Email: [email protected]
Phone: 309.736.6820
Social Media: LinkedIn | Twitter
A QC Must: Go see the oculus on the I-74 Bridge followed by a Hot Fudge Sundae at Lagomarcino’s
Favorite Quote: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”
Favorite Vacation Spot (outside the Quad Cities): Balboa Island, CA
Dave serves as the President and CEO of Visit Quad Cities. Visit Quad Cities is the region’s official destination organization and is charged with driving positive economic development opportunities through tourism. Herrell leads the vision, strategy, and day-to-day operations of the private non-profit, community-based organization.
The Visit Quad Cities professional team is responsible for sharing the QC story as well as competitively positioning the region for identity and growth while developing the overall visitor experience. Under Herrell’s leadership, Visit Quad Cities has produced record annual visitor expenditures of $1.3B and has set an ambitious plan toward the future. A proven executive with more than twenty years of experience, Herrell has a background in destination and brand marketing, administration, operations, strategic planning, business development, fundraising, government relations, communications, and non-profit management.
Prior to Visit Quad Cities, Herrell led the City of Jacksonville’s Office of Sports & Entertainment as their Sports & Entertainment Officer. He was responsible for Sports, the Office of Special Events, the Film & Television Office, and the city’s public access venues. A Mayoral appointee, he served as the city’s senior level director within the sports, entertainment, and publicly-owned facility space. Herrell led the operation of annual signature events such as the Florida-Georgia Game, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, and the Sea & Sky Airshow to name a few. He further managed the City’s Sports & Entertainment Complex Capital Maintenance Fund and was a principal on the $90M TIAA Bank Field stadium renovation project which included the creation of Daily’s Place (outdoor amphitheater and Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice facility). Herrell oversaw the management of lease agreements for the city including the NFL, ASM Global, minor-league sports franchises, the symphony, and all special events.
Herrell has held leadership positions with the Arizona Sports Foundation, the Nashville Sports Council and Music City Bowl, Inc. Throughout his career, he has been involved with hundreds of projects that have yielded more than $900 million in direct economic impact. He further served on the team that created Nashville’s post-season collegiate Bowl game, the Music City Bowl. He was involved with an NFL relocation (Tennessee Titans) and an NHL conditional expansion franchise bid (Nashville Predators).
Active in the community where he lives and industry, Herrell was recently recognized as one of the most influential leaders in the region by the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal. He currently serves on the John Deere Classic Board of Directors, Q2030 Regional Vision Board of Directors, Chairman, Illinois Destinations Association (IDA) Board of Directors, and Vice President, Iowa Tourism Industry Partners (iTIP) Board of Directors. He has served on the Board of Directors for the JAXSPORTS Council, Board of Governors for the JAX Chamber and as a Board Member of Visit Jacksonville. He also served on the Economic Development Committee for the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he was part of the inaugural class of Leadership QC and is a Leadership Middle Tennessee graduate and was further recognized as a Nashville Emerging Leader Award Winner. He has been a guest lecturer and presenter at industry events, several universities, and civic organizations throughout his career.
A native of St. Louis and a graduate of the University of Missouri, he earned a bachelor’s degree in communication. He and his wife Connie and their two kids live in the Quad Cities and are proud Quad Citizens.
Current and/or Recent Community and Industry Engagement:
- John Deere Classic Board of Directors
- Q2030 Regional Vision Board of Directors
- Figge Art Museum Board of Directors
- Chairman, Illinois Destinations Association (IDA) Board of Directors
- Vice President Iowa Travel Industry Partners (iTIP) Board of Directors
- Past Chair, Advocacy Committee, iTIP
- Destinations International Committee Service (present and past): Foundation Development, Professional Development, Governance & Nomination Committee, Awards Committee, Advocacy Committee, and the Global Leadership Committee
- Chairman, Governor Reynolds Hospitality and Tourism Subgroup, Economic Growth Strategy
- Trinity Health System Foundation Board of Directors
- Genesis Health System Patient Experience Committee
- Niabi Zoo Community Advisory and Foundation Board of Directors
- RAGBRAI Advisory Board
- Leadership QC Graduate
- Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA)
Contact:
[email protected] (o) 309.736.6820, (m) 615.642.7121, Linkedin/in/dave-herrell @DaveHerrell