Leadership

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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