Visit Quad Cities' Professional Staff

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

Contact:  [email protected]  309-736-6824

A QC Must: A ride on the bike trails followed by Zeke’s Island Café Crispy Shrimp Tacos and a Capri Sun from Atomic Coffee Bar

Favorite Quote: “Everything good, bad or indifferent happens for a reason.”

Favorite Vacation Spot (outside the Quad Cities): Mexico

Mindy Chapman serves as the Vice President, Finance & Administration. She is responsible for leading the day-to-day financial management function, procedures, and human resources for the organization.

Mindy attended College at Western Illinois University with a double major, Accounting & Business Management.  She worked as an accountant for a local doctor for many years and then decided to take her talent for numbers to Visit Quad Cities where she holds down the fort and keeps us all on our financial toes. 

Her bio is short, because she doesn’t have time to elaborate on things.  She sticks to the numbers and that’s all!

Contact: [email protected]  309-736-6831

A QC Must: Happy Hour in the River Room at Sunset followed by The Chipper from Whitey’s

Favorite Quote: “Don’t Wait. Life goes faster than you think.”

Favorite Vacation Spot (outside the Quad Cities): Chicago for a Chicago Cubs Game

Joan Kranovich serves as the Vice President of Business Growth and Director, Sports QC. She is responsible for leading the sales process including prospects, new business opportunities and client conversion, as well as overseeing our sports tourism efforts.

Joan is a two-time graduate of Western Illinois University Quad Cities. Once with her Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Park & Tourism Administration and the next with her Masters in RPTA but focused on tourism administration. She began her career at Visit Quad Cities in 2009 as an intern.

In 2011, she obtained her Certified Meeting Professional Certificate from the Events Industry Council (EIC).

She has been a Quad Cities Leader Under 40, a National Connect Magazine 40 Under 40 Award Recipient, Smart Woman in Meetings Honoree, Destinations International 30 Under 30 Award Recipient, as well as a National Public Broadcasting Volunteer Management Award Recipient.

She is an active leader in Sports Illinois, Team Iowa, United Way of the Quad Cities, Jaycees of the Quad Cities, the Rock Island Kiwanis Club, and the Quad Cities Lodging Association.

Contact: [email protected] 309-736-6828

A QC Must: An Old Fashioned or Rosey Posey from Devon’s Complaint Department followed by a show at the Adler or Capitol Theatre.

Favorite Quote: “Be the change you wish to see in this world.” - Ghandi

Favorite Vacation Spot (outside the Quad Cities): Anywhere I have not already traveled where I can fully immerse myself in the local culture.

Nicki Brus serves as a Business Growth & Service Manager. She has been with Visit Quad Cities since 2016 and manages new business development with a focus on the growth of non-traditional social and leisure accounts.

Nicki feels that selling a destination is more fun than selling an inanimate object. She gets to be one of the many faces of the Quad Cities through relationship building with event organizers and planners, through networking with local, regional and national advocates of tourism, through researching fascinating group events, meetings & conventions and sporting events that you may not even know existed and then “sell” the Quad Cities to the decision makers. Through her role at Visit Quad Cities she generates new dollars through visitor spending, which goes directly into the community she loves.

Nicki graduated from Western Illinois University-Quad Cities with a B.A. in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration and a Certificate as a Certified Non-Profit Professional (CNP). She currently serves on the Associate Board at Impact Life advocating for life-saving blood donations, serves on the Iowa Tourism Industry Partners (iTIP) board to advance tourism in the state of Iowa, and is a mentor through iTIP, Lead(h)er, and the RPTA program at Western Illinois University. In her free time, you can find her volunteering with local non-profits, cuddling up with her cats and a good book, camping, kayaking, gardening, or taking in a live sporting or music event with her husband.

Contact: [email protected] 309-736-6829

A QC Must: A River Bandits baseball game with a cold beer and a hot dog on a warm summer night

Favorite Quote: Live a life filled with goodness and integrity so when your children think of these traits, they think of you.

Favorite Vacation Spot (outside the Quad Cities): Up North near a lake, and a campfire surrounded by millions of trees and stars, and where walleye fly right into your boat.

Paulette Day serves as a Business Growth & Service Manager. She manages new business development with a focus on the growth of association, corporate, and government accounts.

Paulette assists in coordinating and executing events for our Quad Cities visitors.  Whether it’s pointing someone to a great local pizza place or helping plan and coordinate a city-wide sports tournament, it is all about creating a positive and memorable experience during their stay.

Paulette has over 25 years in the hospitality industry. 10 years as an Events Director for a large hotelier and 8 years as proprietor of Tailored Catering.

Her parents moved the family from a small farm in South Dakota to the Quad Cities because of Palmer College which offered alternative medicine options to a few family members with debilitating health challenges.  She also lived in Chicago and Des Moines but grew up in the Quad Cities.  

In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, then eating it with friends/family and drinking good red wine.  She also loves gardens, flowers, dogs, spectator sports, and full contact badminton.

Contact: [email protected] 

A QC Must: Visiting local vendors at the Freighthouse Farmers Market or watching a Quad City Storm hockey game at the Vibrant Arena.

Favorite Quote: “I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion.” - Mia Hamm

Favorite Vacation Spot (outside the Quad Cities): Costa Rica

Bio: Jessica serves as the Business Growth and Sports Development Manager at Visit Quad Cities. She manages sport development and looks forward to growing sports tourism in our community.

Jessica graduated from Ashford University with a Bachelor's degree in Biology and played goalkeeper for the university's soccer program. Following her tenure at Ashford University, Jessica worked in various customer service and sales-related careers selling anything from coffee and cars to sponsorships and events. When she's not at the office, she enjoys her role as an assistant soccer coach at PVHS and volunteering throughout the community, especially at the John Deere Classic. 

Contact: [email protected] | 309-736-6822

A QC Must: Cabos Cantina & Grill 2; Tacos beyond Tuesdays!

Favorite Quote: When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

Favorite Vacation Spot (outside the Quad Cities): Nashville, and anywhere fam and friends are seated at the table!  

Bio: Mindy Amodeo serves as the Partnership & Event Services Coordinator. She is responsible for coordinating and executing inspiring business partnerships and services, which help to build and grow our destination. With her extensive experience in customer service, sales, private care, compliance auditing, and nonprofit, Mindy brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. She is a two-time graduate of National Louis University, with her Bachelor and Master of Arts in Psychology. Mindy relocated to the Quad Cities from Lake County, IL, (OR Northern Chicago Suburbs) with her husband, Jeremy, and cat, Sticks. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, crocheting, photography, volunteering, and spending time with family and friends.

Contact: [email protected] 309-736-6830

A QC Must: Let the community motivate you to get up early and take part in a weekend 5k (there are so many!) or road race like the Bix 7!  Catch some live music on the lawn at The Tangled Wood in Bettendorf or on the patio at Steventon's in LeClaire. While you're in LeClaire, swing by Wide River Winery for some wine slushies and grab a bottle to take home.

Favorite Quote: “If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space” - Jim Whittaker

Favorite Vacation Spot (outside the Quad Cities): Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Bio: Katrina Keuning is the Director of Brand & Content Strategy. 

Katrina graduated from Northern Michigan University with a Bachelor's Degree in Media Production and minor in journalism. She spent some of her college career running for the university's cross-country and track teams.

After college Katrina was hired at WQAD-TV in Moline where she spent nearly a decade. Her first job was editing footage for broadcasts and ultimately moved up to manage their digital department. 

Katrina has been with Visit Quad Cities since 2021.

Contact: [email protected] 563-210-7107

A QC Must: An iced vanilla latte from 392 Caffe followed by a long walk in Crow Creek Park

Favorite Quote: “Greatness is a lot of small things done well.” – Ray Lewis

Favorite Vacation Spot (outside the Quad Cities): Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The perfect place to watch the Phillies and Eagles play!

Bio: Lea Nelson serves as the Brand and Content Coordinator. 

Lea graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications and minors in general business and leadership studies. She spent most of her time in college playing on the university's softball team and running their Tiktok account. 

As a QC native, she is excited to share everything about the Quad Cities on social media. 

A QC Must: A full-course meal at Duck City Bistro for a birthday, anniversary or other special celebration. 

Favorite Quote: “You must do what you feel is right, of course.” - Ben Kenobi

Favorite Vacation Spot (outside the Quad Cities): Summit County, Colorado

Bio: Lindsey serves as the Director of Public Relations and Communications, overseeing media relations and the creation of vital publications. Her role involves shaping Visit Quad Cities' narrative and employing effective communication strategies to elevate the destination's profile and foster meaningful connections within and beyond the community. Lindsey has six years of experience in social media marketing and digital communications. A Chicago suburbs native, Lindsey came to the QC for college and has called it home ever since. 

Contact:  [email protected] 309-736-6836

A QC Must:  A spicy Paloma from The Ridge Social Drinkery in Davenport, along with a peanut butter bacon cheeseburger from Riverside in Bettendorf. 

Favorite Quote:  Be strong, Be confident, Be the star of your own life  - Estee Lauder

Favorite Vacation Spot (outside the Quad Cities):  All things Florida!  Give me sun, sand, and saltwater.  What more could you ask for in a favorite vacation spot?

Bio:  Brittany serves as our Destination Experience Manager.  She is responsible for providing visitor services to guests and Quad Citizens. It's all about ensuring our visitors have the information they need to explore and enjoy their time in the QC, along with fielding inbound tourism questions from our toll-free number and email requests. Brittany excels at building relationships with others and radiates enthusiasm.  She is a Moline native with 25+ years of customer service and loves to interact with others. Brittany leads our Certified Tourism Ambassador program, which aims to unite Quad Citizens in an opportunity to show hospitality to newcomers and turn every experience into a positive one.  When not working, you can usually find her at a pool soaking up some sun or enjoying time with family and friends.  She loves a good joke and always has a warm, inviting smile on her face.

Contact:  [email protected]  309-736-6826
 

A QC Must:  During the summer, go to a River bandits game and watch the fireworks afterward. During the winter, go to a Quad City Storm game.

Favorite Quote:  Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.

Favorite Vacation Spot (Outside the Quad Cities):  Mo’orea (Tahiti’s Sister Island)

Bio:  Cassidy Darin serves as the Destination Experience Coordinator, and she is responsible for the coordination and execution of visitor services and events in the Quad Cities.

Cassidy is a St. Ambrose University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management and a minor in marketing. During her time at St. Ambrose University, she was also part of the women’s basketball team. 

She enjoys playing basketball, working out, being outside, traveling, and hanging out with her family in her spare time.