Team & Leadership | Brand USA

Fred Dixon

President & Chief Executive Officer

Fred Dixon

President & Chief Executive Officer

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Miami, Florida

Donald F. Richardson, CPA

Chief Financial, Diversity & Inclusion Officer

Donald F. Richardson, CPA

Chief Financial, Diversity & Inclusion Officer

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Hometown/Home State

Apex, North Carolina

Community Service

DC Public Library Board of Trustees

Favorite Travel Destination

Miami, Florida and New York City, New York

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Aaron Wodin-Schwartz

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer

Aaron Wodin-Schwartz

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer

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Favorite Travel Memory

I spent a year as a high school exchange student in San Cristobal, Venezuela. Nearly every single day was an exhilarating adventure.

Travel in the USA

Anywhere with fields and ponds to explore, where day-hikes can be capped with a surprisingly good meal.

Something Interesting

Kids in my town spent our summer working at a blueberry farm starting at age 11 or 12: boys picking in the fields and girls working the sorter belts in the barn.

Washington, DC

Jake Conte

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

Jake Conte

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

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Favorite Travel Memory

If you don’t say your honeymoon, you’re in trouble right? Honeymoon eating, swimming, and sailing on the Croatian coast.

Something Interesting

In my misbegotten youth I once ate nine hot dogs at a baseball game.

Favorite Travel Destination

New England has it all. Four seasons: Beach, skiing, fall foliage, clam bakes and Sunday suppers. There’s only one Fenway Park.

Honolulu, Hawaii

Cassady Bailey

Vice President, Partner Engagement & Marketing

Cassady Bailey

Vice President, Partner Engagement & Marketing

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Something Interesting

I used to work as a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas.

Hometown/Home State

Charleston, West Virginia

Favorite Travel Destination

I enjoy white water rafting on the New and Gauley rivers near Fayetteville, WV (have been over 30 times) and for a more relaxing getaway, I love Sonoma, CA.

North Rim, Grand Canyon

Jackie Ennis

Vice President, Global Trade Development

Jackie Ennis

Vice President, Global Trade Development

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Favorite Travel Memory

Circling the Statue of Liberty for first time.

Community Service

Delivering Meals on Wheels in remote northern Vermont homes.

Hometown/Home State

Stowe, Vermont

South Padre Island, Texas

Vicente Garcia

Vice President, Corporate Affairs

Vicente Garcia

Vice President, Corporate Affairs

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Favorite Travel Memory

Spending time on the beaches of Hawaii as a kid.

Hometown/Home State

Harlingen, TX by way of Tri-Cities, Washington

Favorite Travel Destination

Oahu, Hawaii

Fairfax, Virginia

Mark Lapidus

Vice President, Content & Marketing Technology

Mark Lapidus

Vice President, Content & Marketing Technology

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Favorite Travel Memory

North Carolina’s Outer Banks! If you love quiet beaches with amazing sunsets and fishing, Route 12 is the place!

Something Interesting

Mark was the final Program Director for one of the USA’s most iconic disc jockeys, the late Wolfman Jack.

Hometown/Home State

Arlington, Virginia

New York City, New York

Jessie Newcomb, CPA

Vice President, Finance & Accounting

Jessie Newcomb, CPA

Vice President, Finance & Accounting

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Something Interesting

I love to read and listen to stories about history, people and cities.

Hometown/Home State

Taipei, Taiwan and have been in the states over a quarter of century.

Favorite Travel Destination

Crete Island, so much so, that my ideal post retirement career is to be a tour guide there.

Mercersburg, Pennsylvania

Brian Watkins

Vice President, Technology

Brian Watkins

Vice President, Technology

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Favorite Travel Memory

For Spring Break 2015, taking my family (wife and 4 daughters) to Cancun, Mexico. Kids were old enough to appreciate a different culture.

Something Interesting

Played in a semi-pro Spanish soccer league for 4 years.

Favorite Travel Destination

Outer Banks, North Carolina. Vacationing in the 4x4 beach area and waking up to the wild horses roaming around outside the house.

Portland, Oregon

Rosina Barbastefano

Senior Director, Research, Insights & Analytics

Rosina Barbastefano

Senior Director, Research, Insights & Analytics

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Favorite Travel Memory

First trip to Naples, Florida with my wife.

Hometown/Home State

Cali, Colombia

Favorite Travel Destination

Portland, Oregon

Pittsburgh, PA

Kathrin Kush, CPA

Senior Controller

Kathrin Kush, CPA

Senior Controller

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Hometown/Home State

Sussex, New Jersey

Travel in the USA

Over 22 U.S. states and Washington, DC.

Something Interesting

Completed a month long outdoor survival class (still would rather a hotel to camping though!)

Aspen, Colorado

Cat Reith

Senior Director, Partner Programs & Operations

Cat Reith

Senior Director, Partner Programs & Operations

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Favorite Travel Memory

Going to Niagara Falls as a child.

Hometown/Home State

New York, New York

Favorite Travel Destination

Snowmass, Colorado

Sade Smith

Senior Director, Human Resources & Administration

Sade Smith

Senior Director, Human Resources & Administration

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Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Susan Zachar

Senior Director, Brand

Susan Zachar

Senior Director, Brand

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Favorite Travel Memory

Visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands via sailboat.

Hometown/Home State

Chicago, Illinois — The Windy City!

Favorite Travel Destination

Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado - the most beautiful hiking and camping I've ever experienced.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Alexis Adelson

Director, Events

Alexis Adelson

Director, Events

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Favorite Travel Memory

Skydiving on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with my younger brother and summer camp colleagues.

