Melissa Read Honored as Destin Chamber’s Business Person of the Quarter

During the Destin Chamber’s Sept. 18 Tourism & Hospitality Lunch, Melissa Read, General Manager of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, was honored with the Chamber’s Business Person of the Quarter Award. This award is presented directly from the Chamber’s Board of Directors to a Destin area businessperson showing vision for his or her business and leadership in our community. 

“Melissa has done a great job turning around the direction of the convention center. She’s been willing to work with local organizations as much as those from out of town. Her contributions to the economy through her work at the convention center have been strong. She’s always worked well with the chamber, too,” said Shane A. Moody, CCE, FCCP.

According to Read’s nomination form, “Melissa is a congenial manager and delegator with the huge responsibility of generating substantial economic impact for Okaloosa County as it relates to maximizing bed-tax revenues and bringing travelers to our beautiful destination. She is a caring and understanding manager who creates a working environment that fosters growth and advancement, while allowing employees the flexibility for a healthy work-life balance. When someone is as good at their job as Melissa is at hers, they should be recognized as such. Her commitment to the vision and mission statement of the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners is infectious, and we have all been inspired to strive to exemplify the values of Okaloosa County.”

Read has been with the convention center for six years. Prior to that, she spent 11 years with the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club.

Would you like to nominate someone for this award? Click here!

Photo Caption: Read is seen here receiving the award from the Chamber's Vice Chairman of Community & Tourism Development Capt. Chad Rewis of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, during the Chamber's Sept. 18 Tourism & Hospitality Lunch.