Former Executive Director of Gateway Center Campus Will Succeed Cookie Smoak, Leading the Destination Marketing Organization into Next Phase of Growth
ATLANTA – (August 1, 2024) – The ATL Airport District Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), the destination marketing organization for the cities of College Park, Hapeville and Union City, today announced that Mercedes Miller will succeed Cookie Smoak as its new president upon Smoak’s September 30 retirement. A well-known local community leader and hospitality industry veteran, Miller most recently served as executive director for Gateway Center Campus, which encompasses the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), Gateway Center Arena and the Historic College Park Golf Course.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead operations for the ATL Airport District, a destination I am extremely passionate about,” said Miller. “This is not the beginning of my relationship with the ATL Airport District team – I was born and raised on Atlanta’s Southside and my experience working with the City of College Park and leading the Gateway Center Campus gives me a deep appreciation for, and understanding of, the wonderful communities of College Park, Hapeville and Union City. I am eager to continue my work here in this new role, engaging with the District team on a new level, working with our network of amazing partners and following in Cookie’s footsteps.”
Miller brings nearly 30 years of hospitality industry experience to the ATL Airport District leadership team. She has dedicated much of that time to the GICC, starting there as a marketing analyst in 1995 and rising the ranks to executive director in 2011. Through her leadership, the Gateway Center Campus expanded beyond its on-site hotels and the GICC, with the construction of Gateway Center Arena, which opened in 2019. She has played an integral role in the campus expansion, leveraging her passion for the community, emphasis on relationship-building and strategic thinking. As a result of Miller’s work in the area, she was asked to step in as interim city manager for the City of College Park during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout her career, Miller has been recognized for her leadership style and knowledge of the industry. Her many accolades include placement on the “Top 100 Leaders in Hospitality” list by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Georgia Trend’s “500 Most Influential Leaders,” and she was recently inducted into the Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc. She has served on various boards and committees, including chairperson of the ATL Airport District CVB board of directors, the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors and served on the Board of Ethics for Fulton County for eight years.
Effective September 30, Smoak will conclude her 11-year tenure as president of the ATL Airport District. She successfully grew the CVB from a start-up in 2013, representing one city, to a dynamic, thriving network driving sales and marketing for three unique Atlanta-area communities. While managing a multi-million-dollar budget, her efforts strategically positioned the District as a preferred destination for leisure tourism, as well as – through a joint effort with the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) – conventions and meetings. As Smoak concludes this phase of her professional journey, she celebrates a nearly 50-year career driving growth and innovation within the hospitality and tourism industries throughout the Southeast.
“It is bittersweet to close this chapter. As I step away from my role at the ATL Airport District, I know the team is fully prepared to continue our efforts in expanding awareness for the incredible things this community has to offer,” said Smoak. “I have had the honor to work alongside Mercedes for several years, and she is the perfect candidate to lead this team. I look forward to seeing what she will accomplish as president!”
Beginning August 1, Yanous Barner will step into the role of interim executive director of the Gateway Center Campus. Barner has spent over 20 years in various roles with the city of College Park, most recently as the operations manager at the Gateway Center Arena.
To learn more about the ATL Airport District CVB, call 404-334-7500 or visit ATLdistrict.com. For updates on everything in the District, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
For more information on the Georgia International Convention Center, visit GICC.com or follow on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.
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About the ATL Airport District Convention & Visitors Bureau
The ATL Airport District Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for the cities of College Park, Hapeville and Union City, Georgia. Home to the world’s most traveled airport, Georgia’s second largest convention center, more than 7,000 hotel rooms, an abundance of arts and culture, an eclectic mix of great restaurants, and located just minutes from downtown Atlanta, the ATL Airport District offers big-city amenities balanced with Southern charm.
About the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC)
Georgia’s second-largest convention center, the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), is uniquely positioned to offer guests and clients unprecedented convenience. As the world’s only convention center directly connected to a major airport, this modern facility embodies the grace and efficiency of flight itself. The GICC is also home to three new LEED-certified convention hotels; the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway, the Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway and the Springhill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway. Equipped with a wide range of cutting-edge facilities, including a 9,800-square-foot Culinary Arts Center and Georgia’s largest ballroom at 40,000-square-feet, this event space provides solutions tailored to each convention’s unique needs. The GICC has also successfully achieved GBAC Star Facility Accreditation and is committed to protecting the health and safety of all attendees at every event.
Media Contact:
Kendall Bagley, Hemsworth
812-483-7717 or AADPR@HemsworthCommunications.com
