Bonny Bernat Joins Sports ETA

The Sports Events & Tourism Association has named Bonny Bernat as director of learning and development, a position that will see her responsible for the growth and development of the association’s Sports Tourism Learning Institute.

“We are excited to have Bonny join as a valuable member of our Sports ETA team,” said Al Kidd, president and chief executive officer of the Sports Events & Tourism Association. “Bonny will offer industry experience to develop and grow our Sports Tourism Learning Institute.”

Bernat has worked for Visit Winston-Salem in North Carolina since 2009, joining as the sports and events sales manager. She worked for 12 years as senior sports and events sales manager, helping to bring events to the city. A native of Massachusetts, Bernat relocated to North Carolina in 2007 to work with a destination management company in Charlotte serving the motorsports industry. She previously worked as sales manager for the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau in Massachusetts, where she managed convention, meeting and group tour sales.

Bernat graduated from Worcester State University in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. She has been a member of Sports ETA since 2007 and most recently served the North Carolina Sports Association as chair, a position she held for two and a half years.

The Sports Tourism Learning Institute is Sports ETA’s new learning platform that includes courses toward the Sports Tourism Strategist certification.

“Education has always been a passion for me and as the new director of learning and development, I’m looking forward to growing and elevating the Sports Tourism Learning Institute (STLI),” said Bernat. “I’m also looking forward to the opportunity of working with many of the Sports ETA communities in my new role.”