Kyle Edmiston CDME, President/CEO
kedmiston@rustonlincoln.com

Kyle Edmiston is the president/CEO of the Ruston Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau. He joined the bureau in January 2006 after serving as Louisiana Tech University Alumni Relations Director for 11 years.

Since taking the helm, Edmiston has been instrumental in bringing a number of diverse events to the Ruston and Lincoln Parish community including the Western Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament, Southwest Regional Big League Baseball Tournament and in helping to improve the Piney Hills Mountain Bike Classic as a premier mountain bike race for professional riders. He also oversaw the construction and development of the Ruston Lincoln Visitors Center, which houses both the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and the RLCVB.

His bureau responsibilities include budgeting, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the bureau and its staff, as well as establishing goals and objectives for future growth in the leisure, meeting and sports markets.

He recently earned his Certified Destination Management Executive certification (CDME) from Destination Marketing International Association, making him the first president/CEO in North Louisiana to do so.
Edmiston, a native of Ruston, earned a BBA in Finance from Louisiana Tech University. He is a member of the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association Board of Directors, Louisiana Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus Executive Committee and Destination Marketing Association International.  He also supports his local community by serving on numerous local boards and organizations.

Timothy P. Bush, Director of Sales and Marketing
tbush@rustonlincoln.com

Timothy P. Bush has been with the CVB for three years.  Hired in 2006, Bush manages all sales, marketing, communications and community affairs efforts on behalf of the bureau.

Prior to joining RLCVB, he served as Executive Director of the Beauregard Tourist Commission in DeRidder, LA. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing the day- to-day operations of two offices, budgeting, staff and visitors services. His background also includes a three year stint as a reporter for the Beauregard Daily News.

Bush is a 2002 graduate of the University of Louisiana at Monroe where he earned a degree in Journalism/Public Relations. He is a member of the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association (LTPA) and serves as chairman of the LTPA Membership Task Force.

Grace Tirado, Receptionist/Administrative Assistant
gtirado@rustonlincoln.com

Grace Tirado, a veteran of the hospitality and tourism industry, joined the RLCVB staff in September, 2008.

With 33 years of hotel experience, Tirado has been Director of Catering and Conference Services for several properties including the Scottsdale Conference Resort and the San Marcos Resort, both in Arizona. She has also worked at The Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida, in a similar role.

As administrative assistant/receptionist for the bureau, Tirado is responsible for overseeing the visitor’s center operations, incoming and outgoing communications and group services.

After visiting her adopted family here in Ruston for many years, Tirado moved to Ruston in June 2008. She loves the friendliness and closeness of the people as well as their commitment to serving the community. Her real love is Cocobella, her Chocolate Lab.