Who We Are

Emily Cassell, MBA, CDME

Director

(703) 228-0875Emily has led Arlington's competitive strategy for destination marketing, sales and visitor services since 2006. In 2021, Arlington visitors spent more than $2.8 billion, with tourism supporting more than 12,000 jobs and $114 million in local tax receipts. With a lifelong passion for travel, Emily has 25+ years of tourism marketing experience. She holds an International MBA from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Journalism with Honors from the University of Texas at Austin. A long-time County resident, one of Emily’s favorite Arlington experiences is biking along the Potomac River on the scenic Mount Vernon Trail.

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Portia Conerly, CTIS, CDTP

Director of Sales

(703) 228-0873As Director of Sales for the Arlington Convention and Visitors Service, Portia has led Arlington County to the number-one position in visitor spending among Virginia counties for 12 consecutive years. Portia has over two decades in sales management and promotes Arlington as a destination to both the domestic and international markets. One of Portia’s favorite Arlington experiences is taking a stroll through the tree-lined streets of its Shirlington neighborhood. Her primary markets include Association, Government, Corporate and International.

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Scott Baker

Marketing Manager

(703) 228-0877With a degree in Marketing from Miami University (Ohio), Scott has spent the better part of the last 20 years in various marketing and communication roles within a few different industries. Most notably, Scott has worked in the travel and tourism industry for nearly a decade having spent over four years at J. Walter Thompson in Chicago on the Illinois Office of Tourism account prior to coming to the ACVS team in 2017 where he manages the branding, marketing and communications.

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Destiny Esper

Strategic Communications Manager, Arlington Economic Development

703-228-0854

Destiny Esper (she/her) is a seasoned communications expert and ACVS's go-to media contact, serving as the Strategic Communications Manager for Arlington Economic Development since 2024. With decades of experience crafting and curating compelling narratives, Destiny specializes in unearthing and telling Arlington's stories — particularly through economic and tourism lenses. Her work bridges the gap between government, education, corporate and nonprofit sectors, elevating Arlington’s voice on the national and international stage. Before joining Arlington, Destiny held prominent leadership roles in several previous organizations, including Director of Communications and Community Engagement for Commonwealth Academy in Alexandria and Director of Marketing Communications for NVS Marketing Company in Southern California. Equipped with a Journalism and Public Relations degree from Franklin College and a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from National University, Destiny pairs strategic vision with marketing expertise. She also serves as the public relations representative for the Northern Virginia Tourism Partnership, positioning the region as a top-tier destination. When she’s not crafting impactful campaigns, you can find Destiny dining at Thai Square on Columbia Pike, scaling new heights at Climb UPton, or catching a convenient flight from DCA.

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Jackie Evans

Marketing Coordinator

(703) 228-0812Jackie joined the ACVS team as Marketing Coordinator in 2024 after 3 years of economic development, tourism, and marketing experience in the Richmond Region. With a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional studies from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), she has been able to showcase her love of cities and placemaking through various destination marketing efforts during her career and is excited to continue these efforts here in Arlington. As a Northern Virginia native, Jackie has fond memories of Arlington; specifically exploring the Pentagon City and Crystal City eateries and shops as a child, as well as making trips to watch the Washington Capitals practice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Ballston.

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Roxana Rivera, CTIS, CSTP

Destination Sales Manager

(703) 228-5108Roxana joined the ACVS team as Destination Sales Manager in 2022. With extensive experience in tourism sales and hospitality and a great enthusiasm for Arlington, Roxana is ready to assist group travel and meeting planners create the best possible Arlington experience for their groups. Roxana holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from American University and enjoys learning about different cultures and languages. One of her favorite Arlington experiences is exploring all the unique and wonderful parks Arlington has to offer including Gravelly Point Park, where she enjoys watching planes take off and land from Reagan National Airport, and Bon Air Park Memorial Rose Garden, which features a great variety of roses. Her primary markets include social, military, educational, religious and fraternal.

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Robert ​“Mo” Rouse

Visitor Services & Film Office Coordinator

(703) 228-0889Mo is a Visitor Services and Film Office Coordinator with Arlington Convention and Visitors Service with 25+ years of experience in hospitality and tourism. Mo uses that experience by informing, serving, and providing Arlington visitors with an exceptional visitor experience. One of Mo’s favorite Arlington experiences is strolling through the diverse Arlington neighborhoods and learning about their rich history and culture.

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