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Elaine McLaughlin


Elaine McLaughlin, President, Friends of the Florida State Parks
Elaine M. McLaughlin, MPA, CDME

McLaughlin is currently a visiting professor in department of Tourism, Recreation and Sports Management at the University of Florida. She fell in love with Florida’s state parks when working as the tourism leader for a county in southwest Florida.

McLaughlin who served as executive director of the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel Visitor and Convention Bureau for over 12 years has an impressive local, state and national record. Twice named as one of the leading women in tourism by Travel Agent Magazine, McLaughlin led the Bureau in innovative programs that fully integrated the tourism industry with the overall goals of County government. Under her leadership, Lee County Fl partnered with county, city, state and federal agencies, to develop new parks and nature preserves and focus the County’s marketing effort on eco-tourism and marketing to amateur sports groups.

In 1995, McLaughlin represented Florida at the White House Conference on Tourism, and for over 6 years served on the Florida Commission on Tourism and the board of Visit Florida, Inc. The first person in Florida to achieve the prestigious Certified Destination Management Executive, she also served as the President of the Florida Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus.

McLaughlin began her career in local government management. She has had over 20 years experience working with budget, finance, transportation, tourism, and community development.