Bob Billington, works to bring sustainable tourism principles to the Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution: the Blackstone River Valley of Rhode Island. He founded the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council in 1985 and his long interest in the planning and organizing of authentic tourism places guides the work of the Council. He serves as a federal appointee to the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission, and is a member of the Board of several arts and educational institutions. He assisted in the development of, and manages two year-round Visitor Centers. Billington founded the Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory to help communities develop sustainable tourism programs. Since its founding in 2005 the Tourism Laboratory has presented semi-annual conferences educating 75 to 125 professionals each session. Billington has spoken at tourism conferences in the US, England, Scotland, Hong Kong and Madrid. He teaches at Boston University's Graduate School, Johnson & Wales University, and Bristol Community College where he coordinates its tourism curricula. He has published extensively on tourism planning and development. In 2006 the United Nation’s World Tourism Organization presented Billington with the Ulysses Prize in recognition for innovation and application of knowledge in tourism governance. In 2008 the World Travel and Tourism Council presented the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council their Tourism for Tomorrow Destination Award. In 2008 the Rhode Island Committee for the Humanities presented him with the Tom Roberts Prize for Creative Achievement in the Humanities. Billington holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, an MBA in Hospitality Management, and a BA degree in Marketing all from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI. Prior to his career in the tourism industry Billington served in the United States Coast Guard.

Anne Krieg, AICP has been the Planning and Development Director for the Town of Bar Harbor, Maine since 2002. Her duties include serving as Vice-Chair of the Cruise Ship Committee, the Vice-Chair of the Parking & Traffic Committee and the chair of the Development Review Team. She also serves as staff support to the Economic Development Task Force, Conservation Commission, Planning Board, Appeals Board, and Design Review Board. She is also the Town's Public Information Officer. Anne has presented throughout the country on the intersection of planning and tourism in rural landscapes. Anne is on the Board of the Maine Association of Planners and is the Vice Chair of Special Projects, Session Coordinator, and Awards Committee Chair for the Small Town and Rural Division of APA. Prior to coming to Bar Harbor, Anne was the Town Planner for Reading, Massachusetts and Principal Planner for the Town of Danvers, Massachusetts. Prior to public service, Anne worked in the private sector in campus planning, permitting, and marketing. Anne holds Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from the School of Landscape Architecture at SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University.