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Staff
Kim Phillips
Vice President, Denton CVB
Director, Denton Chamber of Commerce
For more than 21 years, Kim Phillips' career has been dedicated to Texas tourism, meeting planning and destination marketing. In 1989, she got her start with the Del Rio CVB in Del Rio, Texas. She then went on to work as the Convention Sales Manager at the Kerrville CVB bureau from 1995 to 1996. In 1996, Kim established the Lewisville CVB and served as its Director for the next seven years. She joined the Denton CVB as Vice President in February 2003.
Kim is also very involved at the regional and state levels of the tourism industry. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas Travel Industry Association and is Chair of the Board for the Texas Lakes Trail Region of the Texas Heritage Trails program. She is a past Chair of the Board for both the Texas Association of Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Dallas Fort Worth Area Tourism Council.
Kim has numerous professional and academic credits to her name:
- Professional Destination Marketing Certification from DMAI (formerly IACVB)
- Texas Destination Marketing Certification from TACVB
- AAS Degree in Business Management from Southwest Texas Junior College
- BAAS Degree in Community Service from University of North Texas
- Masters Degree in Journalism from University of North Texas
- Professional certification in Volunteer Management from UNT
- Kim is a certified Texas Friendly Hospitality Instructor and has trained over 1,000 individuals over the last decade
Kim enjoys community action and serves in various volunteer capacities including community cleanup programs and special events.
She is married to Tim Phillips, Media Specialist for the City of Lewisville. They have three children: Jennifer, age 29, also a UNT alum, Adam 23, and Christopher 17. Kim's hobbies include reading, writing, music, traveling, tennis, and outdoor recreation.
Dana Lodge, CMP
Director of Sales
dcvb@discoverdenton.com
Dana is the Director of Sales for the Denton Convention and Visitors Bureau. She has been with the bureau since 2005. She comes to the Denton CVB with over 15 years experience in the hospitality industry, having spent the bulk of her career in corporate and group sales for restaurants. She was previously the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Trail Dust Steak House and Friday's Front Row Grill located at The Ballpark in Arlington.
Having earned her Certified Meeting Professional, CMP certification from the Convention Industry Council, Dana is also a certified Texas Friendly Instructor. She holds a bachelor degree from the University of North Texas. She is a member of Meeting Planners International, American Bus Association, South Central Motorcoach Association and Texas Society of Association Executives. She served for 8 years on the Board of the Dallas Fort Worth Area Tourism Council, and continues to serve as an active member of the organization.
Dana and her husband, Tracy, reside just south of Denton. Dana enjoys raising and showing English Springer Spaniels.
Veronica Maldonado
Visitor Services & Communications Manager
admin@discoverdenton.com
As the Visitor Service Coordinator, Veronica's concentration is organization, logistics, customer service and local awareness. Her background includes eight years logistical service in the Texas Army National Guard and five years as the School Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator for J. Erik Jonsson Community School, a program of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, where she assisted in a collaborative process to educate low income families and increase parent involvement.
Service to the community is important toVeronica. She is a very active member in her church she has served as a translator, teacher and on her Parish Council. In an effort to preserve and spark interest about the history in her own community, Veronica serves as the Chair of the Archeology Committee on the Denton County Historical Commission.
Veronica and her husband, Jerry, are raising their two daughters Krystal, 13, and Isabel, 3, in Horse Country, just northeast of Denton. Her spare time is spent at volleyball and basketball games, volunteering at school, and driving young teenagers to the movies or the mall. But her true passions are reading about history, running, playing sports and dancing.
Vanessa Helvey
Information Assistant
info@denton-chamber.org
Vanessa Helvey is the CVB/Chamber Morning Information Assistant. Her duties include answering the phones, mailing out visitor packets, greeting and accommodating visitors/guests to the lobby, putting together packets for conferences coming through the area, responding/answering email inquiries and taking reservations/selling tickets for CVB and Chamber functions and events.
Vanessa Helvey received a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of North Texas. She grew up not far from Denton, in the Grayson County area and moved to Denton after high school to attend college. After a brief stint in Austin, she moved back to Denton and after various jobs, was hired by the Convention and Visitor Bureau. The job has been a rewarding one and Vanessa enjoys the people she works with. She enjoys promoting the Denton area and especially is proud of our Horse Country Tour. She is an aspiring singer/songwriter and plays out locally. Because of this, she is plugged into the Denton music area, which is rich with talent. Our music scene is recognized nationally because of the University of North Texas and its fine jazz program.
Judy Watkins
Information Assistant
Judy is one of the Information Assistants at the front desk of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, a part time position she has held since April of 2007. She enjoys helping newcomers find their way around Denton or sharing information with those inquiring about visiting the Denton Area. She is also involved as a step-on guide for the Horse Country Tours offered through the CVB. A native Texan born in Tyler, Judy has lived in Denton since 1968. She has witnessed the amazing growth of the business community, the roadways, and the population in Denton County through those years.
Following graduation from Texas Woman's University in 1986 with a BBA, she worked for Peterbilt Motors as a Senior Planner/Buyer until 1995. She changed hats at that time and took the position of Assistant Director of Purchasing for Denton County. She retired in 2005 from Denton County to travel with her husband. During her tenure with Denton County she earned her Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) certification from the National Association of Purchasing Managers. Over the years, she served as Treasurer, Secretary and President of the Public Purchasing Association (PPA) of North Central Texas.
Judy is an active member of the Denton First Baptist Church. She serves in the Jail Ministry through her church. She is married to Murray Watkins who is a retired Denton County Deputy Sherriff. They have two children: Rick Watkins and Barry Watkins and four grandchildren: Kacie, Cody, Joy and Shirlee; three dogs (Shi Tzus) Max, Rocky and Baxter.
Judy has a passion for studying history - Texas and Denton County history, especially. Reading about these subjects and sharing the information with others is one of the things she enjoys doing.
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