Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Message from the President


From the Desk of Dave Ashton

Thank you to Rick Caruso for filling in for me at our AGM on March 25th. Judging from the pictures on our website BLOG the evening was a great success. As reported, PECCTAC is geared up for a very busy year. Stay involved and come out to the Meet & Greets.

The Board of Directors Welcomes Rick Caruso as PECCTAC’s Visitors Information Services Coordinator

The Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism & Commerce (PECCTAC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Rick Caruso as Visitors Information Services Coordinator effective March 1, 2010. This position will entail overseeing all tourism aspects concerning PECCTAC members, the community and visitors including offering information and support to any tourism related business.

“We are very excited about the Ministry of Tourism’s new regional initiatives and the opportunities it will bring to the community,” states General Manager Lawrie Ackerman. “Now, for the first time, we are able to have an individual whose wealth of experience is invaluable and who will be able to focus strictly on Visitors Information Services.”

Mr. Caruso’s priority will be to jump-start initiatives set by the PECCTAC Board of Directors as well as overseeing regional opportunities to expand upon what the Chamber offers. Mr. Caruso has been a PECCTAC member since August 2002 and has volunteered many hours for the Chamber over the years. He was one of the founding members and the principal initiator of the Accommodation Association of Prince Edward County (AAPEC) that was established in August 2004.
In January 2005, Rick Caruso was elected Chairman of AAPEC, a position he still maintains today, overseeing the development and marketing of the association for the past six years. As an active member of the Board of Directors since 2005, he was the Chamber’s Vice-President in 2007 and became President in 2008.
Having worked closely with the General Manager over the past few years and having attended the last 3 Ontario Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meetings, Rick has a wealth of knowledge and experience in dealing with tourism initiatives as well as Chamber operations.
As the AAPEC and Chamber representative on the Tourist Destination Alliance (TDA) since its inception, Rick has also been the co-chairman of the TDA since 2007.
In addition, he not only won the “Taste the County” award for his outstanding contribution to the tourism sector for his work with AAPEC but also, along with his wife, Deborah, won the Quinte Business Achievement award for Hospitality and Tourism (small scale) for their business Caruso’s-on King B&B and Serenity Spa, both in 2007.

Rick Caruso is very committed to our PECCTAC members and the community. He will ensure the needs of both our visitors and members are met.

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