Okaloosa County BOCC — September 15, 2015 — Martin Owen 080615 — reading text

Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council 2015 Membership Application (Deadline: August 14) Thank you for expressing interest to be considered for appointment to the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council (“Council”). The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners appreciates your willingness to serve your fellow citizens in a volunteer capacity. Please complete this application to the best of your ability and include a resume. Name: Martin Owen E-mail: martin.owen@wynvr.com Home Address: 2807 Lee Trevino Court, Shalimar, FL 32579 Phone Number (W / H / C):W: 850-301-3422 Alt. Phone Number (W / H / C): C: 850-420-1934 Place of Employment: ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals Are you a registered voter in Okaloosa County, Florida? YES ___ NO ___ Voter ID# 118226751 Do you now serve, or have you ever served, on an Okaloosa County Board or Committee? YES ___ NO ___ If YES, please list the board(s)/committee(s) and time period(s) served: ORAC - Tourism Representative - inception to current _________________________________________________________________________________________________ TDC 2014/15 Replaced previous member in mid term _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ I am interested in serving in the following capacity (CHECK ONE): ___ Owner or Operator of one of the following in Okaloosa County: Motels ___ Hotels ___ Recreational vehicle parks ___ Vacation Rentals or other tourist accommodations (please list) _________________________________ ___ Individual involved in the tourist industry who has demonstrated an interest in tourist development, but does not own or operate motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks or other tourist accommodations in Okaloosa County. Please attach a summary of your demonstrated interest in tourist development. Include a statement as to why you are interested in serving on the Council: I am deeply committed to tourism both in Okaloosa County and across NW Florida. I feel that development _________________________________________________________________________________________________ of Emerald Coast Tourism is essential to the economic wellbeing of the county and to preserving and _________________________________________________________________________________________________ creating employment. I believe that Okaloosa County can take the lead in promoting regional tourism. I have _________________________________________________________________________________________________ shown my committment to these points in the limited time I have so far served on the TDC. Include a statement about what your membership will add to the Council: _________________________________________________________________________________________________ With in excess of 40 years experience in travel and tourism workdwide, in areas covering accommodation, airlines, tourism related IT, distribution, tour operation and travel agency and marketing and budiness _________________________________________________________________________________________________ development, together being a permanent resident in Okaloosa for the past 10 years, i bring a unique, briad _________________________________________________________________________________________________ and stable view to how tourism should and does work in our area. All information provided will become a matter of public record and will be subject to public disclosure. I certify that the above information is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that a volunteer position provides for no compensation except that as may be provided by Florida Statute. 08/06/15 Signature Date Martin Owen Printed Name Please return completed application and resume to: Ed Schroeder Tourist Development Director Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department 1540 Miracle Strip Parkway SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 2015 TDC Membership Application Page 2 Martin Owen Profile Prior to joining ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals, Martin spent 40 years in the travel industry (Sales, Operations and Technology) in the UK, Continental 2807 Lee Trevino Court Europe, the USA and Australia. Martin has been involved in both corporate and Shalimar leisure travel. Within the leisure sector, he has covered retail, tour operating, hospi- Florida tality, vacation and corporate rentals and consolidation. He has also spent time in 32579 the airline sector, and worked extensively with IT and e-commerce in the travel in- United States dustry, Web Design and Web Marketing. Martin has been instrumental in company Home +1 850 651 2559 re-organization, restructuring, expansion into new markets and adoption of on-line Office +1 850 301 3422 sales strategies. Martin was born in England and is a US Citizen, having achieved Mobile +1 850 420 1934 citizenship in June 2010. He has a Diploma in Company Direction and Fellowships from the UK Institute of Directors and the Institute of Travel & Tourism. Martin is Vice-Chairman of the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce MAC, 2012 Chair of the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, sat on the Advertisng and Internet Committee of VisitFlorida in 2012, and currently sits on VisitFlorida’s International Committee, 2013 Chair of the Marketing Council of the Florida Restaurant & lodging Association (and remains on the council) and on the Policy Board of the Okaloosa County Economic Development Council. He has been appointed to the Okaloosa County RESTORE Act Advisory Committee, as the Travel Industry repre- sentative, by the Okaloosa County Commissioners. In 2014 he was appointed a Board member on the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council. Key business success · Crystal Beach Development - Established corporate branding across all compa- nies. Implemented Web Marketing and Social Networking. Launched marketing for new companies and divisions. Successfully handled press and public rela- tions. Planned and executed many large public events. · Global Systems Group – Developed and sold reservations system for specialist tour operators incorporating dynamic packaging and e-commerce tools. 1  · Travelbag plc – Grew company from £2m to £90m in 13 years. Expanded re- gionally by opening retail locations. Introduced new technology. · USAirtours – Revised business strategy to successfully attract outside invest- ment. · Port Philip Group – Successful integration of US company into group and ex- pansion of European and Australian operations. 2807 Lee Trevino Court · Sabre – Achieved savings of £2m in product distribution. Roll out of new prod- Shalimar ucts to major customers. Florida 32579 Key areas of expertise United States Home +1 850 651 2559 · Marketing · Travel industry business develop- Office +1 850 301 3422 ment Mobile +1 850 420 1934 · Web Marketing · Strategic planning and implementa- · Social networking tion · New Business Development · E-Commerce in Travel, Tourism & · Sales Hospitality · Management of regional and inter- · New Media Development national expansion · Company reorganization and culture · Account management change · Customer Relationship Management Experience September 2011 - Current ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals Marketing & Sales Director - Northwest Florida & Gulf Region 2  Managing the development, production and implementation of marketing strategies, community relations, and P/R efforts associated with ResortQuest's brand awareness, marketing and revenue objectives. March 2007 - September 2011 2807 Lee Trevino Court Crystal Beach Developments Shalimar Marketing & Advertising Director Florida 32579 Revised Marketing and Advertising for all companies within the group including United States Hammock Bay, Freeport and Uptown Station, Fort Walton Beach. Home +1 850 651 2559 Created new corporate brand images for Uptown Station, Destin Jet, Landlord of Office +1 850 301 3422 Choice and NuFletch Archery. Mobile +1 850 420 1934 Launched Destin Jet and NuFletch Archery. Developed and maintain 6 websites. Created successful Social Networking Campaigns for all companies. Responsible for organizing and implementing major events for all companies in the group including The Greater Gulf Coast Beer Festival (November 2010). Handled all press and public relations activities for The Jay Odom Group. June 2006 - March 2007 I sold my interest in UK based companies and moved to Northwest Florida. obtain- ing Permanent Resident status, leading to US Citizenship. During this period I assisted a number of companies with Marketing and Business Development projects on a consultancy basis. Global Systems Group (January 2003 – May 2006) Marketing and Business Development Director •Global Systems was involved in new media, e-commerce, software design, net- work and computer installation and support. •Re-organised the company’s new media and e-Commerce division. Moved com-