Conference and Visitors Bureau announces new director

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- Even by his own estimation, John Cassady is replacing

someone who made a mark.

Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau officials announced

Monday that Cassady, 51, will be the agency’s new executive director.

Cassady follows Rosalind Williams, the vivacious, well-loved director who

died in June of breast cancer.

“She left a very nice tradition at the bureau, and I recognize that,”

Cassady said Monday. “My goal is to continue the proud tradition she has

left.”

Williams took the visitors bureau’s reins in 1994. In May, she

presented the City Council with a facsimile check for $21 million -- the amount of tax revenue generated by the city’s tourism industry during the

past fiscal year.

The agency didn’t have to go far to find Cassady, who has served on

its board for more than three years.

Cassady, 51, has held a post as an Orange County district sales

manager for American Airlines for 26 years. During that time, he has

developed skills -- marketing, sales and management -- that he can bring

to bear at the bureau.

“He represents very well,” said Henry Schielein, chairman of the

agency’s board. “He has a fantastic reputation in the community. He is

well-known.”

After considering several candidates, Schielein and the other board

members selected Cassady. Coincidentally, Cassady, a native Californian

and an alumnus of Cal State Fresno, had headed up the board’s search

committee during the efforts to find a new director.

The visitors bureau receives about $1 million in annual funding from

Newport Beach -- a cut of the city’s bed tax on inns and hotels -- to

spend on personnel and marketing costs. The group dedicates itself to

attracting additional visitors to the city’s hotels, harbor and other

attractions.

Councilman Dennis O’Neil lauded the decision to put Cassady in the

position that has been vacant for more than five months and added that

Williams would be tough to replace.

“I’m glad that we were able to find someone that appears to be very

well-qualified,” O’Neil said. Williams “was very well-organized. She was

very effective.”