Advisory Board

Steve Ahlenius

President/CEO

Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce

Steve Ahlenius accepted the position as President and CEO of the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce in July 2022. He has an undergraduate degree in History and Political Science from Wayland Baptist University. He earned his master’s degree in public administration from Texas Tech University. Steve is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) recognized by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). He is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma.

In 2015, Steve was awarded the Marvin Hurley Award, the highest honor that a chamber executive can receive, by the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives (TCCE) for exemplary leadership and service to the chamber of commerce profession. In 2017, Steve received the distinguished service award from the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives. He served as TCCE Chairman in 2021.

Steve has led the way in developing 17 different innovation and start-up programs and has helped launch over 200 start-ups. He renovated an old church in the downtown area into an event center and transformed a 60,000 square foot space, which was an old library, into a creative incubator, tech space and co-working space. Steve established the first-ever food truck park in South Texas, He has led numerous business retention and development programs and community development programs throughout his career. Steve led efforts that were recognized for creating an “eco-system” and a business model for innovation and inclusion for women-led micro-businesses by IEDC.

Dean Conwell

Executive Director

Beaumont Convention & Visitor Bureau

Dean oversees and provides direction for all Beaumont CVB functions. He works in conjunction with the City Manager and the CVB Advisory Board to ensure the purpose and mission of the CVB is fulfilled.

Bachelors of Business Administration - University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Certified Destination Marketing Executive (CDME)
Texas Destination Marketer (TDM) - Texas Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus

Texas Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus (TACVB), Texas Travel Industry Association (TTIA), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE), Jefferson County Tourism Commission (JCTC), Greater Beaumont Area Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Southeast Texas Alumni, Press Club of Southeast Texas.

Bob Dickinson

Director, Transportation & Environmental Resources

Southeast Texas Planning Commission

Mr. Dickinson was hired by the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission as the Metropolitan Planning Organization Director for the Jefferson-Orange-Hardin county region. Since that time, he has assumed responsibilities as Director of the Rural Transportation Program, Air Quality Program, Economic Development, and other environmental programs.

Under his direction, he is responsible for conducting comprehensive, coordinated, and continuing long and short range transportation planning in the three-county region. The MPO conducts the transportation planning process to develop regional transportation plans that will accommodate the future needs of the area and acknowledge the vital role that transportation plays in the region’s social, environmental, intermodal and economic health. Mr. Dickinson is also responsible for assuring that all transportation plans and programs meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990. Mr. Dickinson holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Lamar University and resides in Beaumont.

Jeff Dyson

Vice-President

M&D Supply

A graduate of Forest Park High School (now West Brook); Jeff earned his BBA degree (1982) and MBA degree (1991) from Lamar University. Jeff was Owner/President of M & D Supply, Inc. (a southeast Texas regional retail company) from 1979 to 2010. Jeff has held or is currently in leadership positions
of community service on numerous non-profit and for-profit boards, including Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army, Baptist Hospital Southeast Texas, Habitat for Humanity, Southwestern Hardware and Implement Association, and Community Hospital Corporation. Jeff has also served as a board member for Mid-South Bank and Handy Hardware Wholesale.

In 2007, Jeff joined the Lamar University College of Business. He taught graduate and undergraduate courses from 2007-2022. From 2008–2012, he held the position of Coordinator of The Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. He held the position of Director, MBA and Graduate Certificate Programs, Lamar College of Business from 2012-2017. Jeff is currently employed as Vice President of M&D Supply. Jeff and his wife Patricia live in Beaumont and have 4 children and 8 grandchildren.

John Lee

Small Business Advisor

SBDC

John Lee is an advisor with the Small Business Development Center, located in the Entrepreneurship Institute at Lamar University. In this role, he worked with many small businesses and non-profit organizations to help guide them through the COVID-19 pandemic and assisted them to obtain PPP loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. In John’s previous career as an operations manager with United Parcel Service, he became very familiar with disaster response and recovery as he led multiple operations through hurricanes, ice storms, and other disasters from Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 to Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

John has a Bachelor of Science in Management from Letourneau University and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Lamar University. John is a Beaumont native.

