Darlynne Reyes Menkin is President and Owner of Where You Want to Be Tours, Inc. and Out of the Ordinary, two award-winning companies that design and facilitate team building & wellness programs and curated tour experiences.

Peggy Cooper is an expert with 35 years in public relations, politics, tourism, aviation, community outreach and engagement, airport planning, project management, business development, strategic planning, and critical thinking. She has a trusted reputation with high visibility and is skilled at handling both local and national protocol. Peggy has two days in San Diego permanently named in her honor by the San Diego Mayor and City Council, worked 19 years in politics including 6 years for the United States Congress and 13 years at San Diego City Hall under two prominent Council members of the Fourth Council District. 

Giving back to the beautiful City of San Diego that has given me so much is very important.

Lucy Burni is an accomplished business woman, devout mother, and serves multiple community organizations. In her professional life, she is a seasoned commercial real estate and hospitality professional with over 30 years of experience, ranging from property management, leasing, financing, and acquisition to development and renovation.

Karima Zaki, CHA, was an original recipient of the Women in Tourism & Hospitality (WITH) recognition and has spent more than three decades building a career defined by leadership, innovation, and results.

Julia Slocombe serves as the Senior Vice President of Operations & Industry Relations for Smart City Networks, where she oversees operations at convention centers across the western United States. With a career spanning over two decades at Smart City Networks, Ms. Slocombe has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership in technology and telecommunications operations. Her responsibilities include ensuring alignment with client and industry relationships, identifying new sales opportunities, and spearheading impactful initiatives to support the company's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) objectives. 

Patti Roscoe moved to San Diego from Buffalo, NY, in the mid-sixties and discovered a career in hospitality, spending fifteen years in the hotel and destination management segments of the industry. In 1981 she founded PRA Destination Management Company. In the mid-nineties, expansion plans led her to franchise her five Southern California offices. In 2007, she sold her then nineteen offices to a European-based company.

Marilyn Hannes is a Global Strategic Advisor for United Parks & Resorts after transitioning from her role as Corporate Senior Vice President of Strategic Relationships which began in April 2021. She is responsible for Strategic Leadership for Global Sales for thirteen theme parks, strategic partners, alliances, and promotions as well as new sales channels. Prior, Hannes served as the first woman Park President at SeaWorld San Diego and Aquatica Waterpark, responsible for all operations for both parks with more than 4,000 ambassadors and 12,000 animals. Hannes began her 28-year career with United Parks & Resorts (Formerly SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment) as Director of Travel Industry Sales for SeaWorld San Diego where she also served as the Vice President of Marketing and Sales.

Dania Duke is a seasoned hospitality executive with over 30 years of industry experience and a proven track record of leading high performing teams and driving operational excellence across premier hotel brands. Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles with globally recognized companies including Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, and Margaritaville Resorts, as well as a range of independent hotels, giving her a well-rounded perspective across diverse markets and operating models.