Dale steps down as Visitors Bureau president

Stephen Dale, president of the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau’s board of directors, announced his resignation last week. Dale will devote his time to La Luz Center, a non-profit organization in Boyes Hot Springs dedicated to improving the quality of life in Sonoma Valley by ensuring that immigrants to the area have the opportunity to become productive members of the community.
Members of the bureau’s board who served with Dale had nothing but praise. “Stephen was definitely a positive force on our board for many years,” said Gary Saperstein, board member and director of hospitality for both the girl & the fig and Estate. “I always appreciated his creative input and energy and he will certainly be missed.” Bill Blum, board member and general manger of MacArthur Place, said that Dale was an asset to the team as well as a great president and leader.
“Stephen’s tremendous energy, support and dedication to the bureau over the years will surely be missed,” said Wendy Peterson, the bureau’s executive director. “While all of us here wish he could continue on with the bureau, we wish him nothing but the best of success with La Luz. He has been a long-time advocate of the work that La Luz does within our community, and I’m certain he will bring the same passion and commitment that we at the bureau have experienced over the years.”
A press release indicates that the bureau’s Executive Committee will assume Dale’s responsibilities until an interim president of the board is named.
Dale was first elected to the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau’s Board of Directors in 1995, and has been president of the board since 2004. Over the years, Dale has been a driving force behind many of the bureau’s key initiatives and programs designed to further the bureau’s goal of encouraging visitors to Sonoma Valley, while supporting the local businesses that cater to those visitors.
The Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau is a membership organization of more than 350 hospitality-related businesses. The bureau coordinates the collection and dissemination of information about Sonoma Valley to visitors, local residents, travel writers, publications and other interested parties. The bureau operates two visitor centers, which are open year-round seven days a week to welcome visitors to Sonoma Valley.