Christina Lokey

Marketing Director

Beaumont Convention & Visitor Bureau

BB in Management – University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
Diploma in Culinary Arts – Art Institute of Atlanta
Certified Tourism Executive Certification
Texas Destination Marketer Certification

Christina manages the Beaumont CVB marketing team and oversees strengthening the local hospitality industry partnerships, brand building, strategic communications, advertising, and promotions. Since her start in the tourism profession, she has had a vested interest in expanding ecotourism throughout Beaumont and the rest of Southeast Texas by enhancing the birding market through promotion of local nature attractions.

Christina also helps manage the Cattail Marsh Education Center located at Tyrrell Park. The education center is charged with implementing educational programming and offering free activities for visitors at the marsh.

Ryan Miller

COO

CHRISTUS Southeast Texas

Ryan Miller serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Health System. In this capacity, Ryan has executive responsibility for healthcare operations across a nine-county region with multiple campus locations including the region’s only trauma center, CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth hospital in Beaumont, an orthopedic specialty hospital, a rural hospital, a freestanding emergency and outpatient center, and multiple clinic locations. Prior to joining CHRISTUS in 2014, Ryan served as a healthcare administrator in various capacities with Sentara Healthcare in Norfolk, Virginia.
Ryan holds a Master of Business Administration from Cornell University where he graduated with distinction and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Brigham Young University where he graduated magna cum laude.

Ryan is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is an Eagle Scout. He is an active participant in his community and serves on the boards of directors for the United Way of North Jefferson County and Nutrition and Services for Seniors. When not at work, he enjoys family time, endurance sports, travel, playing piano, service, and reading.

Daylyn Turner

Vice President

JK Chevrolet Subaru

Daylyn L. Turner currently holds the position of Vice President of Operations for JK Chevrolet Subaru and actively serves the Subaru company as the General Manager. Daylyn graduated from Lamar University with a Business Finance degree in 2007. He was able to earn a good reputation selling cars while an undergrad and returned to the auto industry after a year gaining banking experience as a licensed banker at broker dealer JP Morgan Chase. Daylyn’s drive and focus soon became noticeable to others. He has held many positions within the dealership including Sales Consultant, Sales Manager, Corporate Trainer, Internet Manager and General Manager. His notability gained him a nomination for “40 under 40 Professionals” in 2013 by the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce South East Texas Young Professionals organization. He has served on various local community boards including Jefferson County’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and currently the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce Board of directors, Beaumont Main Street Board of Directors, Lamar University’s College of Business Board of advisors, Lamar University’s Alumni Advisory Board, and recently completed his term as Treasurer for the Beaumont’s Chamber of Commerce’ Young Professional Organizations Steering Committee. Daylyn is also a graduate from the National Automotive Dealer Academy 2019 and has been the recipient of notable recognitions including Black Business Professional of South East Texas Man of the month award, and national publication Automotive News 40 under 40 honoree 2020.

Kristie Young

Independent Consultant

KMY Consulting

Kristie Young recently began pursuing her consulting business, KMY Consulting, full time, utilizing skills she developed through more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, public and government affairs, workforce and economic development and community relations in various sectors, including oil and gas, healthcare, and higher education.

Most recently, Kristie served as Vice President of Economic Development at the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce. One of the highlights of her career was establishing a foundation at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas where she still serves on the advisory board. A graduate of Texas A&M University, she has served on numerous boards and committees in Southeast Texas including the Rotary Club of Beaumont, Junior League of Beaumont, Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas, Press Club of Southeast Texas, and the Beaumont Children's Museum, to name a few. Kristie has received awards from numerous agencies, including Pioneering Women, Junior League of Beaumont, and Beaumont Junior Forum. Kristie is an Aggie Women board emerita and lives in Beaumont with her husband, Rodney, and two boys, Haden and Bryce.