PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 3, 2021
CVB Contact: Alana Cooper
Phone: 318.387.5691
E-mail: acooper@monroe-westmonroe.org

Alana Cooper elected as Treasurer of Louisiana Travel Association’s Board

Baton Rouge, LA – Alana Cooper, President/CEO of Discover Monroe-West Monroe was
installed as Treasurer of the Louisiana Travel Association (LTA) Board of Directors at its
annual meeting at L’Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge.

“I am honored to be serving LTA and the 750 members the association represents throughout
the state,” said Alana Cooper, LTA Board Treasurer. “This organization has worked to lead
and strengthen Louisiana’s tourism industry for 60 years, and I look forward to working with
my fellow board members to keep the momentum going.”

New officers installed on the executive board committee include the following: Dickie
Brennan, with Dickie Brennan & Company, as chairman; Kyle Edmiston, with Visit Lake
Charles, as vice-chairman; Ralph Ney, with Baton Rouge Marriott, as secretary; and Ben
Berthelot, with Lafayette CVC, as immediate past chair.

New members on the board of directors include Mike Buckley, with Golden Nugget Casino
Resort; Chris Landry, with LBA Hospitality; Jady Regard, with Cane River Pecan Company; and
Stephen Watson, with National WWII Museum.

Returning members on the board of directors are Joanna Folse-Alexander, with Sunrise
Hospitality; Jeremy Cooker, with New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp.; John Crook, with
Vernon Parish Tourist Commission; Kevin Dolliole, with Louis Armstrong New Orleans
International Airport; Brandy Evans, with Shreveport-Bossier CTB; Arlene Gould, with
Natchitoches CVB; Morgan Moss, with The Myrtles Plantation; Donna O’Daniels, with St.
Tammany Parish Tourist & Convention Commission; and Jay Sharplin, with Sharpco Hotels
Group.

Ex-Officio members appointed by the chair include Rebecca Blankenbaker, with Cane River
National Heritage Area; and Doug Bourgeois, Assistant Secretary of the Louisiana Office of
Tourism.

Associate member appointed by the chair includes Nelson Gumm, with AJR Media Group.
New directors will also include representatives of each of the Chairman's Circle partner
organizations: Visit Baton Rouge; Houma Area CVB; Lafayette CVC; Visit Lake Charles;
Monroe-West Monroe CVB; New Orleans & Co.; Louisiana’s Northshore; Shreveport-Bossier
CTB; and Tangipahoa Parish CVB.

“Our executive committee and board of directors are responsible for helping us meet the
needs of our members and making sure we accomplish our goals of providing educational and
marketing opportunities while also advocating on the industry’s behalf,” said Jill Kidder, LTA
president and CEO. “We are excited to be starting off another year with a great group of
industry leaders that represent the entire state.”

Officers on the executive committee and members of the board of directors are elected
during the annual meeting. Each year, the chairman of the board selects a nominating
committee that is comprised of members who are not up for re-election and who are not
seeking office. This committee is responsible for presenting a slate to the members of the
association that recognizes all regions of the state and all segments of the tourism industry.

About the Louisiana Travel Association

LTA is a trade association leading and strengthening Louisiana’s vibrant tourism industry
through promotion, education and advocacy on behalf of our members. Tourism generated
$1.92 billion for Louisiana in 2019 and employs more than 242,200 people throughout the
state. For more information, visit LouisianaTravelAssociation.org.

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Discover Monroe-West Monroe promotes Ouachita Parish as a destination for leisure travel,
conventions, meetings, and sporting events creating a positive economic impact for our local community through increased visitor spending and sales tax collections. For more information about Discover Monroe-West Monroe, visit www.monroe-westmonroe.org.