Keith Wallace Receives “Trifecta” of Tourism

New Lenox, Ill. – Keith Wallace, Executive Director of the Lincolnway Special Recreation Association, earned a trio of tourism awards in 2019, most recently earning a Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism award from Sports Destination Management after being nominated by the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Wallace was also nominated by the Chicago Southland CVB and selected by Connect Sports to receive the 2019 Community Hero Award. Additionally, he received the Linda Morgan Award for Volunteerism at the CVB’s annual meeting and awards luncheon.

Wallace was chosen to receive these awards for his work with the 2019 Toyota USA National Juniors & Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Association Championships. He partnered with the CVB to bring 57 teams and over 500 adaptive athletes to the Chicago Southland region to participate in the tournament. This 3-day tournament had an estimated economic impact of $478,000 and over 600 room nights.

Wallace also worked with a local organizing committee, consisting of individuals from Lincolnway Special Recreation Association, GLASA, HISRA and Synergy and said that bringing the event to the Chicago Southland was "truly a team effort."

Wallace has always been a supporter of tourism and has hosted several prestigious events, that have not only had large economic impacts on the Chicago Southland region, but have helped better lives through adaptive sports. Wallace works tirelessly to provide recreation and leisure services for individuals with disabilities by creating new programs and securing necessary funding. He is also an active commissioner for the International Wheelchair Softball Association.

“All of us here the CVB are extremely proud of Keith and his incredible accomplishments,” said Jim Garret, President/CEO of the Chicago Southland CVB. “It has been an honor and a privilege to work with him. We are all looking forward to partnering with him again in the future and will continue to support his efforts to improve lives of those with disabilities.”

The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official destination management and marketing organization for Chicago’s 63 south and southwest suburbs. The Chicago Southland CVB markets the Chicago Southland region as a destination for meetings and conventions, group tour, sports events and leisure. For more information, go to VisitChicagoSouthland.com.