The Palm Beach County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has announced that its chief marketing officer, Shirley Talbert, has received her credentials as a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME)- the industry’s highest educational achievement- by the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). The program, which requires the equivalent of four years of coursework, and a final exam and dissertation, has been completed by less than 200 top industry executives worldwide. Ms. Talbert’s formal acceptance of her CDME certifications took place at a graduation ceremony during DMAI’s 97th Annual Convention in New Orleans on Thursday, July 21.

DMAI’s CDME program is an advanced educational program for veteran and career-minded destination marketing executives that focuses on vision, leadership, productivity and the implementation of business strategies. The program’s core objectives are to prepare its graduates for spearheading innovation, impacting change, remaining competitive, and to become more effective DMO and industry leader.

A seasoned hospitality marketing professional with exceptional strategic, analytic and implementation skills, Ms. Talbert brings more than 30 years of practical experience to the Palm Beach County CVB. As a member of the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI), she served on the first Board of Advisors for the Hotel Internet Marketing Committee and in 1998 was awarded the designation of Certified Hospitality Marketing Executive (CHME). Originally from North Carolina, Shirley graduated from Western Carolina University with a B.S., in Business Administration. Ms. Talbert joined the CVB staff in June 2008, after working with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and is responsible for the development and implementation of all marketing, public relations and communications initiatives to generate visitation to Palm Beach County.

Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau, www.PalmBeachFL.com