Governor McAuliffe appointed 21 individuals to serve on Virginia's new LGBT Tourism Task Force. The Task Force, led by Secretary of Commerce Maurice Jones, includes industry stakeholders, LGBT community members, and business leaders who will issue recommendations on how to make Virginia more welcoming to LGBT visitors. Jesse LaVancher, Chief Operations Officer of the Virginia Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, was selected for the Task Force and looks forward to working with colleagues to address LGBT tourism in Virginia.

1. Board of Directors
Justin Ayars, JD
Danna Geisler
Tom Kramer
Jesse LaVancher
Eric Rohnacher
Virginia Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
1342 Flynn Road  Richmond, Virginia 23225
E-Mail: justin@vglcc.org
PRESS RELEASE
January 30, 2015 – Today Governor McAuliffe appointed 21 individuals to serve in his
administration on the LGBT Tourism Task Force. Led by Secretary of Commerce and Trade,
Maurice Jones, the Task Force is comprised of industry stakeholders, LGBT community
members and business leaders. The group will issue recommendations on how to make
Virginia even more welcoming to the LGBT community. The Task Force Members include:
 Barbara Cage of South Boston, VA
 Kevin Clay of Richmond, VA
 Phil Crosby of Richmond, VA
 The Honorable Adam P. Ebbin of Alexandria, VA
 Patrick Evans-Hylton of Norfolk, VA
 Tammy Freeman of Prince William, VA
 Matt Gaffney of Rehoboth Beach, DE
 Peter J. Goldin of Mechanicsville, VA
 Brad Kutner of Richmond, VA
 Virginia Lamneck of Richmond, VA
 Jesse LaVancher of Richmond, VA
 Jeffrey Marsh of Chicago, IL
 Amy Sara Marshall of Charlottesville, VA
 Bruce Newton of Hampton, VA
 Katherine O’Donnell of Richmond, VA
 Robert G. Roman of Virginia Beach, VA
 Jim Schuyler of Richmond, VA
 Stephanie Shaw of Richmond, VA
 Michael Sutphin of Blacksburg, VA
 Michael Thorne-Begland of Richmond, VA
 Bob Witeck of Arlington, VA
“I am honored to have been selected to serve on this groundbreaking Task Force,” said Jesse
LaVancher, the Chief Operations Officer of the Virginia Gay & Lesbian Chamber of
Commerce (“VGLCC”). “I look forward to working with my colleagues to address the
important task with which we have been charged.” Justin Ayars, JD, President and CEO of
the VGLCC, echoed LaVancher’s comments and added, “I am thrilled that the Governor has
brought together such a wonderful group of people to address the issue of LGBT tourism in
Virginia. Jesse will skillfully represent the VGLCC as he works with his fellow Task Force Jesse LaVancher
members to diversify Virginia’s tourism efforts and strengthen the Commonwealth’s economy.”
When announcing the creation of the Task Force last November, Governor McAuliffe stated, “We have an
opportunity to build upon the progress Virginia made this year in achieving marriage equality and ensure that
visitors across the globe know that the Commonwealth is open and welcoming to all.” LGBT travelers spend
upwards of $100 billion every year on travel in the Unites States. According to Forrester Research Inc., LGBT
people travel more frequently and have the largest disposable income of any niche market group. They also
travel for longer periods of time than their heterosexual counterparts.
The VGLCC is the nonpartisan voice of Virginia’s LGBT business community. The VGLCC is committed to
diversifying and strengthening Virginia’s economy by uniting the LGBT business community and integrating
LGBT entrepreneurs, innovators and job creators into the broader marketplace.
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