| | Janis Schmees Executive Director 
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Janis Schmees began her tourism career working in various hotel chains in the Detroit area, eventually overseeing the sales and marketing initiatives for the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau. During her tenure in Detroit, Janis’ team secured some major sporting events to include the Ryder Cup 2004, Super Bowl 2006, and the AAU Jr. Olympics 2003 and 2007. She also assisted in establishing the Detroit Metro Sports Commission, a subsidiary of the CVB, and was a founding board member of the Motor City Bowl. She later assumed the role as CEO and President of Hershey Capital Region Visitors Bureau, where she became a registered lobbyist and played a key role in advocating tourism throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as educating legislators in Washington D.C. on the driving force and positive economic impact that the sports and hospitality industry creates in the United States. Next, Janis was recruited to serve as the Acting Executive Director at the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau, where tourism is the second largest industry and captures over 23 million visitors a year. She worked closely with the San Antonio Sports Foundation, Alamo Bowl and the City of San Antonio to bid and service premiere conventions and sporting events. She relocated to Houston in July 2006 and became the third Executive Director at the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority since its inception in 1997. Since her arrival, Houston has been awarded two NCAA National Championship Festivals, 2011 National Senior Games, 2012 Junior OIympics and U. S. Olympic Team Trials-Boxing. Janis was also recognized by Conference USA and Rice University for her outstanding contributions and achievements as a woman in the Houston sports industry.
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