Tamela Blalock

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Tamela Blalock
National Sales Manager,
Team San Jose

San Jose, California
Age: 30

Tamela Blalock moved through several careers before finding the tourism industry: operations research analyst in the CIA’s counterterrorism department, high school Spanish teacher, sales agent for the Washington Redskins, and leader of The George Washington University’s meetings and convention housing program are all listed on Blalock’s resume. The 30-year-old thought she would one day manage a football team and began a master’s program in tourism administration at GWU but soon discovered she had a greater affinity for travel and tourism. She then joined Team San Jose. One year after beginning her career there, Blalock’s passion for the industry and the city she sells has not gone unnoticed. “What impressed me about Tamela is her drive to get things done,” says Amanda Scott, association manager of the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors Inc. “She has a way of looking at things from all angles and presenting new ideas that would tie any type of organization’s meeting topic into the flavor of her city.” She’s involved in PCMA, MPI’s Potomac chapter, SGMP and AMP, and recently won MPI’s Potomac chapter Rising Star of the Year award. She’s getting a lot of attention in her new role, but Blalock admits, “My parents better understood what I did when I worked at the CIA.” —L. Plummer

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
“If I’m not still in the supplier role, I may see myself lobbying for our industry, working for the U.S. Travel Association. I want to advocate for our industry so [people] understand our impact to the economy, which is very huge and still very much under the radar.”