Dave Beachnau

Dave Beachnau is in his 30th year with Visit Detroit. Named Executive Vice President in 2023, he also serves as Executive Director of the Detroit Sports Commission, focusing on bidding for and hosting major sporting events in the metro Detroit region.

Under Beachnau’s leadership, Detroit has successfully hosted or been awarded numerous high-profile events, including the NCAA Men’s Final Four, NFL Draft, Ryder Cup, Super Bowl XL, MLB All-Star Game, WrestleMania, and various NCAA championships.

Since 2001, Beachnau has led the Detroit Sports Commission, overseeing its creation and rebranding with the tagline "Where Champions are Made, and Championships are Played. Detroit." He founded the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic, an annual event since 2005.

Beachnau earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Adrian College, where he lettered in basketball and baseball. He has received the Triple A+ Alumni Award from Lansing Catholic Central High School and Adrian College's Distinguished Alumni Award. Before joining Visit Detroit, he spent eight years in the hospitality industry, including as director of sales at the Atheneum Suite Hotel in Detroit.

A Lansing native, Beachnau and his wife, Edie, have two children, Kimberly and Tyler, and two grandchildren, twins Abigail and Isabelle.