Emerging Leaders Council

Involve, engage, and foster innovation among young leaders throughout Allegheny County to promote the region as a vibrant tourism destination, foster community engagement and raise awareness of VisitPITTSBURGH opportunities and initiatives.

VisitPITTSBURGH’s ELC consists of five seats, allowing each selected member to serve on one of the organization’s standing board committees: Sales & Marketing, Personnel & Compensation, Governance, Finance, and Audit. Two of the five selected members will serve as co-chairs and regularly attend and share reports at VisitPITTSBURGH’s full board meetings*.

*All members of the ELC are required to have signed NDAs and conflict of interest forms on file to adhere to governance standards.

Areas of Expertise: VisitPITTSBURGH’s ELC is open to young professionals ages 21 to 35 in Allegheny County who specialize in finance, business administration, marketing and communications, political science, tourism or hospitality management, or related fields. All ELC members must have at least 1-3 years of professional work experience, including internships.

Term: The inaugural ELC will have three members elected for one, two-year term and two members elected for one, one-year term. All inaugural ELC members are eligible for reappointment. Subsequent ELC members, including reappointments, are elected to a maximum of two, one-year terms.

Cadence: The ELC will convene on a quarterly basis. In addition, each ELC member will be expected to attend their assigned VisitPITTSBURGH Board Committee meetings, which range from 2-4 times a year. Co-chairs of the ELC will be expected to report on activities at all VisitPITTSBURGH board meetings. ELC members are expected to attend a minimum of 75% of their board and committee meetings and other identified activities.

Application Process: All ELC members will submit an application along with a statement of interest, resume, and two professional references. Applications will be reviewed by VisitPITTSBURGH board members and staff. Applications will be reviewed based on their passion for Pittsburgh, community involvement and potential contributions.

Professional Networking: The ELC shall work together to plan and host a professional networking event in conjunction with one of VisitPITTSBURGH’s partnership events to best represent the region’s tourism sector, serving as brand ambassadors for VisitPITTSBURGH and working to expand awareness of the organization and its mission among young professionals.

Annual Report: At the end of each year, the ELC shall compile an annual report to summarize achievements and learnings and present the findings to VisitPITTSBURGH leadership and the Board of Directors.

Mentorship: All ELC members will be paired with a representative from VisitPITTSBURGH’s Board of Directors for guidance and mentorship, for a minimum of two engagements per year. Mentors will provide a summary of mentees’ experience throughout the year for growth and learning opportunities.

Access: ELC members will have the opportunity to attend VisitPITTSBURGH’s annual meeting, monthly partnership happy hours, and official tourism community functions to network and engage with VisitPITTSBURGH’s robust network of more than 650 hospitality partners.

Volunteer Opportunities: The ELC will have the opportunity to volunteer at tourism events and special charitable activities hosted by VisitPITTSBURGH partners.