Visit Quad Cities Announces New Board Chairman
Visit Quad Cities announces its full slate of officers and board members for fiscal year 2022-2023.
“I’m honored to serve as the next chairman of Visit Quad Cities and continue working alongside engaged community leaders to push the Quad Cities forward,” said Benjamin Leischner, A.A.E. “Dave and his team have made tremendous progress putting the Quad Cities on the map as a destination for tourism, conferences and major events. I believe the pathway between visitors and residents is directly connected when people visit our region and see how family-friendly and affordable it is. Whether you’re a young professional, family, or simply looking to make a change, experiencing what the QC has to offer is a great first step. I’m excited to see where our work takes us over the next year and continue working toward a bright future for the Quad Cities region.”
Ben Leischner is executive director of Quad Cities International Airport.
Visit Quad Cities Executive Committee and Officers
Ben Leischner, Chairman
Kai Swanson, Immediate Past Chairman
Corri Spiegel, First Vice-Chair
Maria Ontiveros, Second Vice-Chair
Mo Hyder, Treasurer
Dave Herrell, Secretary
Visit Quad Cities Board of Directors
Neil Dahlstrom, Deere & Company
John DeDoncker, TBK Bank
Mayor Bob Gallagher, City of Bettendorf
Todd Hajduk, TPC Deere Run
Michelle Hargrave, Figge Art Museum
Dave Herrell, Visit Quad Cities; Ex officio
Nick Holke, Element Hotel
Mo Hyder, Rhythm City Casino Resort
Maria Ontiveros is co-founder and president of Mercado on Fifth.
Tony Knobbe, Scott County Board of Supervisors
Ben Leischner, Quad Cities International Airport
Maria Ontiveros, Mercado on Fifth
Brandy Poston, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati, City of Moline
Jennifer Sautter, MindFire Communications
Corri Spiegel, City of Davenport
Kai Swanson, Rock Island County, Illinois & Augustana College
Mayor Mike Thoms, City of Rock Island
“We are grateful for our board’s continued strong leadership and support of our values, mission, and brand promise, said Dave Herrell, President and CEO, Visit Quad Cities. “Tourism is crucial to our economy’s recovery and future positioning. Tourism matters because it leads to increased visitation, revenue creation, brand image, and talent. Our board’s commitment to modernizing tourism so that we can remain competitive is deeply appreciated. We are continually humbled by their passion and stewardship for the Quad Cities regional destination. It’s a phenomenal team of leaders and we look forward to Mr. Leischner’s energy and guidance during the coming year.”
