Charles Ahlers was named president of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau in 1992. As president, he oversees the Bureau’s convention and tourism marketing efforts and serves as the chief executive officer.

Ahlers’ history with Anaheim dates back to the 1970s when he held the position of convention sales manager at the Bureau for seven years. Prior to his move back to Orange County, Ahlers served as executive director of the Portland Oregon Visitors Association from 1987 to 1992, convention director for the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau for 6 1/2 years, and director of sales for the Phoenix & Valley of the Sun Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Ahlers’ service in the Visitor Industry includes a one-year term as chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (IACVB) during 2000-2001 and a recently concluded five-year membership on the IACVB Executive committee. In January 2003, Ahlers assumed a three-year term as a trustee on the Board of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Education Foundation.

Previously, Ahlers served as a director on the Board of PCMA, the Board of the International Association of Exhibition Management (IAEM), the Foundation Board of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Board of Directors of the California Travel Industry Association.

Ric Collett is the General Manager of Anaheim Disposal.  In this position, Collett is responsible for all the day-to-day operations, including the solid waste operations, overseeing everything from collection operations to customer service to fleet maintenance.  He insures that all operations are efficient and functioning at an optimum level.

Colletts’ long and successful career in the waste industry began 37 years ago at his family owned waste business in Yorba Linda, California. He attended California State Long Beach and has an extensive background in the waste industry. In 1988, Collett joined the Anaheim Disposal team as the General Manger.  His extensive knowledge of routing and desire to exceed the customers’ needs has enabled him to succeed in the waste industry. He has developed effective collection programs tailored to each company’s goal of reducing waste and maximizing recycling.

A leader in his field, Collett brought new technology to the City of Anaheim with the residential automated collection program.  The automated program, which revolutionized the way garbage was collected in the City, was launched to 55,000 residents virtually seamless with no service problems.

Collett has served on the Solid Waste Association of Orange County and was honored as the recipient of the California Resource Recovery Association’s Recycling Program of the Year Award.  He is actively involved in several charitable organizations including the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA.