City of Columbia appoints SCRLA Chief Operating Officer Douglas O’Flaherty to the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism Board
September 14, 2026
The South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (SCRLA) announced that Chief Operating Officer Douglas O’Flaherty has been appointed by the City of Columbia Council to serve on the Board of Directors for the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism (MACST).
In his new role on the board, O’Flaherty will help guide strategic oversight for key regional economic drivers, including the Columbia Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, the Columbia Regional Sports Council, and the Columbia Regional Visitors Center. MACST serves a vital function in promoting tourism, attracting conventions, and fostering athletic and economic growth across the City of Columbia, Lexington County, and Richland County.
“Douglas’s appointment brings a powerful combination of hands-on hospitality expertise and statewide association leadership to the Midlands Authority,” said Mark Newman, President & CEO of the SCRLA. “His deep understanding of our state’s tourism landscape, workforce, and hospitality businesses will be a tremendous asset in promoting Columbia and the Midlands as a top destination.”
O’Flaherty brings over 40 years of hospitality experience and 25 years of dedicated leadership at the SCRLA. Since joining the association in 2001, he has spearheaded key workforce, educational, and operational initiatives. Notably, he transformed the statewide ProStart high school culinary and management program from 150 students into a workforce powerhouse serving nearly 3,000 students annually, securing over $2 million in grants to support the industry’s talent pipeline. In addition to his role as COO, O’Flaherty recently served as the association’s Interim President and CEO.
O’Flaherty holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Non-Profit Management (cum laude) and an associate degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management from Hocking College. A graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management (IOM), he serves on the national IOM Board of Trustees and as an IOM faculty member. He is also a past President of the South Carolina Society of Association Executives (SCSAE) Board of Directors, where he has been recognized with multiple honors, including Executive Member of the Year and the President’s Award.
“I am honored to receive this appointment from the City of Columbia Council and look forward to working alongside my fellow board members,” said O’Flaherty. “Tourism and hospitality are essential drivers of our regional economy, and I am eager to help support and grow the conventions, sports, and visitor experiences that make the Midlands such a dynamic place to live and visit.”
About the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism
The Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism is a joint authority created to direct and manage the activities and missions of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Columbia Regional Sports Council, and the Columbia Regional Visitors Center. The Authority also oversees the development and operation of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center for the benefit of its partner governmental entities: the City of Columbia, Richland County, and Lexington County.
About the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association
The South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (SCRLA) is dedicated to the growth and success of the hospitality industry and its economic impact in the state through advocacy, education, and innovation. Representing more than 2,400 member restaurant and lodging companies and service providers, the SCRLA serves as the unified voice for South Carolina’s second-largest employer and cornerstone of local economies across the Palmetto State. For more information, visit www.scrla.org(opens in new tab)
