Dan Fenton

Through experience and dedication to his profession, Daniel Fenton has helped to revolutionize the tourism industry in San Jose, California. Under his direction, the Team San Jose Management Company in 2004 earned sweeping responsibility for the city's tourism industry. The company now manages the convention center, four downtown theaters, and a food-and-beverage company. As the CEO of Team San Jose, Daniel Fenton has succeeded in creating a streamlined, holistic tourism industry that brings together the city's hotel, arts, and labor groups.

Under Mr. Fenton's leadership, the company has become a major economic driver in Silicon Valley and is now worth over $20 million, with more than 300 employees. Since 1996, Mr. Fenton has increased the company's overall revenue by 30%, increased the number of company-managed meetings and events by 50%, and has achieved an overall customer satisfaction score of 95%. The Team San Jose model has earned national attention for its innovative design, and other major cities such as Memphis have replicated the model in their own tourism organizations. Because of his success, Mr. Fenton was recruited by the State of Hawaii Tourism Authority to implement major changes in its sales and marketing operations.

Daniel Fenton has also contributed to the Silicon Valley's tourism industry by cofounding Artsopolis, the Valley's online guide to arts and cultural events. He also helped to develop and institute one of Silicon Valley's main cultural attractions, Zero1, an event that combines art and technology in unique and surprising ways. He also is Vice Chairman of the Mexican Heritage Corporation. This group presents and advances Mexican and multicultural performing arts through festivals, concerts, workshops, community events, and arts-education programs in the Valley and Northern California.

A variety of groups have recognized Mr. Fenton's contribution to the industry, professional integrity, and work ethic. In 2006, Meetings and Conventions magazine named him one of the Top 25 minds in the hospitality industry, and in 2007, the AFL-CIO awarded him its "Friend of Labor" award. Mr. Fenton has also received positive employee feedback during his time at Team San Jose.