Joseph McGrath

Age: 64

Place of birth: Allentown, PA.

Where you live: Gibsonia, PA.

Name of Company you work for: VisitPittsburgh

City you work in: Pittsburgh

Profession: Executive Chairman.

Why I chose this career: In order to make a difference, by selling multiple experiences to the world. And in doing so, create jobs, tax revenue, and growth for the destination I represent.

Status: Married

Family: Wife Linda, son Sean, daughters Tracey, Katie, Megan.

The proudest moment of my career: Hosting the G20 in our new LEED certified convention center

Biography: Joe McGrath has served as a convention bureau CEO since 1973. Prior to assuming the chief post at VisitPittsburgh in 1990, McGrath successfully managed convention bureaus in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Springfield, Illinois, Des Moines, Iowa and Duluth, Minnesota. McGrath is currently chairman of The Pennsylvania Association of Travel and Tourism and is a board member of USTravel. He is Past Chairman of the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), and was on the board of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA). He was also a member of the Convention Liaison Council and a member of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Travel and Tourism Council, plus various other professional organizations, including the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI). McGrath has earned the Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) designation, a joint certification of Calgary and Purdue Universities.