Press Release

For Immediate Release
July 1, 2005
Contact: Tracey Berry
Missouri Division of Tourism
573-751-3438 or tracey.berry@ded.mo.gov
http://News.VisitMO.com

Eric Feltner
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
573-751-4727 or Eric.Feltner@ltgov.mo.gov

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder New Tourism Vice Chair

HERMANN, MO — Members of the Missouri Tourism Commission elected Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder as their vice chair during a June 29 meeting in Hermann. Kinder has served on the commission since he took office as Missouri's 48th lieutenant governor in January. The Missouri Tourism Commission determines matters relating to tourism policies for the state and oversees the administration of the Division of Tourism.

"I am pleased to serve on the Tourism Commission and am thankful for the opportunity to serve as vice chair. The tourism industry is vital to our state and I look forward to continuing the work to make Missouri a prime tourism destination," said Kinder.

Kinder has a background in the tourism industry, having worked as an attorney and real estate representative for Drury Industries, a hotel chain.

Raeanne Presley of Branson, a co-owner of Presley's Country Jubilee, serves as the chair of the Tourism Commission. The position of vice chair has been vacant since the term of former Commissioner Consuelo Washington of St. Louis ended earlier this year.

By statute, the commission consists of 10 members: the lieutenant governor; two members of the Senate of different political parties appointed by the president pro tem of the Senate; two members of the House of Representatives of different political parties appointed by the speaker of the House; and five individuals appointed by the governor, with no more than three of those appointees being of the same political party. The commission elects its chair and vice chair.