[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20328]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          IN RECOGNITION OF RETIREMENT OF DEBBIE LOCKE-DANIEL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 16, 2015

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements 
of Debbie Locke-Daniel and her many years of service to the City of 
Ypsilanti and Washtenaw County. Mrs. Locke-Daniel served as the 
President and CEO of the Ypsilanti Area Convention and Visitors Bureau 
(Visit YPSI) where she used her business acumen to help successfully 
market the Ypsilanti-Ann Arbor area as a destination for numerous 
meetings, events and conventions. Known for her relentless work ethic 
and leadership talents, Mrs. Locke-Daniel has enabled the Ypsilanti 
area to grow its economy and promote its strengths across Michigan and 
the nation.
  Mrs. Locke-Daniel is a true community leader and has served on 
numerous boards including a leadership role as Past Chair of the 
MotorCities National Area Partnership which works to cultivate an 
appreciation for the rich heritage of Michigan's auto industry. Mrs. 
Locke-Daniel also served as Vice President of the Board for the 
Ypsilanti Wheels on Meals, which delivers prepared meals to homebound, 
disabled, and infirmed residents, and earned the 2012 Ypsilanti Kiwanis 
Community Service Award for her efforts. In addition, she has been a 
board member of both the Marnee Divine Foundation (Catholic Social 
Services in Washtenaw County) and the Michigan Firehouse Museum.
  Visit YPSI is more than a tourism agency; it is a vehicle for 
economic and community development. For many years, this organization 
has awarded grants to small communities such as Manchester, Dexter, and 
Superior Township. These grants have been used to create town entry 
signs, public maps, and landscaping alterations with the hope of 
increased tourism activity. Without Mrs. Locke-Daniel's vision and 
stewardship of funds, many communities would not have had the ability 
to further their own economic growth projects which is critical to the 
success of our region.
  One of the remarkable achievements of Visit YPSI was its receipt of 
the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program designation. This 
international accreditation recognizes entities for their high level 
performance in destination marketing and management. To date, only one 
percent of convention and visitors bureaus within Michigan, and seven 
percent nationally, have earned this prestigious recognition.
  Mrs. Locke-Daniel was largely responsible for forming a team which 
was able to create a body of work that met such stringent international 
standards. Described as the ultimate team player, the success of Visit 
YPSI has been attributed to her ability to empower staff to seek 
creative solutions and grow within their positions.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor and 
congratulate Mrs. Debbie Locke-Daniel on her retirement and years of 
service to her community. Although she will be missed, her achievements 
will continue to have a positive impact on our community for years to 
come.

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