How to Advocate for Tourism for your Attraction
Learn from some of the best on how to get the attention of your legislators. GKCAA’s former resident advocate, Stephanie Roush, comes out of retirement to share her tips on getting your message heard. This panel discussion will also include Jackson County Legislator Crystal Williams and Fred Dreiling from Doherty & Associates. Learn more about how to advocate efficiently with feedback from those in the know.
Location:
Jackson County Historic Truman Courthouse
112 West Lexington
Independence MO 64050
Registration: 3:30 pm
Program: 4:00 pm
Networking & Tour of the Newly Renovated Historic Truman Courthouse following the program
Panelists:
Stephanie Roush
Stephanie Roush served as Director of the Tourism Department for the City of Independence for eleven years. During that time she served on the boards of several tourism organizations including the Missouri Association of Convention and Visitors’ Bureaus, Kansas City Regional Destination Alliance and Greater Kansas City Attraction’s Association. She worked with legislative bodies both locally and statewide on several tax initiatives and preservation issues. She retired in 2011 and has invested her time working with youth and several non-profit organizations, and continues to be an advocate for the tourism industry.
Crystal Williams, Jackson County Legislator
Crystal Williams, currently serving as Jackson County Legislator, 2nd District At-large, has a long history of working in the non-profit sector as an advocate giving voice to the needs of families and children. Williams does so through public policy, public relations and non-profit management. Williams currently is a founding partner in Missouri Policy Matters, LLC, through which she works to pursue public policies to improve the lives of families throughout Missouri and the region. She works on the federal, state and local level to advocate for low- and middle-income families to have access to health care, early education and safe environments. Williams has also worked to make sure that barriers are not put in place to keep eligible voters from being able to cast their ballots and she fights worker discrimination efforts.
She has served as executive director of a statewide health advocacy organization, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Missouri, as vice president of a regional child advocacy organization, Partnership for Children, and recently as vice president of the management team for Swope Health Services and Swope Community Enterprises, a large Kansas City non-profit. Williams has also been the public relations manager for the second largest physicians’ organization in the United States. Her successes in elected office, public policy and public relations include helping to secure significant funding for women’s health services, increasing funding for foster care families, increasing funding for children’s health programs and working on legislation concerning the child welfare system.
As a graduate of Columbia College with a B.A. degree in History and Government, Williams has been active in the public policy process all of her adult life. Kansas City Mayor Sly James appointed her to the Kansas City Health Commission January 2013, and she serves on the Board of Directors for Missouri CASA and the Homelessness Leadership Board. Williams is a member of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Missouri Affairs Committee, President of the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, having previously served on the Board of Directors and as the GKCWPC PAC Board Chair, as well as being honored as the recipient of the GKCWPC’s Pillar Award, and she is Vice President of Membership of the National Women’s Political Caucus.
Williams and her family reside in the Hyde Park neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri.
Fred Dreiling, Lobbyist, Doherty & Associates
Fred Dreiling, a Capitol veteran, has spent the last twenty years working in Jefferson City. In 1993 Fred was selected Chief of Staff for state Senator Harry Wiggins, a position he held for ten years. His duties included staffing the Ways and Means and Budget Control Committees of which Senator Wiggins was Chairman. Fred worked on important legislation impacting the Kansas City area including: Union Station Bi-State Cultural District, Anti Methamphetamine, Child Advocacy and Gaming to name a few.
In 2003 Fred began his lobbying career with the firm of Doherty & Associates. As a lobbyist, he represents numerous corporate and not for profit clients in a wide variety of issues. Fred’s years of experience and extensive knowledge of the legislative process have earned him the respect of legislators and staff. His list of clients includes Burns & McDonnell, Jackson County, Aflac, The Builders’ Association and many others.
Fred and his wife Erin have two children, Lily and Freddy Jr. He is a member of St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, the Mizzou Alumni Association, Rockhurst High School Alumni Association and the Knights of Columbus.
Event Details
Bring up to three people from your organization to this fun event to network and learn. Additional guests can attend for only $15 each - feel free to invite non-members to attend so they can learn more about the advantages of membership in the Attractions Association.
We will be holding Prize Drawings during this event - please bring a prize from your attraction to donate to the drawing!
Register before Thursday, September 12th!
Sponsored by:
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