The Overland Park CVB (OPCVB) in Kansas named Dana Markel its new president. Markel was formerly the executive director of the Omaha CVB and has served in that position since 2005. She succeeds Dr. Jerry Cook, who retired at the end of 2014 after serving as the OPCVB’s president for 19 years. Markel has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has worked in convention sales in Omaha, Neb., Oklahoma City, Dallas and Miami. In 2001, Markel joined Omaha’s Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority (MECA) as the convention center director of sales and marketing. Markel has served on the executive committee of the Omaha Sports Commission, the Omaha Metropolitan Hospitality Association and the Omaha Downtown Improvement District. She was also appointed by former Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman as a state tourism commissioner.