Getting to know PlannerMix.com member Celestino Ruffini:

Q: Who are you, and what do you do?
A: I’m Celestino Ruffini, a native of Decatur, IL, but now a resident of Galena, IL. I am the director of sales for the Galena/Jo Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau. My primary job duties: administering the CVB's meeting planning and motor coach program, attending industry trade shows, maintaining the CVB’s Destination Planner, reviewing meeting/group tour RFPs and forwarding qualified leads to lodging properties. Additionally, I handle all of the social media networking platforms for the CVB, as well. If you are reading this or active on PlannerMix, then you should tweet me at twitter.com/visitgalena and discover all you want to know about Galena and Jo Daviess County!

Q: How long have you been involved with meetings and events?
A: I have been involved with meetings and events since I was in high school, working for the Children’s Museum of Illinois. That was nine years ago. Does that give my age away?

Q: How did you get into the industry?
A: The industry came to me, actually. A family friend, who was the executive director of the Children’s Museum of Illinois, had a job opportunity arise, and I saw immediately that I worked well with groups and events. From there, I was hooked on working in museums, hotels, and restaurants, where I could be a part of the hospitality industry.

Q: What is your favorite part about your job?
A: My job has allowed me to meet many wonderful and incredible people around the United States and the world. Many people make a lasting memory for me and really provide me the inspiration to continue working in the tourism industry.

Q: What has been your #1 professional all-star moment?
A: The moment that comes to mind occurred in the second week of my current job with the CVB. Although it did not deal with a particular meeting or event, our staff had to present an all-inclusive, point-by-point presentation to the local city council defending and explaining the work of the CVB. It was then, as a newbie on the job, that I realized, by far, that the general public has no idea about the true importance of meetings or the tourism industry, in general.

Q: Describe the best event you ever attended:
A: This past January, I attended the American Bus Association’s Marketplace in Charlotte, NC. The event went very smoothly for all of those attendees there to do business. I was blown away by the hospitality of the people and how well they treated all of us travel professionals.

Q: What professional words of advice have you heard and passed on?
A: I definitely have always remembered one statement I heard as a child in elementary school: “Be a leader, not a follower.” I think I have stuck true with that. As well, as a Purdue University alum, I am a fan of John Wooden and how inspirational he was to thousands of people during his years at Purdue, Indiana State University and UCLA.

Q: What is the most unusual item you carry with you on your travels?
A: I always have a very detailed local map. I am passionate on having and knowing directions of the destination I am at. Nonetheless, once I have been somewhere, I rarely ever need to utilize a map because I seem to have an excellent sense of directional knowledge. Sometimes, though, an escape for me is to drive somewhere I have never been before, just to get lost and try to figure out my way home. You always seem to discover so many new things when you go off the beaten path.

Q: It's 3:00 a.m. and your hotel room phone is ringing. Who is it and what do they want?
A: I had a lengthy, detailed conversation with someone discussing some potential opportunities at a trade show. I returned to the office and received an email from the client that pretty much said, “I had a great time meeting your assistant at the show. He was great.” So, now I am confused, thinking I might have an alter ego somewhere. If you meet him, let him know I am looking for him.

Q: It's 3:00 a.m. and your hotel room phone is ringing. Who is it and what do they want?
A: More often than not, at 3:00 a.m., it usually isn’t going to be a very pleasant phone call. I would imagine, though, being the great guy that I am, that it would be a colleague returning my call to ensure they made it to their room safely after a night of networking and socializing.

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Serenity J. Knutson is the Editor in Chief of PlannerWire.com, the News, Information and Community website for meeting and event planners. Contact her at Serenity@PlannerWire.com.

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