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PRESIDENT
Dena Bartlett

Cleburne, TX

With over 15 years of experience in venue and event management focused on life safety, event and venue details, logistics, guest and client services; Ryan Bonifas is currently the Director of Venue and Events for the East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID). Ryan oversees the Atrium Center and has been working towards the Improvement District's new convention center for over 2 years. The 213,000 sqft Convention Center is set to open in 2025. 

Before landing at EMCID, Ryan oversaw multiple event and production departments, most notably at Fair Park in Dallas and the Fort Worth Symphony. He also managed and produced a wide variety of events, ranging from 50 people to 50,000, such as festivals, concerts, endurance racings, consumer shows, meetings, and conventions.

Ryan is a communications graduate from the University of Texas at Arlington and currently a graduate student at Florida International University's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management obtaining his Master of Science in Hospitality Management - Specialization in Mega Events. 

In addition to being the Vice President of TxAVF, Ryan is a member IAVM (International Association of Venue Management,) a CVP (Certified Venue Professional,) and has attended VMS (Venue Management School) and VMSGI (Venue Management School Graduate Institute) through IAVM.

Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife, Alicia, and son, Brooks. Ryan spends time playing just about every sport with his son and cheering on his hometown sports teams – the Dallas Mavericks and the Texas Rangers.

With more than 20 years of experience in management, economic development, event planning and marketing, with the last 11 in the hospitality and tourism industry, Denise became the City of Early’s first tourism director in 2016 and in 2020 took over the operations of the Events Center.

Tasked with “putting Early on the map” Denise has overseen and developed the Visit Early brand and marketing plan.  Under her leadership, Early’s hotel occupancy tax and event’s center revenue has more than doubled and she has brought new events to Early such as Bass Clubs of Texas Top 6 Tournament, Southwest Amputee Golf Association Regional Championship, Texas High School Bass Association. TexOma Regional Touring Club, and Texas Teenage Baseball-Softball Association 25-team state tournament.

Denise obtained her Texas Destination Marketer in 2019 and will graduate from Travel & Tourism College in June as a Certified Tourism Executive.  She was named the Early Chamber of Commerce board member of the year in 2018 & 2019.  She currently serves as the marketing chair on the board of directors for the Brown County Museum of History, as Secretary of Texas Association of Venues & Facilities, and as Treasurer for the Texas Forts Trails.