meet the team

 Karin Aaron, CTA, CSEE is originally from Newark, NJ, Karin is a 34-year veteran in the hospitality and tourism industry. Ms. Aaron began her career at Continental and United Airlines before spending the next 15 years in hotel management at Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Hyatt Regency and The Ritz Carlton Hotel brand.  In 2007 she was hired as National Sales Manager for Visit Loudoun (Virginia) leading the Sports Tourism market before moving on as Director of Sales for Visit Montgomery (Maryland) driving tourism initiatives in convention sales, sports tourism and destination marketing.

Karin returned to Newark in 2016 as President & CEO of the Greater Newark Convention & Visitors Bureau leading a staff of 14 and several volunteers. Under her leadership, Karin opened the City’s first Visitor Information Center to include creating Newark branded merchandise and developing partnerships with local entrepreneurs to carry locally made products. 

In addition, she launched Newark’s first Official Visitor guide, developed a membership program for restaurant and attractions and developed Newark’s’ first scholarship program for students studying Hospitality and Tourism management. Through her leadership, Karin positioned Newark as the “next best kept secret” to include numerous mentions in several trade magazines, including the front cover of “Three Perfect Days-Newark”, United Airlines’ Hemispheres Magazine, March, 2019.

Karin attended Bloomfield College and is a Certified Tourism Ambassador in the industry. Karin serves as board member with the New Jersey Tourism Industry Association (NJTIA), and NJ Destination Management Organization (NJDMO) working on tourism advocacy and legislative issues for the State of New Jersey and she a Certified Sports Event Executive (CSEE) designation from the National Association of Sports Commissions and, is the former board marketing chair for Special Olympics Loudoun and WISE-DC “Women in Sports and Events”. She holds several industry memberships including Destinations International, and the US Travel Association. 

 David Jackson, CMP, HMCC is a managing partner with KKD Tourism Advisors after formerly serving as Vice President of Sales for the Pocono Mountains Convention and Visitors Bureau for the last 13 years. David’s career began in 1980. He served on the ARAMARK Opening Team at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia and led the Bucks County CVB Sales Team for 10 years. 

David has dedicated over 40 years in the restaurant, hospitality and tourism industry. David’s core strengths include Sales and Marketing, Convention Sales, Account Development and Customer Service. He currently holds a board position with the New York Society of Association Executives and is a member of their DEI Task Force. 

David has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from Hampton University and has been awarded the designation of Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) by the Events Industry Council (EIC) and the Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate from Meeting Professionals International (MPI).