OUR TEAM  ::  CORE VALUES

Cynthia L. Alford, CTP
Managing Director
Cynthia L. Alford, CTP is a 27-year meeting and event industry veteran. Highlights of her successful career include:

• Executive producer for the ancillary events held in conjunction with the 2004, 2005 Microsoft Global Briefing and 2006-2010 Microsoft Global Exchange.

• Producer with Don Mischer Productions for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.

• ABC/Disney affiliate producer for the 2000 Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Destination South was founded by Cynthia Alford and colleague Julie Collingwood in 1995 to service the specific and unique needs of the international congress, incentive and corporate markets and to provide innovative and fresh events in Atlanta and throughout the South. Since becoming sole owner of Destination South, USA in 1997, Cynthia has concentrated on steering the company towards local excellence in the field of destination management. With the recent re- branding of Destination South Meetings & Events, she is leading her team to national prominence as a meeting planning, event production and incentive firm.

Cynthia served as the 2007-2008 President of Meeting Professionals International-Georgia Chapter (GaMPI). This 1,000 member, premier industry association has been named the 2005 and 2006 MPI Chapter of the Year. In 2009, she was recognized as GaMPI's Chapter Leader of the Year and was honored with its President's Award.

As a student in the days of Hershel Walker and UGA's rise to glory as National Football Champions, Cynthia is passionate in her support of the Georgia Bulldogs. She also enjoys her role as resident wine expert and the opportunity to assist clients in selecting the perfect wine for their events.
 

Kim Maling, CMP, DMCP
Director of Sales
Kim Maling is our New Orleans import and queen of hospitality with more than 15 years experience in the industry. She has a Bachelor degree from the University of New Orleans in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism. In 1992, Kim started her hospitality career working for the Fairmont Hotel New Orleans in various departments including Front Office, Food and Beverage and Convention Services. In 1994, she decided to leap into the world of event planning and destination management.

She holds both Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP) designations, which recognizes a senior level of experience among her colleagues. Her background ranges from the implementation of large-scale global leadership meetings, such as S C Johnson, to intimate sales incentives and special events in a variety of industries. Throughout her event planning career, Kim has had the opportunity to produce events in New Orleans, San Diego, San Francisco, New York, Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe.

Kim is a member of Meeting Professionals International and the Professional Convention Management Association. She served as co-chair for GaMPI's 2009 Indulgence event and exhibitor committee member for the 2010 Indulgence event. Kim is also an active volunteer in other fields; when not planning events for clients, she enjoys being team mom for her children's baseball teams.

 

Lorri McQueary
Creative Director
Lorri McQueary has been applying her creative approach to meetings and special events since 2002. In this time she has produced attention-getting events ranging from intimate gatherings to parties for 12,000. Her background in advertising as well as visual and performing arts allows her to deliver concepts for guest experiences that are dynamic, message driven and right on target with the client's identity and goals.

She has worked closely with both entrepreneurs and international corporations to create successful brand and event identity through collateral design strategies, custom event concepts, award winning product launches, theatrical meeting openers and a wide variety of entertainment and breakout sessions.

Lorri has been an active member in the International Special Event Society, Atlanta Chapter, since 2004. In this time she has served in both committee and director roles. In 2010, she was named to the executive board as Vice President of Communications. In 2005, Lorri was honored with an ADME Rising Star Award. She was also profiled in the 2010 summer issue of Atlanta Occasions Magazine as one of ten "Most Influential Planners in Atlanta."

At her events, Lorri is most likely to be found hoping to ditch a headset and join the back-up dancers.
 

Staci Blake
Assistant Producer
Staci Blake began her career with Destination South as an on-site production assistant while completing her undergraduate studies. She was then selected as a Destination South intern, where she quickly learned to navigate both the creative & logistic paths to successful pre-planning for events, fundraisers, general sessions and more. Staci's flexibility, quick thinking, calm demeanor and great rapport with clients, (no doubt due to her degree in psychology), led Destination South to add her to the team as an Assistant Producer this summer. Staci has already played a major role in the success of several notable programs, including the Opening General Session of the 2009 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, 2009 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk in Atlanta and most recently, Design & Dine, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Fall Client Appreciation Event.

Staci truly loves her adopted home Atlanta, (especially the Atlanta Braves), and the opportunity the hospitality industry provides to indulge both the creative and detailed-oriented aspects of her passion for event planning.
 

Jane Jenkins
Tour and Travel Director
Jane Jenkins is truly the face of hospitality. Jane is a fount of information concerning tour design and execution, having worked since 1992 up through the ranks from tour guide to guide trainer, coordinator and program developer to her current position of tour director. She now offers extensive experience in itinerary planning for all age ranges and interest groups. Her skilled identification of guests' common interests enables her to create memorable excursions that make them feel special. Notable achievements include comprehensive multi-day tour programs for National 4H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts of America, Coca-Cola USA, American Bar Association, NBC and more. Jane is a proud graduate of Florida State College with a BS degree in education. When Jane is not organizing exceptional tours and social excursions for clients, she's most likely to be found entertaining and cooking for her family and friends -and when lucky- her coworkers!
 

Terri Fleisher
Producer
Terri Fleisher brings expertise in communication and collaboration as well as attention to detail to every project she is part of. As an essential part of the Destination South Meetings & Events team, her skills and positive attitude have proved critical to the success of a variety of events for both corporate and non-profit clients. Terri also boasts a wealth of knowledge and experience as an Atlanta tour professional. This background enables her to supply clients with creative solutions to their program needs. Terri earned a B.A in Psychology from American University in Washington, DC. After many years as an Atlanta expert, she now pursues worldly adventures through travel whenever possible.
 

Julie Johnston
Controller
Julie supervises all accounting and financial reporting for Destination South. Her fifteeen years of experience as a small business owner and operator has given her the tools to design strategic financial solutions well as maximize efficiency for DSME. Julie is a University of Georgia Graduate with a degree in Finance & Accounting. Actively involved in women's tri-fitness, she is as strong as she is financially savvy.

Benedict Alford
Chief of Security
Benedict Alford has served as Chief of Security for Destination South since its inception and continues today to guard his family of meeting & event planners with fierce loyalty. Some would call Benedict's career choice inspired, even serendipitous. It was learned some years into his position that St. Benedict, his namesake, was known as the patron saint of hospitality. When not patrolling the kitchen during lunch, or his bed the rest of the time, Benedict can be found sniffing out visitors with questionable intentions, or just a piece of candy in the pocket.

© 2004 Destination South USA. All rights reserved.  |   powered by media firma