Raleigh -- Denny Edwards has been named the new President and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau (GRCVB), and will assume his duties on May 7. Edwards succeeds Dave Heinl, who started the GRCVB in February 1987 and announced his retirement last August."Following an extensive national search that involved many community and business leaders, Denny Edwards clearly emerged as the type of leader who will engage various stakeholders in further transforming Greater Raleigh into a more viable visitors and meetings destination," said Russ Smith, Chairman of the GRCVB Board of Directors and General Manager of the Embassy Suites Raleigh-Durham/Research Triangle Hotel, who led the CEO search process. Edwards served as the Senior Vice President for the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB the past 10 years. A 25-year CVB veteran, Edwards also served as Director of Sales for the Greater Houston CVB and prior to that as Director of Sales for the Palm Springs Desert Resorts CVB. Edwards is currently an APEX Commissioner (Accepted Practices Exchange Initiative), serves on the Destination Marketing Association International Foundation Board of Trustees, where he is also a past Board member. He is the incoming chair for American Society of Association Executives Industry Partners Alliance Committee, serves on the Advertising and Marketing Committee for Visit Florida and the Meeting Professionals International Multi-Cultural Initiative Committee. "Raleigh is an incredible destination for all types of visitors and is going through a renaissance that will position itself as a major player in the meetings and conventions market,” Edwards said. “With the opening of the new convention center and the attached Marriott hotel, it now has all the ingredients for conventions that are looking for a destination that is convenient, affordable, accessible and abundant in activities and dining options."