|
|
..
...
|
BIO-SKETCH
OF DAVID J. SAUNDERS •
Chapter President of
Mid-Atlantic Region of
Africa Travel
Association from
1997-2001. During his
tenure, he substantially
elevated the stature of
the ATA organization by
establishing ongoing
networking relationships
with numerous travel and
tourism industry
professionals,
non-governmental
organizations, chambers
of commerce,
governmental agencies,
and members of the
African Diplomatic
Corps. •
During his tenure, the
Mid-Atlantic Chapter
received an Outstanding
Service Award from the
ATA organization.
Several examples of
activities that merited
his recognition for such
a prestigious award from
his peers included,
hosting ATA's "Best of
Africa" event,
sponsoring ATA
promotional activities
during Congressional
Black Caucus Legislative
Week, and sponsoring
travel and tourism
forums with the District
of Columbia's Chamber of
Commerce, Blacks In
Government, Constituency
for Africa and Corporate
Council on Africa.
•
Created the Chapter
Presidents' Forum
Initiative, whereby ATA
Chapter Presidents meet
at the ATA Congress in
order to share ideas and
information amongst each
other. •
Created the New Members'
Orientation Forum
Initiative, whereby new
members to the ATA
organization are
provided with news and
information during the
ATA
Congress. • Chairperson
of ATA Membership
Committee as well as
member of the
Constitution Advisory
Committee, Plans,
Programs and Development
Committee, Education and
Training Committee and
Awards
Committee. •
As Chairperson of
Membership Committee,
revitalized the Atlanta
ATA Chapter and provided
advice and counsel
during initial year's
formation. •
Member of the ATA
Constitution Advisory
Committee that recently
revised the ATA
Constitution and
By-Laws. Made
significant
contributions to the
language of the document
and lobbied amongst
fellow ATA Board Members
for eventual approval
and acceptance of the
revisions and
addendums. •
Frequent contributing
writer of more than
sixty (60) newsworthy
articles and papers
published by the Africa
Travellers Journal,
Africa Travel Magazine,
Africa Travel
Association's Website
and Black Meetings and
Tourism
Magazine. In
addition to the above
ATA-related activities,
he has further expanded
the AA organization's
influence and
recognition through
ongoing outreach
activities to
include: • As
the Director of
Administration and
Management Services for
the Constituency for
Africa, he has been able
to effectively lobby
federal government
agencies and
congressional
representatives about
the value-added benefits
of the travel and
tourism industry of
Africa in relationship
to the African Growth
and Opportunity Act
(AGOA). •
Co-wrote a proposal to
link small and
medium-sized American
businesses with their
counterparts in Africa,
which was awarded to the
Constituency for Africa
by the United States
Agency for International
Development (USAID).
Within this USAID grant,
he was able to
incorporate a
significant component
that emphasized trade
and investment
opportunities in the
travel, tourism and
hospitality industries
of
Africa. •
Co-wrote a proposal to
provide a fifteen-week
internship program for
students of American
colleges and
universities to gain
substantial knowledge
and insight about Africa
through an internship
with the Constituency
for Africa, which
culminates in a two-week
study abroad program in
Africa. The
Congressional Black
Caucus and U.S. State
Department subsequently
endorsed this unique
program for
consideration with their
Foreign Service Cultural
Diversity
Programs. •
Effectively collaborates
with World Bank Africa
Club and other
Africa-oriented
non-governmental
organizations in order
to provide consultative
advice on the role of
the travel and tourism
industry in Africa with
resultant economic
growth and development.
Serves on numerous
advisory committees in
the capacity of an
advisor on travel and
tourism-related trade
and investment
opportunities on the
Continent of
Africa. In
addition to the above,
Mr. Saunders serves on
the following
international
boards: •
Member of the
Franchise3Group, which
is an international
organization devoted to
the promotion of
franchise investments
and ownership throughout
the world. He currently
serves in an advisory
role for travel and
tourism-related
franchise investment
opportunities on the
Continent of Africa.
•
Small Business
Administration's
International Trade
Advisory Council with a
specific focus on the
Continent of Africa and
the African Growth and
Opportunity Act
(AGOA). •
Executive Director of
the American and African
Business Women's
Alliance (AABWA), which
is an international
organization devoted to
the empowerment of
entrepreneurship between
American and African
women business
owners. •
Special Advisor to
Students In Free
Enterprise-Africa, which
is a non-profit
organization that is
devoted to creating
entrepreneurial training
and related business
opportunities for
students in colleges and
universities across
Africa. |
Poised for
growth Encouraging
facts in Tourism's
favor A pattern set
by Caribbean Tourism |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
