JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) honored Missouri Division of Tourism’s Research Director, Dee Ann McKinney with its President’s Award during the association’s annual conference.
According to the association’s Executive Director Patty Morgan, “You can always trust in Dee Ann to get a job done. Throughout her term on the Board of Directors she has willingly taken on numerous tasks and executed them completely and thoroughly in every case. Just one example is her pushing forward to create the Distinguished Researcher Award which is new this year and would not have happened without Dee Ann ... more than providing good ideas, Dee Ann knows how to achieve results and demonstrates it time and time again.”
During the presentation, McKinney was recognized for her strong leadership as Program Chair of the 2007 conference when she “assembled an excellent program well in advance of prior years which resulted in strong reviews of the conference and to drive (up) attendance.” She is considered by many to be a vital resource in the State Researchers’ group and has stepped in to run the semi-annual meeting when needed plus being a strong and active member of the State & Provincial Tourism Researchers’ International ListServe.”
According to regional TTRA CenStates Chapter President Dr. Daniel Erkkila, Head of the North Central Research & Outreach Center for the University of Minnesota, “Dee Ann has also stepped in as a sustaining member for the CenStates Board, assisting through many transitions although she has been off the CenStates board herself for a number of years; she still continues to be involved on a high level when support is needed.”
When asked about the award, McKinney said she was totally taken by surprise. “The award isn’t given every year and I wasn’t aware that it would be given this year. I couldn’t be more honored and pleased that my efforts to assist others who are responsible for tourism marketing research as well as to further the mission of TTRA has been rewarded.”
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