Visit Seattle Appoints Three New Board Members for 2021

SEATTLE – Visit Seattle announces the addition of three new Board Members for 2021 – Trey Lamont, owner of Jerk Shack, Zahoor Ahmed, chief financial officer and vice president of R.C. Hedreen Co., and advisory member Beth Knox, president of the Seattle Sports Commission. Visit Seattle also announced the election of Kevin Clark, president and owner of Argosy Cruises and Tillicum Excursions, as its 2021 Chair of the Board of Directors. Clark has previously served on the Visit Seattle Board.

“We are excited to welcome three dynamic new members to our Board of Directors,” said Visit Seattle’s President and CEO Tom Norwalk. “Their unique expertise and perspectives of the city will provide crucial contributions to our Board as we move into recovery in 2021.”

Born and raised in Seattle, Trey Lamont knew from a young age that he wanted to be a cook, his passion sparked by early experiences in his grandmother’s kitchen. Today, he is the owner and Head Chef at Jerk Shack, a Caribbean restaurant praised by the Seattle Times, Seattle Magazine, and Zagat for its bold, authentic flavors and warm hospitality. The menu is inspired by Lamont’s Jamaican heritage, with a focus on made-from-scratch cooking using house-ground spices, smoked and fried to perfection. Lamont began his career working as Head Kitchen Chef for acclaimed chef Thoa Nguyen and then as a private chef, before launching Papa Bois, the food truck predecessor to Jerk Shack. Lamont received his formal culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, building on his experience in the kitchens at Sheraton Grand Seattle and Wild Ginger.

Zahoor Ahmed is the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Hotel Operations at R.C. Hedreen Co. This Seattle-based company and its affiliates have been involved in the development, ownership and management of world-class investment properties since 1963. These properties include the Hyatt Regency Seattle, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt at Olive 8, and Renaissance Seattle Hotel. Ahmed recently served as the Board Chair of Downtown Seattle Association, and was previously a Visit Seattle Board member from 2010-2016, during which time he served as Finance Chair.

Beth Knox serves as President of the Seattle Sports Commission and has been an active member in the Greater Seattle community for over 30 years in the events, sports and live entertainment industry. Her career includes leadership roles in iconic events, including the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games, as well as Seafair, Bumbershoot, Summer Nights at the Pier concerts and more. She has been recognized as a Puget Sound Business Journal Woman of Influence, Seattle Reign FC Community Legend, Smart Meeting Magazine Planner of the Year 2018, and inducted into the Washington Festivals and Events Hall of Fame. She serves on the boards of Seattle 4 Rotary, Seattle Fire Foundation and Seattle Police Foundation.

Images:

• High-res headshots available upon request.

About Visit Seattle:
Visit Seattle has served as the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Seattle and King County for more than 50 years. A 501(c)(6) organization, Visit Seattle enhances the economic prosperity of the region through global destination branding along with competitive programs and campaigns in leisure travel marketing, convention sales and overseas tourism development. Visit visitseattle.org.

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