We are excited to welcome five new members to our VAHSMP Board. Below, you’ll find further information about each of them. Please join us in welcoming them.   

Dee Dee White has been in the travel industry since 1984 and with Covington Meeting Management since 1992 as a Meeting Planner & Special Events Coordinator. Dee Dee graduated from Elon College in 1983 with a BA in English.  Dee Dee is also an active member of VSAE.

Jamie Caron has enjoyed working in the Hospitality industry for 20 years.  Working ‘up through the ranks’ has provided a deep awareness of the business from many perspectives.  Most of this time has involved manager and director positions involving group sales for the largest convention hotels in the Tidewater area of Virginia.  Through past and current experience there is a building interest to become more involved in ways to assist and give back to the industry wherever possible.

Teri Hickman has been in the hospitality industry most of her life, and has focused on meeting and incentive planning for the last 10 years.  She is a graduate of East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science degree.  Teri was the corporate meeting planner for Progressive Group Alliance in Richmond VA for 8 years and more recently the Account Manager for AFFLINK on the Foodservice side of the business.  AFFLINK is based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Melinda Laughon began her sales career in hospitality at the Roanoke Airport Marriott.  From there, she worked for Courtyard by Marriott representing properties in New Jersey and Delaware.  She also served as a Certified Trainer for Courtyard and Fairfield Inn by Marriott properties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia.  Upon returning to Virginia, Melinda worked as a group Sales Manager and Business Travel Sales Manager at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center for seven years.  After leaving the industry to work in advertising, Melinda joined the Territory Sales Team with Marriott International in 2004.  Her next move came three years later when she joined Eisenman & Associates to work as Vice President of Meeting Services.  Finding new customers, assisting them with their site selection and assisting with onsite management were her primary responsibilities.  Melinda returned to Marriott International in May, 2009 representing nine Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts. 

Lauran Dangler has been with the Omni Richmond Hotel as Director of Group Sales since 2003 and has over 20 years of hospitality sales experience with hotels located throughout Virginia.  Having gained so much from her colleagues and mentors in the meeting planning and hospitality professions over the years, Lauran enjoys staying active and giving back to our industry through volunteerism, has served on the boards of VSAE and VAMPI, and is a past president of VAMPI.  She looks forward to serving the membership of VAHSMP as we continue to grow together.