Each year, during National Travel & Tourism Week in May, the Dayton Convention & Visitors Bureau recognizes outstanding event planners with its Community Ambassador Awards. The awards highlight notable events from the prior year that had a significant economic impact on Dayton and Montgomery County. The event planners are presented with official leather flight jackets and named “Community Ambassadors” at the Bureau’s annual National Tourism Week Celebration & Community Ambassador Awards Breakfast.

On May 9, the Dayton CVB presented its 2023 Community Ambassador Awards to four event planners who collectively brought events generating nearly $2 million in direct spending estimated economic impact to Dayton and Montgomery County in 2022. The awards breakfast was held “under the wings” of presidential aircraft in the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force’s fourth hangar, in honor of the museum's centennial in 2023.

According to Jacquelyn Y. Powell, President & CEO of the Dayton Convention & Visitors Bureau, “These four event planners join a prestigious group of over 150 individuals recognized since the award's inception in 1992.  Presenting them with an official leather flight jacket from Dayton, the Birthplace of Aviation, is a way of underscoring our community’s aviation legacy, present and future."

The four Community Ambassadors recognized for their role in bringing their organization’s events to Dayton & Montgomery County were:

Katherine Khoury, U.S. Senior Women's Open Championship

Our first Community Ambassador Award Winner is Katherine Khoury, who is from North Carolina, and was instrumental in bringing the U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship to NCR Country Club and our community in 2022.

Col. (Ret) USAF John Probst, Air Force Security Forces Association 36th National Meeting

Our next Dayton Community Ambassador Award Winner, Col. John Probst, US Air Force retired, is from Texas and was the event planner for the Air Force Security Forces Association 36th National Meeting, which was held in Dayton.

Eric Rice, American Navion Society

Community Ambassador Award Winner Eric Rice calls the Miami Valley home and is from Troy. He was the meeting planner who brought the American Navion Society National Convention, a group devoted to preserving Navion aircraft, to Montgomery County.

Dara Wydler, 1SG (Ret) US Army, 1st Cavalry Division Association 2022 Reunion

Our final Community Ambassador Award Winner, Dara Wydler, First Sergeant retired, U.S. Army, 1st Cavalry Division, also hails from Texas. She was the event planner responsible for bringing the 1st Cavalry Division Association 2022 Reunion to Dayton. 

Hold Your Next Meeting or Event to Dayton!

We'd love to host your next meeting or event here in Dayton. You have the people and we the have space, so let’s get together! Dayton – the birthplace of aviation, home to the Wright brothers, and so much more – is the “Wright” choice for your next meeting or event, and here are 3 REASONS WHY!

If you need help locating resources, we are here to help guide you toward the perfect spot. Whether you’re planning an Ohio meeting, a family reunion, a group getaway or any other kind of trip, we can help. Our long-standing relationships with community partners make the planning process a snap. When the time is right, reach out and we will be happy to get together and assist you with your planning needs.

You can also check out our venues and services, or jump right in and submit an RFP online.

Who knows, you might be our next Community Ambassador Award Winner! 

Pictured at top of page (left to right): Eric Rice, Dara Wydler, Dayton CVB Board of Trustees Chair Scott Debolt, Dayton CVB President & CEO Jacquelyn Powell, Katherine Khoury and John Probst