Norfolk, VA. – August 26, 2008 - At CI Travel’s Quarterly Board Meeting held on Tuesday, August 19, F. Coe Sherrard was elected Chairman of the Board in this. Sherrard has served the last two of his four years on the Board of CI Travel as Vice ChairmanCI Travel is an employee-owned $170 million travel service company with over thirty-five years of experience providing high quality travel service to government agencies, corporations, and leisure travelers. Based in Norfolk, Virginia since 1972, the company is recognized as one of the Top 50 travel companies in the country by Travel Weekly, and ranked in the Top 20 by Business Travel News. The company has 212 employee/owners at 32 branch offices in 10 states and the District of Columbia.
Says Sherrard of his appointment: “Thanks to a dedicated staff of long-term employees led by outstanding management, CI Travel has created a remarkable history of success during a period of time when the Travel Industry has seen enormous change and upheaval. It is an honor to serve CI Travel in this capacity, and a privilege to work with such a prestigious and talented Board of Directors.”
Sherrard first served with CI Travel as the company’s Vice President from 1978-1991. Sherrard was hired by CI Travel shortly after he completed his active duty service in the Navy to begin marketing the first “Spirit of Norfolk” as the new division’s Sales Manager. He then served as Vice President for the Spirit Cruise Division, operators of a nationwide fleet of dinner cruise vessels. This very successful division was sold to Sodexho, Inc. in 1991; the fleet still operates to this day. From 1991-2007, Sherrard was Vice President of Herschend Family Entertainment. During his 16-year career he held many positions with this theme park and amusement attractions company, including General Manager of the Showboat Branson Belle (Branson, Missouri), General Manager of the Dollywood Theme Park (Pigeon Forge, TN), and President of Ride The Ducks, International.
Currently, Sherrard and his wife, Jean, are co-owners of both the Woodstock Café & Shoppes, located in downtown Woodstock, VA and the Garden Café, located inside the new Fort Valley Nursery Center on Hisey Ave. Sherrard is a Director on the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce and a Member of the Shenandoah Valley Travel Council.
CI Travel’s Board of Directors is comprised of the following members:
F. Coe Sherrard, Chairman of the Board – Co-Owner Woodstock Café & Shoppes
Kevin J. McElroy, Vice-Chairman of the Board – President/COO, CI Travel
Deborah K. Stearns - Managing Director, Advantis (Commercial Real Estate)
John A. Trinder - President, Max Media
Neil Crawford - President, Monarch Bank, Norfolk
Helen Leon – Senior Vice President of Operations, CI Travel
Reed Atkins – Chief Financial Officer, CI Travel
Brenda Wright – Director of Accounting, CI Travel
Virgil Hornsby – Director of Military Operations, CI Travel
