PROFILE OF THE PRINCIPALS OF VENUE INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONALS, INC.
Venue International Professionals, Inc. (VIP) is a US-based travel and tourism consulting firm that specializes on the travel and tourism industry on the African Continent.
HELEN C. BROADUS, PRESIDENT
Helen C. Broadus is the President of Venue International Professionals, Inc. (VIP). She has visited thirty-two African countries (at least once) over the past twenty years. From 1997 to 2006, she was a Member of the International Board of Directors of the Africa Travel Association (ATA) and served with great distinction as the Executive Secretary for eight years. During her tenure with the ATA organization she substantially contributed to the professional growth and development of the ATA organization at all levels and is definitely a model of commitment and service to the promotion of travel and tourism opportunities to the Continent of Africa. In 1999, she received the prestigious Hotel Intercontinental Group Award for the promotion of travel and tourism opportunities to West Africa and in 1997 she received ATA’s Founder’s Award for her outstanding contributions to the organization. In 1998, she was bestowed as “Queen Adinasse” during her pilgrimage to Quidah, Benin. In addition, in 1995, she received a Citation Certificate from Mayor Marion Barry of the District of Columbia for her outstanding contributions to the promotion of travel and tourism opportunities between the citizenry of the District of Columbia and many African nations. In 2012, she received the APEX Award for Distinguished Service in the area of Heritage Tourism. This award was presented by Black Meetings and Tourism Magazine to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their particular field of endeavor, which have positively impacted the travel and tourism industry in the area of Heritage Tourism. She is also a Volunteer Docent at the National Museum of African Art (NMAfA) at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC (USA).
DAVID J. SAUNDERS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
David J. Saunders is the Chief Executive Officer of Venue International Professionals, Inc. He has visited twenty-five African countries (at least once) over the past fifteen years. From 1999 to 2006, he was a Member of the International Board of Directors of the Africa Travel Association (ATA). During his tenure with ATA he contributed substantially to the professional growth and development of the organization at all levels and definitely is a model of commitment and service to the promotion of travel and tourism opportunities to the Continent of Africa. In 2005, he was the recipient of the ATA Founder’s Award for his exemplary contributions to the organization and in 1999 he was the recipient of the ATA Outstanding Service Award. He is a frequent speaker and writer on the subject of travel, tourism and trade-related opportunities on the African Continent. From 2000-2015, he was the Program Director for the Constituency for Africa (CFA), the premiere US-based advocacy NGO focusing on US-Africa policy as well as the Executive Director of the American and African Business Women’s Alliance (AABWA) which is an association designed for the promotion of mentoring, counseling and training initiatives between American and African women entrepreneurs. He is also a founding member of the African American Unity Caucus (AAUC) which is a non-partisan alliance of committed leaders and organizations of African ancestry focused on issues affecting Africa and the African Diaspora. In addition, he is a founding member of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Civil Society Coalition which is a non-profit organization established by the AAUC to administer the civil society component of the AGOA Ministerial which is held annually by the United States Government and an African Host Country in order to discuss strategies and policies for the continuation of the progress made as a result of AGOA. In 2012, he received the APEX Award for Distinguished Service in the area of Heritage Tourism. This award was presented by Black Meetings and Tourism Magazine to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the travel and tourism industry specifically in the area of Heritage Tourism.
