Kristy Stevenson Kristy-Kristy-0015_aboutKristy Stevenson is an award-winning independent writing professional. She serves as a regular national and regional provider to the lifestyle, pop culture/ entertainment, parenting and healthcare fields. When she’s not planted in front of the computer, Kristy enjoys travel, scrapbooking and viewing the world through the lens of a Nikon. Visit KristyStevenson.com, or connect with Kristy on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Leigh Powell Hines Hotel Le Germain InstagramFBLeigh Powell Hines, a former TV journalist/communications executive, combined motherhood and her journalism experience and started The Hines-Sight Blog to inspire parents to pack their bags for family travels in and around N.C. Leigh knows the best in family travel, but as a parent in her mid-40s, she seeks out restaurants and hotels that adults can enjoy, too. She's a fan of individually-owned restaurants with a local flair. As luxury travel editor for Skimbaco Lifestyle, she has the insights on the latest happenings in luxury hotels, spa trends, family travel and events. She also knows N.C. from the coast to the mountains and believes a weekend road trip is when families can have the most fun. Luxury hotels are Leigh’s passion, and she is ready to travel the world, one luxury hotel at a time. Connect with Leigh on Twitter @Hinessightblog, Facebook and check out Hines-Sight Blog on Pinterest. Derek Allman Derek AllmanAs Greater Raleigh screams music, Derek Allman's life screams it as well. At the young age of four, being the son of a musician and then awed by a live Stéphane Grappelli performance on television, Derek began playing violin and learned under the Suzuki method. While enjoying playing in orchestras in middle and high school, Derek also soon felt "the urge to rock" and picked up the guitar, strengthened his vocal skills and formed a hard rock band. With promoting the band came the need for a website, album covers and flyers. Derek's love for marketing and advertising was born. Throughout his four years studying marketing at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and playing a tremendous amount of live shows throughout the state, Derek's passion for music, marketing and the area grew tremendously. Derek's favorite highlights during college are his weekends taking in concerts in Raleigh, winning an Honorable Mention award in the Billboard World Songwriting Contest, successfully marketing two self-written full-length albums (and promoting them with live shows and the band website he created) and graduating in 2008. After college, Derek began his marketing career in the tourism industry, continued to play shows and also started a Southern rock band with his father, in which he plays violin, guitar, lap steel and sings. He also began occasionally singing the National Anthem at major sports events. Derek continues to play and record music and highly enjoys his position as senior marketing manager at the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, promoting the area in which he grew up in. A true Music Maniac, Derek loves taking in shows in Greater Raleigh, exploring local record stores and spreading the word to other Music Maniacs about Greater Raleigh's hot music offerings. Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance GRSA mark alone color The Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA) markets and promotes Raleigh and all of Wake County in order generate and/or retain sports-related business (tournaments, championships, special events and meetings) for the purpose of economic development. The GRSA's 21-member Advisory Board takes a leadership role in helping to chart the future of the sports event industry in Wake County. The Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance is a division of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau.