Two New Community Leaders Join Board of Directors

The SeaTac City Council appoints RTA board members from TPA ratepayer applicants. Seven members are appointed directly, and four more are chosen from RTA board nominations. They represent various stakeholders including businesses, lodging, restaurants, retail, entertainment, and transportation. Applicants must hold a regional business license. Explore Seattle Southside extends its thanks to members new and long-standing for their leadership, direction, and service.

Navdeep Singh

As the Assistant General Manager at Westfield Southcenter, Navdeep oversees relationships with over 240 stores and restaurants that occupy the 1.7 million square foot retail center, which is expecting over 15 million visitors in 2023. In addition to shopping and dining, the center also hosts dozens of special events and activities each year, many involving the community. Navdeep plays a pivotal role in driving the success of the largest retail center in the Pacific Northwest and champions its success through managing retailer engagement programs, supporting positive tenant relations, facilitating local community/non-profit outreach, and establishing service provider partnerships.

Prior to managing Westfield Southcenter, Navdeep managed several security companies and currently is a franchise restaurant owner in Maple Valley. Navdeep is also a member of the board of directors at the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce. He excels in recruiting and developing high-performing teams, implementing effective marketing campaigns, and fostering community partnerships to drive sales growth.

With a skill set encompassing vendor management, negotiation, and process improvement, Navdeep Singh is well-equipped to contribute valuable insights and expertise to the Explore Seattle Southside Board of Directors. His extensive experience in both retail and franchise ownership uniquely positions him to provide strategic guidance and drive impactful decision-making.

Says Navdeep, "I am looking forward to leveraging my background in operational management and strategic leadership to contribute meaningfully to the board. I am eager to collaborate with fellow board members in supporting the strategic plan of Explore Seattle Southside and ensuring its continued success."

Cindy Messey

Cindy Messey landed at The Museum of Flight in 2007 and served as Private Events Manager before moving into the role of Director of Sales and Events.

Originally from St. Louis, Cindy graduated from Auburn University with a degree in marine biology and headed west to Seattle. She spent the next three years aboard crab and fishing boats in the Bering Sea, collecting data and conducting research as a contractor for NOAA. She later traded in her Grundens for terra firma and spent eight years planning events and galas at Pacific Science Center.

Cindy’s twenty-three years in the sales and events industry have been focused on highlighting the cultural significance of the Pacific Northwest, particularly in terms of aviation, science and technology. In her role at The Museum of Flight, she's responsible for the successful creation and execution of events, public programs, and other initiatives that maximize earned revenue and provide our guests with one-of-a-kind experiences.

She and her husband live in Normandy Park with their two young sons.

Says Messey, “I'm honored to join Explore Seattle Southside's board. As an individual who works and resides in this region, I'm excited to support this organization and contribute to its ongoing success.”

Regular meetings of the board are held every other month. For more information on the current Explore Seattle Southside Board of Directors, visit: https://www.seattlesouthside.com/about/who-we-are/board-of-directors-and-committees/

About Explore Seattle Southside
Explore Seattle Southside (Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority) has a bold vision to reimagine the way people travel. Established nearly 25 years ago in 1999, Explore Seattle Southside is the destination marketing organization for the cities of SeaTac, Tukwila, Des Moines. Also known as the curiously wonderful destination for exploring the Pacific Northwest, Explore Seattle Southside showcases the Seattle Southside region with pride and imagination as an ideal travel destination for leisure and business travelers to explore Western Washington and as an idyllic place for meeting and event planners to hold their events. Explore Seattle Southside is funded by a Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) assessment and was recognized in 2023—thanks to a commitment to empowering employees and an ambitious vision for the future—as one of Washington State’s Top 100 Best Workplaces.

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