John Mills, executive vice president of the Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau, has earned the designation of Certified Destination Management Executive, the only integrated executive program specifically designed for the destination marketing industry and is the tourism industry’s highest individual educational achievement.

Since joining the Cabarrus County CVB full time in 2008, Mills has been instrumental in establishing the bureau as an independent 501(c)6 organization, relocating the offices and visitor center in 2011, guiding the organization to achieve accreditation through Destinations International, and playing a large role in the development and implementation of the county’s wayfinding system.

The focus of the CDME program is vision, leadership, productivity and the implementation of business strategies. The program is designed to better prepare senior destination organization executives and managers for increasing change and competition and to become more effective organizational and community leaders.