Charles Harris became the ninth President and CEO of Visit Reno Tahoe in November 2020. Responsible for a $59 million annual budget, Harris oversees the management of four public meetings and events facilities, for which his team exceeded sales goals during the first full fiscal year of the COVID-19 pandemic, while reducing $7 million of long-term debt by refinancing bonds related to past expansion and renovation projects. The 12-year tourism industry veteran is proud of the organization’s recent performance, outpacing projections and helping to produce nine record-setting months for taxable room revenue during Fiscal Year 2021-2022.
Previously serving as the Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for Visit Anaheim, Harris currently sits on the U.S. Travel Association Board of Directors, as well as the Travel Nevada Board, and is a founding Board Member of the University of Nevada, Reno Sports Management Program within the College of Business. Prior to joining the travel and tourism industry, Harris was a sports management executive working in senior roles with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Anaheim Ducks, Angels Baseball and UC Irvine athletics. Harris has also spent more than 18 years giving back to that industry as an adjunct professor of sports management at Long Beach State.
– E-mail: charris@renotahoeusa.com
– Phone: 775.827.7660
Mike Larragueta is the Vice President of Sales for the RSCVA. Larragueta directs and mentors the RSCVA convention and leisure sales teams, while providing leadership and strategic direction in the implementation of the RSCVA’s plans, programs, goals and objectives in the convention and leisure marketplace. With more than 25 years of tourism sales experience, Larragueta was most recently the Executive Director of Sales for the “Tri Properties” of downtown Reno.
– E-mail: mlarragueta@renotahoeusa.com
– Phone: 775.827.7608
– E-mail: mlarragueta@renotahoeusa.com
– Phone: 775.827.7608
As Vice President of Finance, Courtney Jaeger serves as the chief financial executive for the RSCVA and oversees budgeting, financial reporting, cash management/treasury functions, capital projects and debt management. Ms. Jaeger also monitors the Authority’s compliance with laws and regulations and manages operational areas including accounting, room tax collections, human resources, payroll, IT, and purchasing. Ms. Jaeger is a Certified Public Accountant and has more than a decade of experience in local government finance, accounting and auditing.
– E-mail: cjaeger@renotahoeusa.com
– Phone: 775.827.7627
– E-mail: cjaeger@renotahoeusa.com
– Phone: 775.827.7627
Christina Erny is the Vice President of Marketing at the RSCVA. With more than 10 years of experience marketing the Reno Tahoe destination, Christina is responsible for leading, developing and implementing the organization’s marketing, promotional and advertising campaigns and strategies. Christina has earned her Certified Destination Marketing Executive (CDME) credential from Destinations International and has been recognized as one of their 30 under 30 “Future Leaders in Destination Marketing.”
– E-mail: cerny@renotahoeusa.com
– Phone: 775.827.7751
– E-mail: cerny@renotahoeusa.com
– Phone: 775.827.7751
Trent LaFerriere is the Vice President of Faclities for the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority. He has worked for the RSCVA more than 17 years, managing the maintenance and operations at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Reno Events Center, National Bowling Stadium and the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center. In addition, LaFerriere oversees ongoing capital improvement projects, successfully reducing costs associated with renovations and repairs. Having completed the Nevada Certified Contract Manager Course, he is committed to the ongoing success of the organization, its facilities, and the positive impact they have on the Northern Nevada community.
– E-mail: tlaferriere@renotahoeusa.com
– Phone: 775.827.7709
– E-mail: tlaferriere@renotahoeusa.com
– Phone: 775.827.7709
Art Jimenez is the Executive Director of Tourism of the RSCVA. Jimenez is responsible for leading development and implementation of the RSCVA’s international and domestic tourism sales efforts, promoting northern Nevada as a premier leisure travel destination. With more than 30 years of experience in tourism sales and marketing, Jimenez spent more than 17 years in multiple leadership positions at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
– E-mail: ajimenez@renotahoeusa.com
– Phone: 775.827.7798
– E-mail: ajimenez@renotahoeusa.com
– Phone: 775.827.7798
Ben McDonald is the Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs for the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority. McDonald is responsible for developing and implementing programs related to internal and external communications, public information and board relations. He earned his Bachelor’s in Communication Studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and has worked in media, gaming and tourism for more than 16 years.
– E-mail: bmcdonald@renotahoeusa.com
– Phone: 775.827.7654
– E-mail: bmcdonald@renotahoeusa.com
– Phone: 775.827.7654