The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), a leading global provider of training and certification on autism and cognitive disorders, announced today the appointment of Marc Garcia to its executive advisory board. Garcia is President and CEO of Visit Mesa, the destination marketing organization (DMO) for the City of Mesa, Arizona, and the surrounding region. His experience, innovative passion, and strategic business knowledge will strengthen IBCCES’ impact at home and abroad.

Garcia’s devotion to inclusivity aligns with IBCCES’ mission to improve the overall quality of life for individuals with cognitive disorders. In 2019, he led Visit Mesa to become the nation’s first DMO to earn the Certified Autism Center™ designation and shepherded other Mesa businesses to achieve this same status. This impressive initiative seeks to establish Mesa, AZ as the United States’ first-ever autism certified travel destination.

“I’m eager to join IBCCES’ on-going efforts for inclusion by way of certification. IBCCES values are consistent with who and what Visit Mesa has achieved as the first autism certified destination marketing organization,” said Marc Garcia. “With this board appointment, I intend to further strengthen IBCCES’ connections to the hospitality industry, as we continue to monitor where the marketplace is headed. We have raised Mesa’s national profile and together we can share our example as a means to elevate more organizations like ours through IBCCES.”

For almost 20 years, IBCCES has been the industry leader in training and certification for professionals around the globe. Based in Florida, IBCCES works in all 50 states and over 70 countries to provide certification and training programs in cognitive disorders such as autism, ADHD, mental health, and other special needs to education, healthcare and corporate professionals. The IBCCES Board represents a wide range of experts in areas such as neurology, psychology, special education and behavior therapy, as well as leading autism advocates who are on the autism spectrum.

“IBCCES regularly evaluates its board composition to ensure it includes the perspectives, experience, and expertise necessary to achieve our goal of improving lives through training and certification, among other programs. The addition of Marc complements our current board and adds a new perspective and level of experience as we expand our reach to new industries. We are confident his passion for inclusion and unique skill set will be invaluable as we continue to work toward our mission,” said Myron Pincomb, IBCCES Board Chairman.

Under Garcia’s leadership, Visit Mesa’s branding and marketing efforts have been nominated for numerous industry awards such as the; 2017 ESTO Destiny Award, 2017 Best Idea at DMA West Education Summit, and 2015 Adrian Award Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International. Garcia also proudly serves on the following boards: Destination Marketing Association of the West, Board Chair (DMA West and DMA West Foundation), Travel Ability Advisory Board, Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association, Mesa United Way Board of Directors, and Mesa Sister Cities Board of Directors.