area map calendar
Chat With Us Industry Resources Meetings Group Tour Media Blog Newsletters About Us Move to Cleveland

Things To Do

Things to DoMajor AttractionsArts & EntertainmentCultureExperiences & ToursHolidayKidsMusicNightlifeParks & OutdoorShoppingSportsSpringSummerFallWinterSearch Things to Do

Featured

Welcome to The Land of Never a Dull Moment

Uniquely Cleveland Experiences

Don’t just visit The Land, experience it. Check out some of the authentic Cleveland experiences available on your next visit, ready to show you who we really are.

Events

EventsEvents This WeekendEvent CalendarAnnual EventsMonthly Events PDFSubmit an Event

Featured

Welcome to The Land of Never a Dull Moment

Uniquely Cleveland Experiences

Don’t just visit The Land, experience it. Check out some of the authentic Cleveland experiences available on your next visit, ready to show you who we really are.

Eat + Drink

Eat + DrinkDowntown RestaurantsBakeries & SweetsBars & BreweriesCoffee, Brunch, & BreakfastSearch Places to Eat + Drink

Featured

2025

Brewery Passport

Few towns can boast a craft beer pedigree like Cleveland. We’ve brought together many of our finest breweries to create the Cleveland Brewery Passport: a unified way for you to explore everything this city has to offer without going thirsty.

Where To Stay

Where to StayDowntown Cleveland HotelsCleveland Airport HotelsUniversity Circle HotelsSearch all HotelsSearch Meeting Venues

Planning Tools

Planning ToolsKnow Before You GoChat With UsCleveland Visitors CenterDeals & Special OffersGetting to ClevelandHealth & SafetyMapsSubscribe to e-NewslettersRequest an Official Insider GuideTransportation in ClevelandTravel InspirationOfficial Insider Guide Guía Oficial de ClevelandLGBTQ+ Insider Guide

Featured

The latest and greatest happenings in The Land.

2024 Official Insider Guide

This essential visitors guide is a resource of inspirational content for both visitors and locals alike.

Neighborhoods

NeighborhoodsDowntown ClevelandCleveland NeighborhoodsCleveland SuburbsCleveland Region

TV

TVThe Land for LifeCleveland CreativesLegends of The Land Podcast

Featured

Answering those burning questions we all have about Cleveland

Legends of The Land Podcast

This is Legends of The Land, a podcast series that centers on some of those absolutely burning questions we all have about Cleveland — the kind of stuff no one is talking about – but probably should.

« Back to Who We Are

Leadership

Senior Leadership

David Gilbert

President & CEO

Bio

Hannah Belsito

Chief Experience Officer

Bio

Sheila Dollaske

Chief People and Business Operations Officer

Bio

Marie Scalia

Chief Marketing Officer

Bio

Gordon Taylor III

Chief Sales Officer

Bio

Jennifer Valencic

Vice President of Destination Engagement

Bio

Steven Dieringer

Vice President of Finance

Bio

Emily Lauer

Vice President of PR/Communications

Bio

Sharrona Burns

Vice President of Sales & Services Operations

Bio

David Gilbert, he/him/his

President & CEO

With a passion for all things Cleveland, David Gilbert joined Destination Cleveland in 2011, adding to his role as president and CEO of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. From 2015 through 2017, he led the Cleveland Host Committee for the 2016 Republican National Convention.
 
David’s focus includes identifying new ways for the organization to contribute to the economic growth of the industry and region through its visitor attraction and destination management efforts. He also works collaboratively with civic and public partners to design innovative initiatives that advance the region. Under his leadership, efforts to promote Cleveland as an exciting, vibrant destination have contributed to 20% visitation growth and a 40% increase in visitor-generated direct sales since 2011. Additionally, Cuyahoga County’s annual visitation growth rate has consistently outpaced the domestic visitation growth rate during his tenure, including over nine consecutive years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
David also dedicates his time to several organizations. He serves as Chair of the North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation Board and as a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, and many other local, national and international organization Boards of Directors. During his career, he has been recognized as one of Cleveland’s “30 Influencers of the Past 30 Years” by Crain’s Cleveland Business, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and the 2016 SME Cleveland Business Executive of the Year Award.
 
David holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Cleveland State University. He holds an honorary doctorate from Baldwin-Wallace University. When not busy enjoying Cleveland’s Metroparks on his bike, David travels, trains for marathons and hangs out with his family.

LinkedIn Profile

Hannah Belsito, she/her/hers

Chief Experience Officer

Hannah Belsito leads the team focused on applying community and consumer insights to develop authentic Cleveland experiences for visitors. She considers her work at Destination Cleveland to be a dream job, allowing her to combine her love of new experiences with the opportunity to work with people who are excited to share their hometown with the world.

Since joining Destination Cleveland in 2011, Hannah and her team’s effort to enhance and update Cleveland’s destination experience have included several notable projects, including the ideation, design, site selection and installation of the now-renowned Cleveland script signs.

Hannah holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from John Carroll University and a master’s degree in urban planning, design & development from Cleveland State University. She brought experience across multiple sectors to Destination Cleveland and currently serves on U.S. Travel Association’s At-Large Board of Directors.

Hannah and her family live in Lakewood and frequently take advantage of the city’s outdoor experiences, including flying kites at Edgewater Park or bike riding through the Metroparks and on the Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail.

LinkedIn profile

Sheila Dollaske, she/her/hers

Chief People and Business Operations Officer

Sheila Dollaske is a Cleveland boomerang, returning to The Land after two decades away. A forever Clevelander to the core who loves the city’s uniqueness, she jumped at the chance to lead Destination Cleveland’s organizational management team. In her role, Sheila oversees and supports all the “behind-the-scenes” work to ensure the team has all it needs to be successful. This includes human resources, operations/facilities, IT, and finance.

Sheila holds a bachelor’s degree from Butler University and advanced degrees from Indiana University and Columbia University. Prior to joining Destination Cleveland, she spent seven years at Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, most recently as senior director of strategy and HR operations. Sheila also has experience in education, having worked with Teach for America and as a teacher and administrator. She was named a 2023 finalist for “Indy’s Best and Brightest” and gives back as a board member for College Mentors for Kids.

An avid Cleveland sports fan, Sheila enjoys perfecting her pickleball game on the area’s many courts. During the summer months, she can be found experiencing Cleveland’s diverse celebrations and festivals with her husband and son and spending time outdoors with her dog.

LinkedIn profile

Marie Scalia, she/her/hers

Chief Marketing Officer

Marie Scalia has been part of the marketing team for Destination Cleveland since 2012. In her current role, she is responsible for overseeing the organization’s integrated marketing efforts, including development and management of the Cleveland brand, digital marketing, web development and major event campaigns. 

Marie holds a bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communications with a minor in marketing from Kent State University and an MBA from Cleveland State University. Shortly after joining the organization, she was part of the work to define and introduce the Cleveland visitor brand, resulting, most notably, in the creation of the now-viral hashtag #ThisIsCLE and Cleveland script signs. She was a key part of the work to bring ABC’s “The Bachelor” to Cleveland for an episode in 2019 and instrumental in the local marketing efforts for the 2021 NFL Draft and 2022 NBA All-Star Game. In 2021, Marie was named a Distinguished Sales and Marketing Awardrecipient by SME Cleveland.

Her list of Cleveland favorites includes strolling the stalls at West Side Market, chowing down in Little Italy, experiencing the city’s culture at the Cleveland Museum of Art and connecting with nature along the lakefront.

LinkedIn profile

Gordon Taylor III, he/him/his

Chief Sales Officer

Gordon Taylor III leads the Convention Sales & Services team, which focuses on selling Cleveland as a meetings, conventions and events host city and provides meeting planners and event attendees with a first-class experience before and while they are here. Gordon and his team pride themselves on sharing the energy of the city and making everyone feel like they are part of the Cleveland community. 

