Charlie McIlvain was born and grew up in Carlsbad, New Mexico.  He attended New Mexiso Military Institute & New Mexico State University, graduating with degrees in Management and Marketing.

McIlvain established the Las Cruces, New Mexico Convention & Visitors Bureau as university project his senior year at New Mexico State University.

After graduation, he was employed by the Odessa Chamber of Commerce as Vice President of Marketing. In 1977, he returned to Las Cruces as Executive Vice President of the Greater Las Cruces Area Chamber of Commerce. Between 1979 and 1987, he was Director of Marketing in Farmers Branch, Texas , responsible for tourism and economic development programs in that north Dallas suburb. He served as Director of Tourism for the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau between 1987 and 1992. In 1989, Charlie and his wife Ronda established Idle Time Tours, Inc., a full-service tour operation; and Texas Destinations Inc., a tourism trade industry representation organization.

 In 1991 McIlvain received his "CTP" Certified Tour Professional designation. In August 1992, he left the public sector to go full-time with his companies. The McIlvains established Tour Data Inc., a motorcoach industry economic impact and research company in 1995. Charlie retuned to the public sector as Executive Director of the Granbury, Texas Convention & Visitors Bureau

in August 2005. McIlvain’s professional activities and honors include National Tour Association’s (NTA is a 3000-member travel industry association) President in 2003 and on the NTA Board from 1996 until 2005. 2005/2007 Chairman of the Texas Travel Industry Association’s Ground Transportation Council, 2004/2005 Chairman for the Tourism Advisory Council for the Office of the Governor - Economic Development and Tourism Department, 2005 Top 100 Festivals Selection Committee for the American Bus Association, board member for the Texas Travel Industry Association, Best Western International Hotel Chain -Tour Operator Advisory Board, Board of Governors for the University of North Texas School of Hospitality Management.

Charlie and Ronda live in Granbury and also enjoy a rural lifestyle

on their farm in Johnson County .