February 13, 2003

Galveston Park Board of Trustees

Anthony DiFilippo, president and CEO of the Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau in Norfolk, Virginia, has withdrawn his application as a candidate for the position of executive director of the Galveston Park Board of Trustees "for personal reasons."

George Castorena of MAXIMUS, Inc., the search firm that screened applications said that DiFilippo did not elaborate on his withdrawal.  "He requested that we notify everyone that we previously notified of his candidacy.  We have no further information and have ceased all background checks and processes related to his candidacy."

DiFilippo's withdrawal leaves David Lee, president and CEO of the Brownsville Convention and Visitors Bureau in Brownsville, Texas; Carolyn McCormick, managing director of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau of Nags Head, North Carolina; Robert Cowen, senior vice president of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Wilton Connecticut; and Robert Varley, executive director of Florida's Space Coast Office of Melbourne, Florida as the candidates for the position.

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