The Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTmeetings) has elected Julie Nash as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and Michael Trinks, CPA, as the Treasurer. The Middletown, Conn.-based Bureau is the State of Connecticut’s only statewide sales and marketing organization for meetings, conventions, and sports events.

“Julie Nash is a respected municipal leader with considerable public affairs experience in local and state government relations, as well as tourism outreach success in Milford,” explains Thomas Madden, Chair of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau. “Michael Trinks brings extensive knowledge of finance, has working relationships in many industries, and is involved in the Greater Hartford community. They both are great assets to our Board, and we look forward to expanded growth as we work with Connecticut’s hospitality industry and business members to sell our state to meeting planners and sports promoters across the U.S.”

As Director of Economic and Community Development for the City of Milford, Julie Nash is responsible for obtaining and managing over $20 Million in grant funds for various City projects, both programmatic and public infrastructure. The Milford resident created and leads the City’s Tourism Task Force that includes hotels, business, the arts, and marinas to increase tourism dollars in Milford through advertising campaigns, relationship building, and strategic initiatives. She advises the city’s Economic Development Commission, focusing on initiatives and programs to attract and retain business. She works on issues ranging from housing and development to community events and manufacturing, amongst many others. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce, CT Regional Tourism Board, Connecticut Economic Development Association, and the Milford Pop Warner Football League. In addition, Nash manages social media accounts to engage residents and visitors, reflecting a 1,000 percent increase in engagement under her leadership.

Nash has been honored with a "Best Practices in Economic Development" award by the Connecticut Economic Development Association. She received her J.D. from Quinnipiac University School of Law. She began her career as an intern in the Connecticut General Assembly and proceeded to a coveted position as a Legislative Aide that launched a love for government and business. She lives in Milford with her husband and their two children.

Michael Trinks is a Partner, Assurance & Advisory Services, at Fiondella, Milone & LaSaracina LLP (FML). An experienced public accountant, he specializes in audit and consulting for clients primarily in the manufacturing, technology, biotech, construction, and service sectors, and has managed public and private company financial statements and audits. His work history includes stepping into manufacturing and technology companies in an interim CFO role, and he has assisted clients in a similar role with the task of filing public registration statements with the Securities Exchange Commission. Prior to joining FML, he was a senior auditor at a national firm and, earlier, was an accounting manager at CIGNA HealthCare.

The University of Connecticut graduate is a member of the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants (CTCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is very involved with the MetroHartford Alliance and is a former Executive Board member of both ConnectiKids and ImmaCare Inc. and is an active member of UNICO of Avon. Originally from West Hartford, Trinks now resides in Avon with his wife and three children.

“The composition of our Board of Directors reflects many of the professions and businesses involved with our nation’s meetings, sports and hospitality industries,” adds Robert Murdock, President of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau. “Julie and Michael each bring specialized expertise and perspective to our organization as we work to attract new and retain existing business for our state.”

The Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTmeetings) markets all of the state – convention and meeting venues, hotels, attractions, and sports facilities and athletic sites – as a premier destination for international, national, regional, and statewide conferences, conventions, and major sports events. In partnership with Connecticut’s businesses, institutions, nonprofit organizations and their surrounding communities, the Middletown, Conn.-based organization works to generate new and return events, thereby generating increased economic impact for Connecticut’s local regions and tax revenue for the State. For more information about the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau, visit www.CTmeetings.org or call 860-728-6789.