Don Dukemineer, STS, CHSP, joined Decatur Morgan County Tourism in February 2020 as the new Director of Sports Development. Before returning to North Alabama, Don worked for Foley Sports Tourism as Deputy Director of Sports Tourism for two years, and the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau for 12 years as a Convention Sales Manager. In 2008, Don was elected President of the Alabama Sports Initiative, Sports Alabama, by the members of the Alabama Association of Destination Marketing Organizations (AADMO) and continues to serve in this position today. Under his leadership, Don represents the State of Alabama, as well as approximately 13 member destinations, in creating awareness of Alabama’s history and tradition in hosting sport tourism events. In 2017, Don was elected to serve on the Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA) Board of Directors, the first Alabamian to have been selected. In July 2022, Don began his service as Chairman of the Board of Directors, after serving as Chair Elect in 2021, and being nominated and elected in 2019 as Secretary, and then elevated to Treasurer in early 2020. He has also served as the chair of the Leading, Engaging and Developing (L.E.A.D.) Community; co-leader on the Small and Mid-Market Community, as well as part of the Awards Committee.

In 2009, he was awarded the “Green Apple Award” for Young Professional of the Year by the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA); in 2010, the Huntsville/Madison County Hospitality Sales & Marketing Executives (HSME) recognized him as the CVB’s “employee of the year;” selected in the Southeast Tourism Society’s inaugural class of the “Forty for the Future,” recognizing travel’s leading talent in 2012; and recognized as the “Tourism Professional of the Year” by the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA) in 2016. SportsEvents Magazine recognized the CVB’s sports marketing efforts with a “Readers Choice Award” in 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2017; and Sports Destination Management recognized his efforts for hosting the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup with the prestigious “Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism” award; and awarded again in 2022 for his work with the 2022 JOAD Target Nationals of USA Archery. In 2021, he was recognized as an “Emerging Sports Events Industry Leader for 2021” by SportsEvents Magazine. In August 2023, Don was presented with the “Governor’s Tourism Award” by the Alabama Tourism Department for his dedication and service to hospitality industry withing the state of Alabama.

In December 2020, Don was elected to serve as Secretary of the Decatur Morgan County Hospitality Association, elevated to Vice President in May 2021, before being confirmed as President and Treasurer in 2022, which he still serves in today. During his tenure in Huntsville, he served on the board of the Huntsville/Madison County Hospitality Sales & Marketing Executives (HSME) for 10 years, including two terms as President.

Don has been a part of several non-profits within the community including being a Board of Director of the Kiwanis Club of Decatur Alabama since February 2022; member of the Exchange Club of Greater Huntsville from 2016-2018; served on the Friends, Inc. non-profit board of directors for three years, including as Secretary and Vice President; Louis Crews Classic steering committee; and chairman of the Huntsville Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) advisory committee.

Don graduated from the University of Alabama in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations, and Minor in Communication Studies. He has earned his designations as a Sports Tourism Strategist (STS) and as a Certified Hospitality Sales Professional (CHSP). He is a 2022 graduate of the Excellence in Leadership Program (Decatur, AL), 2010 graduate of Leadership Huntsville/Madison County’s Connect program; a 2016 graduate of the Alabama Leadership Initiative of Leadership Alabama; and received special event certification training through the Alabama Emergency Management Association (EMA). Don is also recognized as SafeSport Certified.