Executive Profile
Name: Shelbi Quintana Walker
Title: Director of Sales and Strategic Partnerships
Organization: Visit Berkeley
Location: Berkeley, California
Birthplace: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Career History:
• Director of Sales and Marketing at Visit Concord, 2018–2023
• Director of Sales and Strategic Partnerships at Visit Berkeley, 2023–Present
Before Shelbi Quintana Walker applied for a marketing coordinator position at Visit Concord, California, she “didn’t necessarily even know what a destination marketing organization was,” she admitted. “It fell into my lap,” said the current director of sales and strategic partnerships for Visit Berkeley. “It’s one of those jobs that you don’t know is being done unless you know someone that’s in this industry. Which makes it fun because, honestly, all of my best friends say, ‘Shelbi, you have the best job in the whole entire world.’ And I totally agree.”
After graduating from the University of New Mexico with a liberal arts degree, Walker was applying for jobs to join her husband, whom she’d met in college, back in his hometown of San Francisco. A family friend had introduced her to Visit Concord’s CEO, who quickly saw her potential in sales. “I jumped right in,” she said. “I loved it, and then I was able to start traveling and selling Concord.”
A college internship with the Alzheimer’s Association had given her a strong start. “I had an incredible boss that believed in me and taught me all about communications and social media. At the same time, my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and passed away. So that was kind of a godsend to be working there and have support and understand what was going on. I was the top fundraiser, and it was the most rewarding job.”
At Visit Concord, Walker — who still confesses longing for Albuquerque’s New Mexican cuisine — launched the Concord Taco Trail, which won Visit California’s “Best Influencer Campaign” Poppy Award in 2021. “We had Mexican restaurants just literally everywhere. There was one next to our office, and like three within walking distance. It was kind of in the middle of COVID-19 when we started working on it, and the restaurants were suffering.”
Actor and influencer Blake Anderson, a former Concord resident, bicycled around the city with “Workaholics” co-star Kyle Newacheck and friend Teddy Spencer to highlight the 40 or so taquerias on the trail. “We brought him and all of his buddies that grew up in Concord out, and he was our spokesperson for the Concord Taco Trail. It was a blast.”
Excited for bigger challenges, Walker joined Visit Berkeley in 2023. “I fit in so well in Berkeley,” she said. “I’m kind of a hippie at heart. And I love tie-dye and all the history that we stand for. We’ve got so much to offer, like our hotels and businesses. They’re all so unique and quirky — just like Berkeley. And it makes my job so much fun.”
As director of sales and strategic partnerships, Walker is in charge of selling the destination for meetings and events as well as leisure, and she works with marketing partners, including hotels, restaurants and museums. She’s also responsible for the destination guide, showcasing the city’s events, activities, history and highlights.
Tips from Shelbi Quintana Walker
• Think outside of the traditional conference schedule; include more nontraditional venues, take a walking tour or food tour, and experience what the locals love to do.
• Take advantage of DMO services — we have so many incentives and perks!
• DMOs should work seamlessly with and make their hotels’ sales and marketing people your best friends; we’re basically an extension of their team.