Something Interesting

My secret talent is that I am licensed to drive motorcycles and school buses. However, these days I stick to my car!

Hometown/Home State

Potomac, Maryland

Atlanta, Georgia

George Bansah

Director, Budget & Forecast Liaison

George Bansah

Director, Budget & Forecast Liaison

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Favorite Travel Memory

Driving through Sedona to the Grand Canyon

Hometown/Home State

Ghana, West Africa and Dumfries, Virginia

Favorite Travel Destination

Venice Beach, California and Atlanta, Georgia

Victoria, British Columbia

Chelsea Benitez

Director, Consumer Research

Chelsea Benitez

Director, Consumer Research

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Hometown/Home State

Los Angeles, California

Colorado River

Aila Bereznak

Director, Salesforce Operations

Aila Bereznak

Director, Salesforce Operations

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Favorite Travel Memory

Paddleboarding among bioluminescence algae followed by a winter solstice bonfire on the beach in Mexico.

Hometown/Home State

Oak Creek, Colorado

Favorite Travel Destination

Istanbul

Los Angeles, California

Skylar Clark

Director, Strategic Partnerships

Skylar Clark

Director, Strategic Partnerships

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Favorite Travel Memory

As a child, my family loved to take cruises down to U.S. Virgin Islands. I have the best memories exploring the different islands and swimming with dolphins!

Hometown/Home State

Solomon’s Island, Maryland. It’s popular for its sailing, seafood, and beautiful sunset views.

Favorite Travel Destination

I love the beauty and culture of San Diego, California. Plus, the beaches are great for surfing and have my favorite animal: seals!

Picture at Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska

Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Casey D'Ambra

Director of Content

Casey D'Ambra

Director of Content

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Favorite Travel Memory

Almost trampled by a black rhinoceros in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Something Interesting

Appeared in an episode of the TV show, Burn Notice

Hometown/Home State

West Palm Beach, Florida

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Peter Dodge

Director, Public Affairs

Peter Dodge

Director, Public Affairs

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Favorite Travel Memory

When I was a kid, my family took a cross-country trip from Massachusetts to New Mexico and I remember being amazed realizing how unique the United States is.

Travel in the USA

I’ve lived in six states and Washington, DC and love exploring the diverse landscapes and cultures in each region of our great country.

Hometown/Home State

Charleston, South Carolina

Taj Mahal

Chris Ellis

Director, Partner Engagement

Chris Ellis

Director, Partner Engagement

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Favorite Travel Memory

Watching the sunset over the Gulf Coast while in Sanibel Beach, Florida.

Hometown/Home State

Born in the United Kingdom but lived most of my life outside of the U.K.

Favorite Travel Destination

Denver, Colorado

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Idaho

Craters of the Moon Monument, Idaho

Luke Hennig

Director, Partner Operations

Luke Hennig

Director, Partner Operations

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Favorite Travel Memory

I got the travel bug early when my family lived in India for five months and I spent half my eighth grade year at an international school!

Community Service

As co-chair of Brand USA’s Corporate Social Responsibility committee, I am honored to help shape Brand USA’s approach to giving back.

Hometown/Home State

I’m proud of my home state of Minnesota for its many “hidden gem” experiences for visitors, especially in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA).

Richmond, Virginia

Colleen Mangone

Director, Corporate Communications

Colleen Mangone

Director, Corporate Communications

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Favorite Travel Memory

Celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary as a family in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Community Service

I volunteer at my church.

Hometown/Home State

I split my growing up between Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Joshua Tree National Park

Julie Paulson

Director, Partner Programs

Julie Paulson

Director, Partner Programs

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Favorite Travel Memory

Family trips to Ocean City, Maryland. We always had a great time enjoying the festivities and rides on the 3 mile long boardwalk.

Travel in the USA

I have visited 26 states and have lived in 7 of them.

Something Interesting

I am an amusement park fanatic and have visited 20 theme parks and have braved some of the world’s tallest roller coasters.

Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon

Jennifer Ross

Director, Media & In-Kind Planning

Jennifer Ross

Director, Media & In-Kind Planning

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Favorite Travel Memory

Family vacations to the Great Smoky Mountains growing up

Community Service

Community Outreach for Capital Rowing Club

Hometown/Home State

Charleston, South Carolina

New Orleans, Louisiana

Suzy Shepard

Director, Global Trade Development (Asia Pacific)

Suzy Shepard

Director, Global Trade Development (Asia Pacific)

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Something Interesting

I’ve been doing Krav for about 5 years now and am Level 4.

Hometown/Home State

San Jose, Costa Rica

Favorite Travel Destination

Somewhere new that I have never been to before.

San Diego, California

Rianna Airitam

Senior Manager, Partner Operations

Rianna Airitam

Senior Manager, Partner Operations

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Favorite Travel Memory

I got stuck in Boston, Massachusetts once due to heavy snow and that was the first time I'd ever seen more than 6 inches of accumulation!

Travel in the USA

My family likes to road trip and I like seeing the changing scenery across states.

Hometown/Home State

Rowlett, Texas

Sugarloaf Mountain, Maryland

Craig Ashby

Senior Manager, Business Processes & Financial Analytics

Craig Ashby

Senior Manager, Business Processes & Financial Analytics

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Favorite Travel Memory

Visit to George Washington National Forest in West Virginia. The Dark skies show the Milky Way and it was one the most beautiful sites I have seen.

Community Service

Habitat for Humanity rebuild in New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. I also volunteer for church projects to assist the elderly.

Favorite Travel Destination

There are many. My favorite destination in the U.S. would be the Rocky Mountains; Puerto Rico for magnificent scenery, beaches, and musical nightlife: and New Orleans for the jazz music.