"The Creators of The Utah Compact, a document we fully support, created sensible and sound guidelines for dealing with the critical issue of immigration currently facing our state and country," commented Scott Beck, President and CEO of VSL. "Dennis Copyak, on the other hand, has long-served Salt Lake's tourism industry, having served millions of our visitors and guests during Le Bus' 25 years in Salt Lake," he continued.
The Utah Compact was developed over several months by groups and individuals who were concerned about the tone of Utah's immigration discussion. The Compact is based on Utah values and we urge our leaders to use these guiding principles as they address the complex challenges associated with a broken national immigration system. The Compact has broad support from community leaders, business associations, law enforcement officers and members of Utah's religious community. It is a simple document that expresses our values as community as they relate to specific policy issues that have become central to the immigration discussion.
Dennis Copyak has been in the transportation business since 1974, and a member of Visit Salt Lake (originally the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau) since starting Le Bus in Salt Lake in 1986 after moving from Rock Springs, Wyoming. Copyak has been an active member of the Salt Lake tourism community from the beginning, working to further the mission of VSL, as well as statewide tourism efforts. As a representative of the Transportation sector, Copyak is vital in VSL's efforts to attract both individual and group visitors, doing an exceptional job in presenting Salt Lake's varied tourism product mix at various travel trade shows, on familiarization trips and throughout his own, individual sales efforts. Le Bus is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2011, boasting a fleet of 60-plus vehicles and more than 100 dedicated employees.
Past recipients of VSL's Tourism Achievement Award include Jack Gallivan, Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., Governor of the State of Utah; the Mormon Tabernacle Choir; Tom Guinney, John Williams and Tom Seig from Gastronomy, Inc.; Earl Holding; Kenneth Knight; Richard E. Davis; Larry H Miller; the Utah Jazz; Salt Lake City Department of Airports; Valter Nassi of Cucina Toscana; and many other business and community leaders.
Visit Salt Lake is a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention and travel destination. Visit Salt Lake's mission is to improve the area economy by attracting and providing support to conventions, leisure travelers and visitors while being a leader in environmental responsibility. Salt Lake is a unique fusion of metropolitan city and quaint mountain town; the towering Wasatch Mountains that embrace Salt Lake offer a dramatic backdrop to the vibrancy and activities of downtown. For more information on all that Salt Lake has to offer, go to www.VisitSaltLake.com.
Photo (VSL Award - Utah Compact): Recipients of Visit Salt Lake's 2011 Tourism Achievement Award, the Creators of the Utah Compact. Pictured (l-r) are Stan Rasmussen, Sutherland Institute; Deborah Bayle, United Way of Salt Lake; Mark Shurtleff, Utah Attorney General's Office; Carlene Walker, Chair-Elect of VSL's Board of Trustees; Lane Beattie, Salt Lake Chamber; Dee Rowland, Salt Lake Catholic Diocese; and Scott Beck, President & CEO of VSL.
Photo (VSL Award - Dennis Copyak): Dennis Copyak of Le Bus (front, third from right), along with family and Le Bus staff members, receives VSL's 2011 Tourism Achievement Award from Scott Beck and Carlene Walker (far right).