Davenport City Administrator Corri Spiegel has been named as the new board chair for Visit Quad Cities, the region’s destination marketing organization.
Visit Quad Cities officials announced the appointment of Ms. Spiegel on Tuesday, July 11, along with two new members to the board and the full slate of officers and board members. The new board will serve for fiscal year 2023-2024.
Joining the board are: Travis Hankins, vice president and general manager, Bally’s Quad Cities; and Allison Wright, partner at Pappas Wright, PC.
“I’m honored to serve as the next chair of Visit Quad Cities and continue working as a steward for tourism in the Quad Cities regional destination,” said Ms. Spiegel. “There are many sections of the QC being redeveloped and reimagined. I know from serving with the other community leaders on this board that we are committed to improving the region to remain competitive in the future.”
The Visit Quad Cities Executive Committee and officers include: Ms. Spiegel, chairwoman; Ben Leischner, immediate past chairman; Maria Ontiveros, first vice-chair; Jennifer Sautter, second vice-chair; Mo Hyder, treasurer; and Visit Quad Cities President and CEO Dave Herrell, secretary.
The board of directors include:
- Neil Dahlstrom, Deere & Company.
- John DeDoncker, community leader and TBK Bank Board member.
- Mayor Bob Gallagher, City of Bettendorf.
- Todd Hajduk, TPC Deere Run.
- Travis Hankins, Bally’s Quad Cities.
- Michelle Hargrave, Figge Art Museum.
- Dave Herrell; ex-officio.
- Nick Holke, Axis Hotel.
- Mo Hyder, Rhythm City Casino Resort.
- Ben Leischner, Quad Cities International Airport.
- John Maxwell, Scott County Board of Supervisors.
- Maria Ontiveros, Mercado on Fifth & Group O.
- Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati, City of Moline.
- Jennifer Sautter, MindFire Communications.
- Corri Spiegel, City of Davenport.
- Kai Swanson, Rock Island County and Augustana College.
- Mayor Mike Thoms, City of Rock Island.
- Allison Wright, Pappas Wright, PC.
“We are grateful for the talented team of regional leaders that serve our mission, vision, brand promise, and share our values,” Mr. Herrell said in a news release. “Tourism matters and its value to our regional economy and vitality must have strong community leaders and champions aligned with the legacy we want to create for the QC. Our board of directors continues to lead our regional destination into the future as we all strive to competitively position the Quad Cities to be a place where all visitors and Quad Citizens can thrive.”
Founded in 1990, Visit Quad Cities is the official and certified Destination Management and Marketing Organization (DMMO) for the region. The private nonprofit is charged with driving economic opportunity through tourism, building an authentic brand, telling and selling the Quad Cities’ story, and enhancing Quad Citizens’ quality of life and quality of place.
