2026 Governor’s Conference
Coming SoonGovernor’s Conference Presentations
View presentations from the 2025 Conference, held at The Resort at Lake of the Ozarks in Lake Ozark on October 7-9.
Generative AI and Tourism: Practical Applications for Missouri’s Global Future
Speaker: Janette Roush, Chief AI Officer and SVP of Innovation at Brand USA
Learn how to work smarter with AI tools while positioning your organization for success in an era of rapid technological change—while also considering how the choices you make now will shape the way we work in 2030.
Incorporating AI into Your Work
Speaker: Janette Roush, Chief AI Officer and SVP of Innovation at Brand USA
Explore use cases from across the tourism sector, discover tools that boost productivity without sacrificing creativity, and leave with a roadmap for embedding AI into your organization’s daily operations.
The Power of Being A Little Out There
Speaker: Jacquelyn Blackwell, Director of Tourism Brand Partnerships at Atlas Obscura
In this session, Atlas Obscura’s Jacquelyn Blackwell discussed embracing the quirky and unexpected to stand out – with the data to prove it. Harness your community’s uniqueness to capture the attention of travelers’.
Performance Video Content Marketing at Scale
Speaker: Matt Beebe, Executive Producer at Coolfire Studios
In this session, Matt Beebe shared strategies for developing video that aligns with marketing goals, integrates into broader campaigns, and drives measurable results.
Turning Insight into Impact: Research That Moves the Needle for Small Destinations
Speaker: Jerry Henry, CEO of H2R Market Research
This session explores how data-driven decision-making—anchored in smart, scalable research—can transform how small to mid-size destinations market themselves, prioritize investments, and connect with travelers.
Stretching Tourism Dollars: Collaborating Through the Area Marketing Program
Speaker: Heather Brown, Executive Director at Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau
This session will highlight how collaboration through AMP helps stretch limited budgets, strengthen regional visibility and support shared goals for promoting the Lake area. Whether you’re a local business, attraction or community leader, AMP offers a cooperative way to make your marketing efforts go further—together.
Crafting Immersive Stories
Speaker: Jacquelyn Blackwell, Director of Tourism Brand Partnerships at Atlas Obscura
Learn how to leverage new media, dynamic content, and emotional connection to create unforgettable stories that resonate with today’s travelers and leave a lasting impression.
Road to 2026: Missouri’s World Cup Readiness
Speaker: Pam Kramer, CEO of KC2026
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, Missouri—anchored by Kansas City—stands poised to play a pivotal role in hosting one of the world’s most monumental sporting events.