The ATL Airport District Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), the destination marketing organization (DMO) for the cities of College Park, Hapeville and Union City, announced that Mercedes Miller will succeed Cookie Smoak as the CVB’s new president upon Smoak’s retirement September 30.
Miller, a well-known local community leader and hospitality industry veteran, will bring with her nearly 30 years of experience to the ATL Airport District leadership team. She 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,” Miller said in a press release announcing her hire. “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 started working at the GICC in 1995 as a marketing analyst and rose the ranks to executive director in 2011. Through her leadership, the Gateway Center Campus expanded beyond its onsite 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 and Georgia Trend’s “500 Most Influential Leaders.” She was recently inducted into the Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc. and has served on various boards and committees, including chairperson of the ATL Airport District CVB board of directors and the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau board of director.
“I have had the honor to work alongside Mercedes for several years, and she is the perfect candidate to lead this team,” Smoak said. “I look forward to seeing what she will accomplish as president!”
This information is based on a press release from the ATL Airport District Convention & Visitor Bureau.
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