Join us on Thursday, November 14th. Kris Keprios, senior tourism sales and marketing manager with Visit Central Florida and Dan Chesnicka, executive director with Theatre Winter Haven will be the guest speakers. They plan to share tourism statistics for Polk County and the various strategies used to promote Polk County as a destination. We’ll also get some insight into how Polk County landed Avelo Airlines commercial air service. The event takes place in Winter Haven at the AdventHealth Fieldhouse, Room B.

Kris started his career as an intern with PCTSM in 2003, while attending Florida Southern College. Kris was then hired as a Communications Specialist with Tourism and Sports Marketing where he oversaw the communications and public relations for the sports marketing side of the operation before tourism and sports marketing offices merged in 2003. As his role developed, Kris became more involved in tourism marketing. He was then selected as Senior Tourism Sales and Marketing Manager in 2012.

In this current role, he develops and manages PCTSM’s strategic marketing plan and all advertising, sales and promotions initiatives that promote Polk County as a tourism destination throughout the U.S. and internationally. In addition to tourism marketing, Kris oversees PCTSM’s tourism sales initiatives that involve consumer travel shows, group travel, meetings and conventions and other global tourism sales initiatives.

Kris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Florida Southern College in 2003 and has lived in Polk County for more than 40 years. He is also a Past President of the Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association and has served on boards for VISIT FLORIDA, the Florida Public Relations Association and Destinations Florida. Kris has been married to his wife, Stacey, for almost 20 years and they have two children, Hannah, who is 15 and Grant, who is 11.

Dan Chesnicka spent thirteen years in the entertainment industry at Walt Disney World. While there, he had leadership roles on the Destination Disney Marketing team, specializing in ticketing strategy and integrating technology into the guest experience.

Dan was on the opening teams of Disney’s Wide World of Sports and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. He was also a Guest Relations executive and responsible for building the Magic Kingdom’s Guided Tour business.

Following a brief stint as Marketing Director for a product development company, Dan founded his own company and became a successful inventor and product development consultant. He holds multiple patents and his products can be found on the shelves of major retailers all over the country.

Dan sold his company in 2013. A longtime “theatre dad” and Theatre Winter Haven volunteer and board member, Dan was selected to succeed Norman Small, the theatre’s founder upon Norm’s retirement in 2015.

Dan Chesnicka is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Isenberg School of Management.

Upcoming event:

In lieu of a meeting in December, join us for a holiday party at The Joinery on Thursday, December, 12 at 5:30pm.