Tourism Advisory Council Member Bios
Chair: Cristyne Nicholas, Westchester County, CEO of Nicholas & Lence Communications, New York City
Cristyne L. Nicholas co-founded Nicholas & Lence Communications in 2007, building a start-up boutique firm into an award-winning, multi-platform public relations agency. Cristyne is well known from her time as CEO of NYC & Company for leading the efforts to rebuild New York City's $27 billion tourism industry following the tragic events of September 11th. She worked with all facets of the hospitality industry, including Broadway, dining, hotels, transportation and media & entertainment, resulting in increased budget revenues from $10 million to $35 million annually and launching New York City’s first consumer TV advertising campaign. Cristyne was appointed Chair of the New York State Tourism Advisory Council in 2012.
Kelly Blazosky, Montgomery County, DMO Success Manager at Tourism Exchange USA
Kelly Blazosky joined the Tourism Exchange USA team as a DMO Success Manager in 2023, specializing in connecting states, destinations, accommodation providers, attractions and travel experiences to the Exchange for global distribution. During her 23 years of experience as a DMO president and CEO in both Ohio and New York, Kelly served in a variety of leadership roles with numerous tourism industry associations. She is proud to have been appointed by the governors of Ohio and New York to serve on Tourism Advisory Councils in each state, respectively. Prior to entering the tourism industry, Kelly spent a decade in education as a career and technical high school teacher. She and her husband Joe are the founders/owners of Adirondack Barrel Cooperage located in Glenville, Schenectady County.
Natasha Caputo, Westchester County, Director of Westchester County Tourism & Film, White Plains
Natasha Caputo currently serves as the Director of Westchester County Tourism and Film, leading the promotion of Westchester County as a viable business and leisure travel destination and a top-tier location for film. Natasha is a Board Member of Hudson Valley Tourism, Inc. and Historic Hudson River Towns, an Ex-Officio Board Member of Arts Westchester, and a former New York State Tourism Industry Association chair. Natasha has extensive experience in the tourism, entertainment, corporate, and non-profit sectors, including as CMO at Nicholas & Lence Communications, a consultant for brands like Madison Square Garden and American Express, and for eight years ran the strategic marketing and partnership operations of NYC Tourism + Conventions, New York City’s tourism promotion agency.
Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, New York County
Throughout her career, Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel has been a leading voice on many of the defining urban issues of our time, including the preservation of the build environment. Having demonstrated unparalleled commitment to the arts, architecture, design and public policy, her varied roles have brought her from the writer’s desk to The White House; to local, cable, and national television; to New York City and State government; and to the boardrooms of numerous public commissions and private organizations.
David Filipiak, Westchester County
David Filipiak has been in the travel industry for more than 25 years with tourism experience in global sales, group sales, third-party sales, marketing, strategic development, and senior management. His career has spanned many facets of the industry from working as a tour director in the luxury market, to a student tour operator, to Broadway sales and marketing, to business development and tourism cultivation at various museums and cultural attractions that range from iconic institutions like The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Intrepid Museum to innovative start-ups like National Geographic Encounter in Times Square and the Director of Tourism Sales and Partnerships at Fotografiska New York, the new contemporary museum of photography, art and culture located in Manhattan’s Flatiron District.
Daniel Fuller, Ontario County, General Manager of Bristol Mountain Ski Resort, Canandaigua
Daniel Fuller served as past Chair of the Tourism Advisory Council currently brings a particular expertise in New York State’s ski industry. As President and General Manager of Bristol Mountain, he oversees year-round operations including events at the mountain in the off-ski season along with the Zip Line Canopy Tour and Aerial Park. Summer operations also include Roseland Waterpark and the Cable Wake Board Park in Canandaigua. The Wake Board Park is the only facility of its kind in New York State.
Olga Luz Tirado, Dutchess County, President and CEO of O Communications and Solutions, Beacon
Olga Luz Tirado is President and CEO of O Communications & Solutions, a full-service boutique firm specializing in Public Relations, Government & Community Engagement, Event Management, Economic Development, and Relationship-Building. Prior to launching the company, she served as the Executive Director of The Bronx Tourism Council from 2012 to 2022. During her tenure, she applied her marketing expertise to highlight the borough’s numerous attractions, leading to a significant increase in tourism and, at times, tripling participation in the borough’s signature annual events. In response to the pandemic's challenges, Olga produced and co-hosted the Go Bronx Podcast, which won the 2021 Webby Award for "Best Limited Series" from the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences.
