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 BOARD OF DIRECTORS BIOGRAPHY
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Michael Cooper
Commissioner
Kentucky Department of Travel
Capital Plaza Tower, Suite 2200
500 Mero Street
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
For Media Inquiries, Contact:
Kevin Marie Nuss
Director of Marketing and Communications
(502) 564-8110 x 186
Commissioner Michael Cooper of the Kentucky Department of Tourism is a 21-year veteran of Kentucky state government with extensive domestic and international tourism experience. Cooper served in the Kentucky Department of Parks prior to 14 years in what is now called the Department of Tourism. In the tourism department he held a variety of posts, including assistant director of marketing and advertising from 1994 to 2000 and assistant director of tourism services from 2001 to 2004. He was also instrumental in the formation of Visit Kentucky USA, an international marketing consortium of convention and visitor bureaus of Lexington, Louisville, Northern Kentucky, and the commonwealth and other new and innovative tourism and marketing initiatives.
In addition to his background in tourism, Cooper has extensive experience in event planner. He most recently served as executive director for the inauguration of Governor Steven L. Beshear and coordinated the Kentucky Democratic Tour to Victory rallies and bus tour, as well as the “Let's Work Together” victory night celebration. He also assisted with the inaugurations of five former governors. He has planned other high-profile events, including the 2001 Southern Governors Association Convention, the Kentucky Bicentennial and many Governor's Kentucky Derby festivities.
Cooper is a 15-year board member of Equestrian Events Inc., producer of the annual Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. He also serves on the boards of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the Kentucky Tourism Council, the Kentucky Derby Festival, Travel South USA, the Southeast Tourism Society, the Mississippi River Parkway Commission and the Man of War Swim Conference.
A native Kentuckian, Cooper holds a B.S. degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Georgetown College. He is a Travel Marketing Professional, having earned his certification from the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College. Married and the father of two children, he lives in Lexington. He is an avid distance runner who has participated in more than a dozen marathons around the country.
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