Team & Leadership

Meet the Brand USA Team

Brand USA's dynamic team brings together some of the brightest and most experienced minds in global sales and marketing, consumer products and services, and the travel and tourism industry. Browse this page to learn more about our team.

Team & Leadership
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Honolulu, Hawaii
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Cassady Bailey

Vice President, Partner Engagement & Marketing

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Something Interesting

I used to work as a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas.

Hometown/Home State

Charleston, West Virginia

Favorite Travel Destination

I enjoy white water rafting on the New and Gauley rivers near Fayetteville, WV (have been over 30 times) and for a more relaxing getaway, I love Sonoma, CA.

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Jackie Ennis at North Rim, Grand Canyon
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Jackie Ennis

Vice President, Global Trade Development

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Favorite Travel Memory

Circling the Statue of Liberty for first time.

Community Service

Delivering Meals on Wheels in remote northern Vermont homes.

Hometown/Home State

Stowe, Vermont

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Mark Lapidus in Fairfax, Virginia
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Mark Lapidus

Vice President, Content & Marketing Technology

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Favorite Travel Memory

North Carolina’s Outer Banks! If you love quiet beaches with amazing sunsets and fishing, Route 12 is the place!

Something Interesting

Mark was the final Program Director for one of the USA’s most iconic disc jockeys, the late Wolfman Jack.

Hometown/Home State

Arlington, Virginia

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Brian Watkins in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
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Brian Watkins

Vice President, Technology

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Favorite Travel Memory

For Spring Break 2015, taking my family (wife and 4 daughters) to Cancun, Mexico. Kids were old enough to appreciate a different culture.

Something Interesting

Played in a semi-pro Spanish soccer league for 4 years.

Favorite Travel Destination

Outer Banks, North Carolina. Vacationing in the 4x4 beach area and waking up to the wild horses roaming around outside the house.

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Rosina Barbastefano in Portland, Oregon
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Rosina Barbastefano

Senior Director, Insights & Analytics

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Favorite Travel Memory

First trip to Naples, Florida with my wife.

Hometown/Home State

Cali, Colombia

Favorite Travel Destination

Portland, Oregon

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Susan Billings in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
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Susan Zachar

Senior Director, Brand

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Favorite Travel Memory

Visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands via sailboat.

Hometown/Home State

Chicago, Illinois — The Windy City!

Favorite Travel Destination

Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado - the most beautiful hiking and camping I've ever experienced.

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Grand Canyon, Arizona
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Alexis Adelson

Director, Events

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Favorite Travel Memory

Skydiving on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with my younger brother and summer camp colleagues.

Something Interesting

My secret talent is that I am licensed to drive motorcycles and school buses. However, these days I stick to my car!

Hometown/Home State

Potomac, Maryland

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Picture in Victoria, British Columbia.
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Chelsea Benitez

Director, Consumer Research

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Hometown/Home State

Los Angeles, California

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Los Angeles, California
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Skylar Clark

Director, Strategic Partnerships

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Favorite Travel Memory

As a child, my family loved to take cruises down to U.S. Virgin Islands. I have the best memories exploring the different islands and swimming with dolphins!

Hometown/Home State

Solomon’s Island, Maryland. It’s popular for its sailing, seafood, and beautiful sunset views.

Favorite Travel Destination

I love the beauty and culture of San Diego, California. Plus, the beaches are great for surfing and have my favorite animal: seals!

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Taj Mahal
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Chris Ellis

Director, Partner Engagement

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Favorite Travel Memory

Watching the sunset over the Gulf Coast while in Sanibel Beach, Florida.

Hometown/Home State

Born in the United Kingdom but lived most of my life outside of the U.K.

Favorite Travel Destination

Denver, Colorado

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Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Idaho
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Luke Hennig

Director, Partner Operations

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Favorite Travel Memory

I got the travel bug early when my family lived in India for five months and I spent half my eighth grade year at an international school!

Community Service

As co-chair of Brand USA’s Corporate Social Responsibility committee, I am honored to help shape Brand USA’s approach to giving back.

Hometown/Home State

I’m proud of my home state of Minnesota for its many “hidden gem” experiences for visitors, especially in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA).

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Joshua Tree National Park
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Julie Paulson

Director, Partner Programs

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Favorite Travel Memory

Family trips to Ocean City, Maryland. We always had a great time enjoying the festivities and rides on the 3 mile long boardwalk.

Travel in the USA

I have visited 26 states and have lived in 7 of them.

Something Interesting

I am an amusement park fanatic and have visited 20 theme parks and have braved some of the world’s tallest roller coasters.

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Mount Hood, Oregon
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Jennifer Ross

Director, Media & In-Kind Planning

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Favorite Travel Memory

Family vacations to the Great Smoky Mountains growing up

Community Service

Community Outreach for Capital Rowing Club

Hometown/Home State

Charleston, South Carolina

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New Orleans, Louisiana
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Suzy Shepard

Director, Global Trade Development (Asia Pacific)

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Something Interesting

I’ve been doing Krav for about 5 years now and am Level 4.

