Leading up to International Women's Day, we spoke to key women in the meeting and event industry about their roles.

Describe a game-changing idea that you have implemented.
Tourism was suffering with only one runway at the airport, and costing our community jobs and growth. A second runway was critical. In 2008, as mayor of the county, securing the votes for the expansion was my priority. I was successful in pulling together the business, labor and hospitality industry to make the runway a reality.

Describe a strategy that shifted your company culture.
The taxpayers deserve a culture of accountability and transparency. We worked hard to bring our actions and decisions to a 2018 platform. This caused upheavals in staffing and procedures. It has been challenging and rewarding to change the culture of the agency. We have created confidence in our organization by the entire hospitality industry who now are involved in our decision making. We have also created efficiencies and budget accountability that have been met with enthusiasm by the County Administration.

What would you like your legacy to be?
That I made a difference. As a legislator, as a member of the County Commission and now as the president and CEO of the CVB, I want folks to be able to point to positions and projects that I had a role in making a reality. I wasn’t without controversy, but I never shied away from the challenges.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career?
In 1996, I took an unplanned run for the Florida House of Representatives. To say I went outside of myself would be an understatement. I was elected and served for eight years. In 2006, I was elected to the County Commission. The opportunity arose for me to be appointed the CEO of the CVB. My story isn’t over but the chapters to this point have been an achievement that I never anticipated.

What do you do for fun?
I have recently found that axe throwing is a wonderful, fun and stress-reducing activity. I find that online shopping achieves the same goals, but there is no substitute for the beach, a book and a blanket.

BIO
Stacy Ritter is responsible for the administration of the GFLCVB, the official tourism marketing agency for Broward County, staffing 45 sales and marketing professionals with a $24 million operating budget.