Katherine Nicholls, Nassau County
Katherine Nicholls is a New York-based business executive with over 30 years of experience in company leadership, operations, and marketing. Currently she serves as Chair for the New York State Council on the Arts. Katherine was the Chief Executive Officer of GreenGale Publishing, LLC (formerly Niche Media Holdings) from 2011 to 2017, until completing of the sale of the company to Modern Luxury Media. In recognition of her accomplishments as CEO, Katherine was honored in 2014 with Folio Magazine’s Women in Media Corporate Visionary Award. Prior to joining Niche Media in 2007, Katherine had a twenty-year career in marketing in the wine and spirits industry in both Canada and the United States.
George Ntim, Middlesex County (NJ), Market Director of Diplomatic and Community Relations at NYC Marriott Hotels, New York City
George Ntim is the Market Director of Diplomatic and Community Relations for the New York City Marriott Hotels and his office is at the 1971-room New York Marriott Marquis Hotel, located at Times Square in New York City. In addition, George is the government affairs leader on Marriot International’s New York City Business Council, the immediate past Chair of the Board for the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association (NYSHTA), an adjunct professor of Hotel Operations at New York University and the founder of the African Development Foundation (ADF).
Michael Oates, President and CEO of Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation, Goshen
Michael Oates is the President and CEO of Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation. He is the former Managing Partner for Bellefield Development Partners, LLC, a $500 million culinary campus located directly across from The Culinary Institute of America. Previously, Michael was the CEO of Hudson River Ventures, a small business investment fund focused on Food & Beverage, Tourism, Hospitality, 3D Printing and Innovative Technology with investment projects located in the Hudson Valley. Michael also served as Vice President and Regional Director for Empire State Development. He was selected for City & State’s 2024 Hudson Valley Power 100, and currently serves as Vice Chairman for Abilities First.
Alana Petrocelli, Nassau County, Executive Director of Nassau County Firefighters Museum & Education Center, Uniondale
Alana Petrocelli has been with the Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center for the last 18 years, serving as the as the Deputy Director from 2006 to 2008, and now as Executive Director for 16 years where she manages all details of daily operations. The non-profit museum and education center provides public education, training, and awareness in fire safety and prevention, and aims to reserve and interpret the heritage of local volunteer services through collection, restoration, and exhibition of historic and contemporary firematic memorabilia and equipment.
Alexandra Stanton, New York County, CEO of Empire Global Ventures, LLC, New York City
Alexandra Stanton is the CEO of Empire Global Ventures, LLC, which advises Fortune 500 companies, national central banks, senior elected officials, and nongovernmental organizations across three continents. In 2013, Alexandra was appointed by President Barack Obama to the Board of Trustees of The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She currently serves as Vice President of the Board of the Parrish Art Museum and is Vice President of Doctors of the World – USA.
Elinor Tatum, New York County, Publisher and Editor in Chief of New York Amsterdam News, New York City
Elinor R. Tatum is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the New York Amsterdam News, one of the most important Black newspapers in the country, serving the nation’s largest Black and brown community. In addition to publishing the Amsterdam News, Elinor regularly moderates debates and hosts interviews on Manhattan Neighborhood Network. In addition to her career in journalism, Elinor is a philanthropist and holds many civic positions, such as serving on the Board of Directors of the Olympic Regional Development Association, the Board of Trustees of St. Lawrence University, the board of New York City Center, and the Board of Glasgow Caledonian New York City University.
Thurman Thomas, Erie County, President of 34 Group, Orchard Park
Thurman Thomas was appointed Vice Chairman of the New York State Tourism Advisory Council in 2014. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007, Thurman enjoyed a long and successful 13-year career as the principal running back for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League, retiring in 2000. He played in five Pro Bowls and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. Since his retirement from the Buffalo Bills, Thurman has established a strong record of business development in the Buffalo area, currently serving President of 34 Group, a design and construction company.
Senator José Serrano, Ex-officio member (non-voting), Chair of the Senate Committee on Tourism Recreation and Sports Development
Senator José M. Serrano, a lifelong Bronx resident, was elected to represent what is now the 29th Senate District of the New York State Senate in November of 2004. He serves as the Chair of the Senate Majority Conference as well as the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation. An avid enthusiast of the great outdoors, Serrano continues to advocate for various initiatives to engage New Yorkers in preserving and beautifying our state and city parks. He is also deeply passionate about the arts and is a firm believer that local arts organizations add great value to New York State's cultural fabric and act as an economic engine for communities throughout the state.
Assemblyman Ron Kim, Ex-officio member (non-voting), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts and Sports Development
Ron Kim, the Assemblymember for New York's 40th District, serves as the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts, and Sports Development. A longtime resident of Flushing, Queens, he was the first Korean American ever elected to public office in New York. He previously served as the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging for four years, and prior to being elected to the Assembly in 2012, Kim held various roles in city and state government. He and his wife, Allison, have three daughters.