Hometown/Home State

San Jose, Costa Rica

Favorite Travel Destination

Somewhere new that I have never been to before.

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Rianna Airitam
Shape Created with Sketch. San Diego, California
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Rianna Airitam

Senior Manager, Partner Operations

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Favorite Travel Memory

​I got stuck in Boston, Massachusetts once due to heavy snow and that was the first time I'd ever seen more than 6 inches of accumulation!

Travel in the USA

My family likes to road trip and I like seeing the changing scenery across states.

Hometown/Home State

Rowlett, Texas

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Packrafting on the Colorado River
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Aila Bereznak

Senior Salesforce Administrator

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Favorite Travel Memory

Paddleboarding among bioluminescence algae followed by a winter solstice bonfire on the beach in Mexico.

Hometown/Home State

Oak Creek, Colorado

Favorite Travel Destination

Istanbul

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Acadia National Park
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Dani Campana

Senior Manager, Partner Engagement

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Favorite Travel Memory

Annual family vacations to the Outer Banks, NC!

Something Interesting

My last name means "bell" in Italian and Spanish.

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Vail, Colorado
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Amanda Davis

Senior Manager, Global Trade Development (UK, Europe, India)

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Favorite Travel Memory

My favorite trip was a family road trip throughout Arizona, including stops in Sedona, Scottsdale, and the Grand Canyon.

Hometown/Home State

Richmond, Virginia

Favorite Travel Destination

The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. It's a hidden gem!

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Jerod Fuchs

Senior Manager, Partner Marketing

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Clemen Hernandez

Senior Manager, Media Planning

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Favorite Travel Memory

A family trip to the Great Smoky Mountains and watching the sunrise to welcome the new year

Something Interesting

My favorite holiday is Christmas and I have a collection of Santa Clauses of all sizes

Hometown/Home State

Miami, Florida

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Joshua Tree National Park
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Maya Hua

Senior Manager, Partner Engagement

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Hometown/Home State

Chicago, Il

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Picture MJung Asheville, NC
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Mimi Jung

Senior Manager, Branding & Design

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Favorite Travel Memory

Exploring wild waterfalls throughout the Asheville region in western North Carolina

Travel in the USA

Florida Keys—swimming and kayaking through the crystal clear waters alongside the diverse marine life

Hometown/Home State

The nation’s capital—Washington, D.C.

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Snowbird, Utah
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Chelsea Sullivan Kaiser

Senior Manager, Partner Marketing

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Favorite Travel Destination

St. Michael’s, Maryland. Picturesque seaside views, boutique shopping, and all-you-can-eat crab!

Community Service

Volunteers as a poll worker for elections

Favorite Travel Memory

Relaxing with friends in Beech Mountain, NC, a cozy ski town with incredible views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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Maria Santos in Washington, DC
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Maria Santos

Senior Manager, Brand

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Travel in the USA

My family and I spent every holiday and summer vacation while I was growing up going to Boca Raton, Florida and I would insist on going to Disney World every single time. Never got tired of it!

Hometown/Home State

Tenafly, New Jersey, but grew up in Caracas, Venezuela! – my heart is divided.

Favorite Travel Destination

There are many places in the U.S. that I want to go to still, all mostly around California: Yosemite, Napa Valley, and San Francisco!

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Grand Teton National Park, WY
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Philip (Phil) Dickieson

Manager, Events

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Favorite Travel Memory

Participated in the "52 Hike Challenge" and did 52 hikes in a year—spent the whole year traveling around the DC/MD/VA area finding new places to hike.

Hometown/Home State

Born in Washington, DC, and raised in Bethesda, MD, he now lives in DC where he soaks in the history and spends time learning more about the unique neighborhoods and culture.

Favorite Travel Destination

Maine! Whether you're braving the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean or hiking a mountain in Acadia National Park, there's always something exciting to do.

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Picture in Fort Myers, Florida
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Carolyn Qualls

Manager, Partner Marketing Programs

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Favorite Travel Memory

Family trips to Galveston Island, Texas.

Hometown/Home State

Arlington, Texas

Favorite Travel Destination

Costa Rica

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Picture at Delicate Arch, UT
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Coralis Rivera-Aponte

Senior Manager, Social Media

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Favorite Travel Memory

Going on a father-daughter road trip through Yellowstone.

Hometown/Home State

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Favorite Travel Destination

Mexico City

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Picture at Biltmore Estate in North Carolina
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Alex Dudich

Senior Coordinator, Partner Programs

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Favorite Travel Memory

Navigating Iceland's Ring Road with family.

Hometown/Home State

Wheeling, West Virginia

Favorite Travel Destination

Tie between Iceland and Czech Republic

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Michelle Harris

Senior Coordinator, Campaign Management

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Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan
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Desmon Hickson

Senior Coordinator, Global Trade (Asia Pacific)

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Favorite Travel Memory

Living with his host family in Japan.

Hometown/Home State

Baltimore, Maryland

Favorite Travel Destination

Japan

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