Stephen Goodling

STEPHEN M. GOODLING Biography Steve Goodling, President and CEO of the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau since 2001, leads a team of seasoned professionals dedicated to making Long Beach a premier destination city and providing superior customer service. These efforts have been rewarded with a 55% increase in sales over the past seven years. Adding proof that Long Beach is achieving its goals in customer service is a string of major industry awards culminating in 2008 with the Bureau winning nine top national honors—the most awards ever in its 25 year history. The highest accolade is the Bureau’s permanent induction into the Meetings & Conventions “Elite Hall of Fame” for exemplary customer service. Steve has worked diligently with city and community leaders to bring a number of high profile special events to the city, including the 2004 US Olympic Swim Trials, the most successful trials in the sport’s history. In 2007 Long Beach hosted the final stage of the AMGEN Tour of California, bringing the world’s top cyclists to town and shattering the race’s previous attendance records. Steve and his team also assisted with the Royal Rendezvous between the Queen Mary and the Queen Mary 2 in 2006 and the AKC World Championship dog show which now makes Long Beach its West Coast home. Steve was born in York, Pennsylvania, graduating from Penn State University with a degree in marketing. Steve brings more than 25 years of marketing experience to Long Beach; first with Marriott and then with Shangri La Hotels, a Hong Kong based company operating luxury resorts throughout Asia. As Director of Marketing for North America, Steve introduced many fortune 500 companies to China’s rapidly emerging tourism trade during the 1990’s. Steve’s belief in the importance of participating in and being a part of the local community is evident in his personal involvement. He serves as a board director for the Arts Council of Long Beach, International City Theatre, California Conference for Equality and Justice, and the Downtown Long Beach Associates. “My experience working in Asia emphasized for me the importance of personal relationships,” said Steve. “It’s all about being involved, developing relationships and giving back to build a strong community.” Steve enjoys exploring the world with his wife of 18 years, Lisa. “I enjoy learning about people and the way they live, said Steve. “Lisa and I have had wonderful opportunities to meet new people, make new friends and experience their cultures. # # #

Opportunities to develop something new, something that wasn't there before, something that enhances the community; makes it better, brings community partners together working towards a common goal.

We need to bring about an amalgam of cultural and business diversity between East and West. I loved working in Asia, getting to know the people and their differing customs and thought processes. In business and personal relationships, Eastern cultures place significant emphasis on getting to know each other, treating their associates with respect and considering what is the best outcome for the group, rather than any one individual. A dynamic blend of Eastern and Western attributes would create more effective partnerships and increase overall productivity.