State tourism director Lee Sentell to speak to Hoover chamber next week

Lee Sentell, the director of the Alabama Tourism Department since 2003, is scheduled to speak to the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce at its Oct. 20 luncheon.

Under his leadership, the Tourism Department has won national marketing awards for campaigns such as the Year of Alabama Arts, Year of Alabama Food and Year of Alabama History.

He recently completed 10 years of service on the board of the Alabama State Council of the Arts, is vice chairman of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission, is treasurer of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and serves on the board of directors for the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. He previously served on the boards of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Alabama Main Street and the Alabama Humanities Foundation.

Before coming to the Tourism Department, he held marketing positions at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and Huntsville Convention and Visitors Bureau. He is a native of Ashland and a graduate of Auburn University.

The Oct. 20 chamber luncheon is at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham — The Wynfrey Hotel. Networking begins at 11:15 a.m., and the meeting starts at noon. The cost is $20 for members or $25 for those without reservations. Reservations can be made through Oct. 17 online here or by calling 988-5672 or emailing Lisa Dunbar at lisa@hooverchamber.org.