LAS VEGAS – Bryan Kroten, vice president of marketing for Maverick Aviation Group, is the 2012 president of the Las Vegas Hospitality Association (LVHA), a 400-plus member Las Vegas tourism industry organization.

The new board of directors and some LVHA scholarship recipients were present at the inaugural ceremony luncheon on Jan. 19 at the Mandarin Oriental at CityCenter.

Kroten’s goals as president this year are to continue increasing the awareness of LVHA and its members, producing top-notch networking events and raising money for scholarships and community outreach programs. “It is an honor to be a part of such an amazing group of hospitality professionals, and this being our 50th anniversary makes it even more special,” he said.

In his current position, Kroten oversees the marketing, advertising and public relations for Maverick Aviation Group, the parent company of Maverick Helicopters, Maverick Airlines and Mustang Helicopters, which has operations in Nevada and Arizona.

A graduate of Western Illinois University, Kroten began his hospitality career at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago in meeting planning before relocating to Las Vegas and joining USA Hosts as an operations manager.

After that, Kroten started his sales career joining the team at Richard Petty Driving Experience as a sales manager. In 2006, he left moved to Maverick Helicopters as the national director of sales and marketing. Kroten spent the last two years as the director of marketing for Maverick Aviation Group and was recently promoted to his current position.

Throughout his career, Kroten has been an active member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and the Society of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE). He also served eight years on the board of Speedway Children’s Charities.

LVHA incoming board for 2012:

Chairwoman

J. J. Wills – Director of Strategic Accounts, Caesars Entertainment

President                     

Bryan Kroten – Vice President of Marketing, Maverick Aviation Group

President - Elect

Julie Pazina - National Sales Manager, Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services

Vice President - Membership

Jennifer Cheung - Account Executive, Hello Las Vegas!

Vice President - Meetings   

Tami Hance - Vice President, Destinations by Design

Secretary

Linda Andrew Ness – National Director of Sales, Smart City Networks

Treasurer                                                                     

Deanna Burgess - Associate Director of Sales, Mandalay Bay

Director – Marketing

Shelly Cruz - Director of Sales, Bellagio

Directors:

Ericka Aviles - Business Marketing Manager, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority

Jamie Malloy - National Sales Manager, Wynn Las Vegas and Encore

Michelle Sharples - Director of Group Sales, BASE Entertainment

Daniel Rush - Vice President of Sales, The Mirage

Laurel Wineman O’Neil - Sales & Marketing Manager, Hard Rock Café

Cyndi Stumbo-Martin - Sales Manager, Exposition Services, Freeman

Danelle Dodds - Manager of Sales, Kuoni Destination Management Inc.

Assistants to the Board:

Susan Kashani - Property National Sales, Caesars Entertainment

Kathy Dyke - Catering Sales Director, Cili Restaurant at Bali Hai Golf Course

Josh Martin - Director of Marketing, Exotics Racing

Nancy Rodriguez - Event Designer, By Dzign

Alan Waxler - CEO, AWG Charter Services, Ambassador Limousines, Ritz Transportation

Shannon Trujillo - Regional Vice President, Sales, PSAV Presentation Services

Parliamentarian:

Mary Thomas – President, MKT Consultants

The Las Vegas Hospitality Association (LVHA, lvhospitality.org) is a nonprofit state association made up of more than 400 working professionals in the hospitality industry. Originally founded in 1962, the LVHA encompasses a broad spectrum of companies supporting the tourism, convention and hospitality fields in Southern Nevada.