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 August 2006 AUBURN, Ala. — Dr. Lawrence J. Pijeaux, Jr., of Birmingham has been named the 2006 Alabama Tourism Executive of the Year in recognition of his contributions to the travel industry. The ceremony took place Tuesday night during the Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism at The Hotel at Auburn University with approximately 250 state tourism leaders present for the occasion. Dr. Pijeaux is President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI), one of the top heritage tourism destinations in the United States. The Institute is a state-of-the-art, multi-media facility housing exhibitions of historical events from post-World War I racial segregation to present-day racial progress. Under Dr. Pijeaux’s leadership, the Institute was awarded accreditation by the American Association of Museums (AAM) in July 2005, becoming the second African-American themed private museum in the United States to be fully accredited. He is bringing the Association of African American Museums (AAAM) National Conference to Birmingham in 2007 and is negotiating with the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) to hold its annual meeting in Birmingham in 2008. The Institute is 75 percent completed with a major fundraising campaign which will fund new exhibitions and maintain BCRI’s leadership position among heritage tourism sites in the region. “I am delighted to receive the 2006 Alabama Tourism Executive of the Year Award on behalf of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute,” Dr. Pijeaux said. “The Institute is attracting visitors from around the world to Birmingham and the State of Alabama.” Criteria for the Alabama Tourism Executive of the Year include outstanding job performance by anyone employed in the Alabama tourism industry as a CEO, president, executive director. etc.; development of new and/or improvement of existing projects that benefit tourism; active support of state tourism industry through involvement in National Tourism Week, Governor’s Tourism Conference, professional associations, etc.; and enhancement of local, regional, or state image as a tourism destination. The award that was presented is among 12 that comprise the Alabama Tourism Awards. These awards, first given out in 1998, annually honor outstanding achievement in the state’s tourism industry. Each award winner is recognized as a key player in making tourism a strong economic force in the state. The tourism industry contributes $7.6 billion to Alabama’s economy and supports 159, 650 jobs statewide. ABTT coordinates the Alabama Tourism Awards Program. The full list of award winners is as follows: Alabama Tourism Hall of Fame: Retired ABTT Employee Sara G. Redding Alabama Attraction of the Year: Huntsville Botanical Garden Alabama Event of the Year: Santa’s Village at Alabama Constitution Village, Huntsville Alabama Governor’s Tourism Award: Virginia Whitfield/Whitfield Foods of Montgomery Alabama Tourism Advocate Award—Government: Barnett Lawley, Conservation Commissioner Alabama Tourism Advocate Award—Media: Lynn Edge, Birmingham Writer Alabama Tourism Executive of the Year: Dr. Lawrence J. Pijeaux, Jr., Director, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Alabama Tourism Organization of the Year: Florence/Lauderdale Tourism Alabama Tourism Partnership Award: Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham Alabama Welcome Center of the Year: Grand Bay Welcome Center, Grand Bay ABTT Employee of the Year: ABTT Marketing Director R. Grey Brennan Director's Award: Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo of Gulf Shores # # #  |
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