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Great to be joined by Donna Carpenter this week. From zMax Raceway in Concord, NC. We were at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals and it was a blast.
Donna is the President and CEO of the Cabarrus County (NC) CVB.
Comprised of Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Midland, and Mount Pleasant, North Carolina, Cabarrus County is located just 20 minutes north of Charlotte. Known as Where Racing Lives, the area is home to 90 percent of NASCAR race team shops, iconic motorsports venues and the hometown of legendary driver, Dale Earnhardt Sr. Racing really is the main industry of Cabarrus County and they do it right!
Donna joined the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau as President and CEO in 2009 bringing more than 14 years of experience in destination management, sales and marketing to the Bureau.
Prior to joining the Cabarrus County CVB, Donna served as the director of tourism and partnership development for five-plus years with Visit Charlotte. She was also executive director of the Stanly County Convention & Visitors Bureau, director of sports and public relations for the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau and was the executive director for the Fort Mill Chamber of Commerce.
In 2010, Donna was named one of the area’s Top Women in Business by Business Today. The same year, she became a Certified Destination Management Executive (CMDE) through Destinations International (formerly Destination Marketing Association International). She is also certified as a Tourism Marketing Professional through the Southeast Tourism Society (STS).
Donna currently serves on the following boards:
600 Festival
Cabarrus Economic Development Council
Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce
Destinations International Foundation
NC Travel and Tourism
NC Travel and Tourism Coalition
Southeast Tourism Society Executive Board
State Employees’ Credit Union Advisory Board
UNCC Advisory Board
Donna is Past President of Destination Marketing Association of North Carolina (DMANC) and Past Chair of the Hickory Ridge High School Tourism Academy Advisory Board.
In September 2015, Donna received the Southeast Tourism Society Beacon Award, a prestigious honor recognizing an individual who best exemplifies outstanding leadership in the pursuit of excellence and who has advanced the tourism industry.
Thanks so much to Donna and her staff for a great visit and this interview. You can see more at: https://www.visitcabarrus.com.