Gordon joined Destination Cleveland in 2019 after spending more than 20 years at leading hotel properties, including Hyatt Regency Austin, Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago and, most recently, the Waldorf Astoria Chicago and Conrad Chicago, which he helped to open in 2016. 

Gordon holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communication and rhetoric from Eastern Illinois University. A native of Macomb, Ill., Gordon feels he belonged in Cleveland from the moment he arrived – saying there’s “no waiting period” to be a true Clevelander.

Outside of the office, he enjoys grilling and cooking, letting other people do the cooking at Cleveland’s many diverse restaurants, playing sports with his children and traveling with his wife to see new cities and hotels.

LinkedIn profile

Jennifer Valencic, she/her/hers

Vice President of Destination Engagement

Jen Valencic, who joined Destination Cleveland in 2013, oversees the organization’s community and stakeholder engagements. Her team manages relationships with local hospitality businesses, corporate partners and local government and economic development partners. The team also leads efforts to welcome locals and visitors at the Cleveland Visitors Center.
 
Jen takes pride in knowing the work the organization does is changing perceptions of the city. She has served on the Local Organizing Committees for the 2016 Republican National Convention, the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, the 2021 NFL Draft and the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. In 2019, she also helped lead the effort to host ABC’s “The Bachelor” for a Cleveland-based episode, which put the city in front of a global audience.

Jen holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications from Ohio University. Prior to Destination Cleveland, Jen worked for five years at Junior Achievement of Greater Cleveland. She gives back to the community as a member of the Northern Ohio Advisory Board of Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. 
 
Jen and her husband love exploring the Cleveland area through the eyes of their three children, whether it’s spending a day on the water or visiting the animals at the zoo. The family finds any excuse they can to visit Downtown Cleveland and appreciates that they are just a short drive from so many other cities and experiences.

LinkedIn profile

Steven Dieringer, he/him/his

Vice President of Finance

Steven Dieringer, who joined the organization in August 2019, keeps Destination Cleveland's financials in top form. He focuses on streamlining policies, procedures and reports related to the organization’s financial operations and takes pride in seeing how his team’s behind-the-scenes work for projects comes to life to benefit the community.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Steven provided critical financial updates to Destination Cleveland leadership and helped to guide the organization through the significant financial impact by implementing procedures that allowed his team to carefully monitor cash flow, pursue emergency funding and recommend the return of programs in a sustainable manner.

Steven is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a master’s degree in accountancy from University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He enjoys making a mark on the community through his service on the Associate Board of Malachi House.

Steven is a keen fan of the beauty of Cleveland summers and spends the warmer months visiting Edgewater Park and Whiskey Island, taking in concerts at Nautica Pavilion, attending some of the city’s many festivals and experiencing Cleveland’s culinary scene.

LinkedIn profile

Emily Lauer, she/her/hers

Vice President of PR/Communications

As a Cleveland native, Emily Lauer relishes the opportunity to promote her hometown. She develops and oversees the implementation of Destination Cleveland’s PR strategies that contribute to changing perceptions and strengthening the narrative of Cleveland. She also leads B2B communication efforts to bolster community understanding of the organization’s work and travel and tourism’s economic impact.

Since joining Destination Cleveland in 2015, Emily has been instrumental in the PR and communications efforts surrounding Cleveland’s hosting of several large-scale national events. Among those was her leadership of the PRSA Silver Anvil Award-winning PR and communications efforts for the Cleveland Host Committee for the 2016 Republican National Convention. She also led visiting media efforts for the 2021 NFL Draft and the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. 

Prior to joining Destination Cleveland, she spent 18 years at two marketing communications agencies in Cleveland. A graduate of Bowling Green State University, she is a longtime PRSA member and is Accredited in Public Relations by UAB.

