Adam Berrios, 35, is the vice president of sales and services at Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau. He’s based in Little Rock, Ark.
My career journey:
I've spent the balance of my professional career in destination sales, deployed across various markets. I began my journey working for the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau in Alpharetta, Ga., back in 2011. In 2016, I moved to one of the hottest cities in the Southeast—Greenville, S.C.—and worked there until 2021, when I made the move to Arkansas' capital city, Little Rock.
What inspires me:
Personally: my wife and my daughter. Professionally: seeing my colleagues thrive and develop.
My most memorable event:
Hosting Connect Faith and Connect Southeast in Little Rock in October of 2022.
Before joining the team at the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, Berrios worked for CVBs in Alpharetta, Ga. and Greenville, S.C.Photo: Courtesy of Adam Berrios
A time I averted a complete event disaster:
Possibly what contributed to Connect Faith and Connect Southeast being the most memorable events, Little Rock CVB was responsible for hosting the opening reception. Unfortunately, the original host facility reimplemented some rules that made hosting the reception prohibitive. Our team moved swiftly to find a new backdrop for the reception and partnered with numerous local vendors to create a fantastic opening event. Stress levels were high, but we remained intentional and constantly reminded ourselves that this was our shot to perform and impress. Needless to say the event went wonderfully.
My leadership style:
I believe that you can never expect more out of someone than what they are capable of giving. It takes time and intention to learn what a colleague is capable of. Once you learn, it's your responsibility to hold them accountable to perform within their capabilities.
Motivation comes through servant leadership and trust construction. We preach having a consistent attitude, always being prepared, and making sure we give maximum effort. The way we work together to serve the customer is what creates distinction for us as a destination.
When it comes to leading his team of 12, Berrios said he believes "that you can never expect more out of someone than what they are capable of giving."Photo: Courtesy of Adam Berrios
What’s next for me:
My goal is to play a role in helping evolve Little Rock's tourism brand as we embark on our 10-year Tourism Master Plan.
The advice I would give my younger self:
Listen twice as much as you speak.
My ideal day OOO:
Fishing in a beautiful Arkansas River or hiking one of our lovely trails.
BizBash's 2023 40 Under 40 list is sponsored by VDA, a Massachusetts-based experiential marketing and event design agency that specializes in custom live, hybrid, and virtual experiences designed to drive business growth through client collaboration and creative thinking.
