elevating his community through strategic tourism development, placemaking, and innovative marketing initiatives that highlight the region’s natural beauty and Appalachian culture.

In 2025, Brandon served as Chair of the Kentucky Travel Industry Association. He currently serves as Treasurer of the Kentucky Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus and is President of the Harlan County Chamber of Commerce, continuing his commitment to both regional and statewide leadership.

Brandon’s impact has been recognized with the 2025 Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the Year award, honoring his leadership and contributions to economic development and tourism.

A graduate of Transylvania University, Brandon holds a degree in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing and a minor in French.

Outside of his professional work, Brandon enjoys spending time with his husband, AJ Miller, and their two Siberian huskies, embracing both the adventure and community that define life in Harlan County.

Alyssa Phares, CDME, is President & CEO of the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau, leading tourism strategy for a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts & Folk Art. A recipient of the 2025 Kentucky Travel Industry Association Emerging Leader Award, she brings more than 15 years of destination marketing experience across Kentucky and Missouri, with a career spanning attractions, agency work, and DMO leadership. 

Tim Richardson is a nationally recognized leadership, sales and service speaker who’s been entertaining and engaging audiences for over 30 years. In his dynamic presentations, Tim weaves the lessons he’s learned working on a sales team with IBM, working in management with an award-winning resort, and from years of consulting with clients in financial services, healthcare, hospitality, insurance, telecommunications, and many other industries into his presentations. Clients like Abbott, Erie Insurance, Merrill Lynch, Nabisco, Nokia, Sprint, and State Farm Insurance hire Tim to help their leaders and teams maximize peak performance in sales, leadership, and customer experience.  

He’s been a keynote speaker to hundreds of associations and companies around the globe. Tim is the author of Jump Starts, Wit, and Wisdom to Super Charge Your Day and co-author of Transformation Thinking. 

He’s a member of the National Speakers Association and earned the coveted CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation over 20 years ago. When Tim received his CSP, less than 6% of the worldwide members had earned this award, the highest earned designation in the industry. 

He founded the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund and served as President of the foundation for 20 years. Tim and his wonderful wife Adele have been married more than 30 years and are the proud parents of six kid and one adorable granddaughter.