January 2010 Chapter Meeting Speaker

Ron Stephens, CHME is currently the Director of Sales and Marketing for Winston-Salem’s Twin City Quarter, a position he has held since 2005.  He is responsible for revenue generation for the entire complex which includes the Benton Convention Center, Marriott Downtown, Embassy Suites Hotel, WS Prime Steakhouse, The Grille, Starbucks Downtown and SilkRoad Salon and Spa.  In addition, he also directs an in-house advertising and public relations agency with responsibility for promoting all outlets within the complex.

Prior to accepting the Twin City Quarter position, Ron held executive leadership positions in both the Greensboro Convention and Visitors Bureau and the High Point Convention and Visitors Bureau for fifteen years.  In Greensboro, he served as Vice President and Director of Sales and was directly responsible for growing the group market exponentially in the city while also developing strong working relationships within the tourism community.  In High Point, he held the position of Vice President of the CVB and was responsible for directing the efforts of the Visitors Center, Group Sales Department, Services Department (which provided key services to the International Home Furnishings Market which brings more than 185,000 people to the Triad annually) as well as directed the CVB’s Marketing Division.  While in High Point, he is credited for developing the city’s first African American Heritage Guide, a sales tool that greatly enhanced the CVB’s ability to book significant events from this valuable market and contributed to the CVB tripling sales leads to the industry during his tenure. 

He began his career in the hospitality industry in Greensboro’s Four Seasons Complex (now Sheraton Four Seasons and Koury Convention Center) where he held various leadership positions and ultimately was responsible for the sales and marketing efforts of the largest hotel in North Carolina.

Ron is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and has earned the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International’s coveted designation of Certified Hospitality Marketing Executive.  Ron is a native of North Carolina and grew up in Surry County and currently resides in Winston-Salem.