Emily enjoys exploring Cleveland’s greenspaces and spends the warm weather months taking advantage of living just a short walk from the Lake Erie shore on the East side. When not globetrotting, she can be found experiencing Cleveland’s independent music venues and seeking out unique culinary experiences throughout the city.

LinkedIn profile

Sharrona Burns, she/her/hers

Vice President of Sales & Services Operations

Sharrona Burns was born, raised and educated in Cleveland. She shares a genuine love and passion for her hometown while serving as a strategic business leader within her department. Sharrona manages the convention sales and services team to bring economic impact-generating conventions and group business to The Land. 
 
Sharron joined Destination Cleveland in January 2020, bringing more than 25 years of sales experience to the organization, most recently as the senior director of sales for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and with a previous stop at the Cleveland Play House. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cleveland State University. She is accredited as a Certified Tour Professional (CTP) with the National Tour Association and holds the Certified Travel Industry Specialist (CTIS) designation from the American Bus Association and is a 2012 graduate of the Ohio Travel Association Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy. Her work has been recognized by SMEI Akron, SME Cleveland and the Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation.
 
Sharrona currently serves on the board of the Cleveland State University Alumni Association. In her free time, she enjoys exploring Cleveland’s restaurants and entertainment districts, spending time near Lake Erie and visiting the world-class arts and cultural institutions in town.

LinkedIn profile

Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Jon Pinney
Chairman

Managing Partner
Kohrman, Jackson and Krantz

Ann Zoller
Secretary

Senior Advisor
Strategy Design Partners

Randy McShepard
Vice Chair

Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief Talent Officer
RPM International, Inc.

Pat Pastore
Vice Chair

Regional President - Cleveland
PNC Bank

Brenda Kirk
Treasurer

 

 

Bruce Akers
Former Mayor
City of Pepper Pike

Dr. Laura Bloomberg
President
Cleveland State University

Kate Borders
President
University Circle, Inc.

Brandon Bryant
Co-Founder and Partner
Harlem Capital

Micki Byrnes
Chief Communications Officer
Adcom

Bradford Davy
Chief Strategy Officer
City of Cleveland

Robert Falls
President & CEO
Falls & Co.

Adam Fishman
Managing Partner
Fairmount Properties

Bill Griswold
Director & President
Cleveland Museum of Art

Greg Harris
President & CEO
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Craig Hassall
President & CEO
Playhouse Square

David Heller
President & CEO
The NRP Group LLC

Robert Hill
Area General Manager
IHG Hotels & Resorts

Erik Janas
Chief of Staff
Cuyahoga County

Michael Jeans
President & CEO
Growth Opportunity Partners, Inc.

JW Johnson
Executive Vice President
Cleveland Browns

Nathan Kelly
President & Managing Director
Cushman & Wakefield | CRESCO Real Estate

Tammy LeBlanc
General Manager
Hilton Cleveland Downtown

India Pierce Lee
Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer
Cuyahoga Community College

Paul Matsen
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Cleveland Clinic

Darrell L. McNair
President/CEO
MVP Plastics

Sam McNulty
Co-Founder
Market Garden Brewery

Bob Megazzini
General Manager
Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower

Tania Menesse
CEO & President
Cleveland Neighborhood Progress

Shawn Riley
President
McDonald Hopkins

Baiju Shah
CEO
Greater Cleveland Partnership

Jason Therrien
President
thunder::tech

Julie Tutkovics

Daniel Walsh Jr.
CEO
Citymark Capital

The Honorable Patrick Ward
Mayor
City of Lyndhurst

Eric Wobser
CEO
Greater Sandusky Partnership

Brian Zimmerman
Chief Executive Officer
Cleveland Metroparks

Who We Are

Contact Us

Things To Do Events Eat & Drink Where To Stay Planning Tools Neighborhoods
Meetings Group Tour Media Partners Partner Extranet About Us Move to Cleveland Jobs Contact
Copyright © 2025 Destination Cleveland
Privacy Terms of Use Legal Sitemap