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Contact Us > Board

You can contact the Tennessee BTA at:

Tennessee Business Travel Association
P. O. Box 293037
Nashville, TN  37229-3037

Or you can contact the TBTA Leadership directly using the information below.

Board of Directors

                      TBTA Board of Directors 2009 - 2010

President Rob Clifton, CMP Director of Global Accounts ConferenceDirect  Email Me 615-867-1395   Rob Clifton is a 29+ year industry veteran, having spent his travel and hospitality career with such distinguished companies as National Car Rental, Hyatt Hotels, Opryland USA and American Express Company. Rob joined ConferenceDirect in September of 2004. As a Director of Global Account for ConferenceDirect, Rob is heavily involved with his clients’ meeting needs in all aspects; from site selection, contract negotiations with hotels and other vendors and is even involved with on-site meeting management. He is a member of the National Business Travel Association. He was a founding member of the Tennessee Business Travel Association in 1994, and is currently serving as the President for 2009/2010. As President of the Tennessee Business Travel Association, he represents his Chapter on the NBTA Chapter Presidents Council. Rob is also a member of Meeting Professionals International. He earned his Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in March 2006.	Vice President Postition Open TBD  Email Me TBD Details to follow.
Secretary Claire Langford, CMP Senior Account Manager Carlson Wagonlit Travel  Email Me 615-376-9290 Claire joined the travel and hospitality industry in 1984 and hasn’t had a dull moment since. Her experiences span hotel management, meetings management, and corporate travel management. She currently holds the position of Senior Account Manager with Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Claire was named as a 2007 CWT Rising Star for her excellence in account management. Claire has been a member of the Tennessee Business Travel Association since 2006 where she has contributed on the Programs Committee and recently was appointed chair of the new Fundraising Committee. Claire was also named as TBTA’s 2007 Member of the Year. While working in the Dallas, TX area, Claire served as Vice President of the DFWBTA chapter 2004-05 and has been a member of NBTA since 1991. She earned her CCTE in 2007 and obtained her CMP designation 2003.	Treasurer Ernest Guerra, Jr. Travel Administrator Vanderbilt University  Email Me  615-343-3387   Ernest started his career in corporate travel management in 1994 as the corporate travel manager for Xerox Corporation in Rochester, NY. Ernest has been a member of TBTA since 2004 and a member of NBTA since 1994. He has been a member of ACTE and was co-chair for The Conference Board Council on Corporate Travel Management in New York City. Ernest has managed and sourced global travel and meetings management programs for two Fortune 500 companies - Xerox Corporation and more recently American Standard Companies where he was the Director, Global Travel & Meeting Services. He has been recognized in benchmarking groups, travel industry publications and travel associations for best practices in automated expense systems, online booking tools and meetings management and is currently the Travel Administrator for School of Nursing at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Ernest has a B.A from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX and an MBA from the University of Dallas in Irving, TX and is a retired military officer, having achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U. S. Army Reserve.
Direct Board Member Deborah Schumann Manager, Travel & Events Corrections Corporation of America  Email Me 615-263-3238 The travel industry became a huge part of my life beginning in 1980 when I opened my agency in Santa Clara, California. I opened the agency with a teleticketing machine in the back office. Of course over time I upgraded our system to Sabre and have been a "Sabre Girl" ever since. In 1983 I moved to Nashville where I was fortunate enough to work for Wright Travel for 3 years before joining Service Merchandise as their Travel Manager. What a great experience with many highs and, of course, some lows. The many highs were meeting some great people who became long term friends. Service Merchandise closed so I moved on to work for Pfizer, Inc in Connecticut as a senior meeting planner. While I traveled a great deal to many exciting places I missed the Travel Management side of the business. In 2005 I took a position with Freidman's Jewelers in Savannah, GA. I worked from my home and in 2007 they moved me to Dallas. In 2008 I accepted my present position as Manager of Travel & Events for CCA here in Nashville. The best part of my job is helping people and negotiating. I just love the challenge. I have come full circle and back in the city I love. My pastime activities include reading, cooking, walking and traveling. I am a veteran of the US Naval Reserves and have 2 sons and 2 grandchildren.	Direct Board Member Takkia Tinnon Corporate Travel Manager Asurion Insurance Services, Inc.  Email Me 615-837-7274 Takkia is the Corporate Travel Manager for Asurion Insurance Services, Inc. Prior to joining Asurion in 2003, she served as a Sr. Travel Consultant for American Express Corporate Travel. With over five years of previous industry experience with Cendant Travel and Delta Airlines, Takkia also is a member of the National Business Travel Association. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University and is the proud parent of one son.
Allied Board Member Aric Bolden  Email Me 615-394-6596 Aric is a Sales Executive for Enterprise Rent-A-Car with over 16 years of travel industry experience, all with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. He has been an active Allied Member and vocal advocate of the TBTA for several years. Currently, Aric serves on the boards of the Center for Non-Profit Management (CNM) and the Tennessee Minority Supplier Diversity Council (TMSDC). He also serves on the Marketing and Communications Committee of the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville.	Allied Board Member Audra Detjen Sales Manager The Parking Spot  Email Me  615-883-9196 Audra graduated from the University of Kentucky in December of 2000 with a BA in Communications and a major focus on Interpersonal and Organizational Communications. During her college years, she also received a diverse background interning with companies such as Disney, Ashland Inc, Meridian Communications and a Capitol Hill Internship working for Senator Jim Bunning’s Press Secretary. She is currently serving as the Nashville Sales Manager for The Parking Spot. Prior to joining The Parking Spot, Audra’s career experiences included, Outside Sales Account Manager with Safety Kleen Systems Inc (Lexington, KY), Over 3 years with Emdeon (Nashville, TN) as an Inside Sales Account Executive and Project Coordinator at Host Communications in the Quest Division (Lexington, KY). In her spare time, Audra enjoys traveling, music, University of Kentucky sports, visiting with family and volunteering for the Children’s Charity Fund of the Bluegrass. She has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Children’s Charity Fund of the Bluegrass (responsible for the Hospitality Suite) since 2004 but has been volunteering for the organization since 1999.
Chairperson Tricia Hays Parker Global Account Executive ConferenceDirect  Email Me 336-420-2924 Tricia joined the travel industry more than 25 years ago. During this time she has worked in most all areas of this industry including hotel, airline, travel agency, and most recently, corporate travel management. Tricia joined ConferenceDirect in March 2008. Tricia has been a member of the TN Business Travel Association and the National Business Travel Association since 2003. During this time she has served on the Programs Committee and Board of Directors as the Corporate Director prior to being elected President. Tricia has also served on the Frontier Airlines Advisory Board and been an active member in the TN Meeting Professionals International.

         
                                    TBTA Committee Chairpersons