Chas Emerson, 34
Sales Manager, Cox Business Convention Center—ASM Tulsa, Tulsa, Okla.
What I do:
I build relationships with current and future corporate and association clients. My goal is to find a win-win for the client and the building.
How I got here:
I worked in various positions in hotel management for 15 years before joining the team at the Cox Business Convention Center (CBCC). Most recently I was the director of meetings for Crowne Plaza Tulsa—Southern Hills where I oversaw all meeting planning and sales. I was approached by the CBCC asking if I was interested in a position on the sales team. I had never considered working outside the hotel industry and was nervous, but I have loved every second of it.
My greatest career accomplishment:
I worked with our two largest convention clients to secure multiyear deals valued at $2.1 million in revenue and more than $9.7 million in economic impact.
What I'm working on right now:
I am excited that a post-COVID world is on the horizon and am working on future events to come to Tulsa.
What I do outside of work:
I like to garden; I have four raised beds in my backyard where I grow tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes and many more items. I sit on the Vestry (board) for my church and manage the live streaming of worship—something that became essential because of COVID-19. Otherwise, time with my long-haired Chaweenie named Batman and time with friends and family.
Favorite vacation destination:
An ideal vacation for me is one of two things: Firstly, is a beach vacation where I do absolutely nothing, often on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The other option is fast-paced sight-seeing in a major city; my favorite being Washington, D.C. The Marriott Wardman Park is great because it's walking distance to a Metro station and so many great shops and restaurants in the Adams Morgan neighborhood.
Favorite icebreaker line:
I often ask about pets or children. Everyone loves to talk about and share photos of their babies or furbabies.
Travel hack:
I always print a copy of my itinerary and stuff it in my bag. Many times it gets thrown into recycling when I get home, but our co-dependence on our cell phones only works if we don’t lose them and we keep the battery charged.
Instagram: @chasamus_tulsa
Facebook: chas.emerson
