Destination Marketing Association International announced Monday it has eliminated nine staff positions as a result of a "strategic alignment of the organization" being led by its new CEO.

The $8 million-revenue, Washington, D.C.-based association employed 23 staff, according to its most recent tax filing. Among employees cut is COO Charles Jeffers, who recently led DMAI as interim CEO while the group searched for a new leader. Jeffers will remain on board until May.

Don Welsh, former head of the tourism bureau Choose Chicago, was named DMAI CEO in January. In a statement about the cuts, he said the realignment "will allow the team to accomplish the key tasks that will help take DMAI to the next level."

"We exist for the benefit of our members and moving forward, we will provide the services and products that they want, need and are willing to financially support," he said.

Other than Jeffers, DMAI didn't say which employees are being let go, but industry news site MeetingsNet reported that Executive Assistant Stephanie Russell also will depart in May. The remaining employees were let go immediately. They are Nancy Elder, executive vice president; Valencia Bembry, senior vice president; Vickie Singer, senior vice president; Linda Andreani, vice president, education and professional development; Mitchell Gehrisch, director of member relations; Alan Lotenberg, manager, member relations; and Tonia Williams, office coordinator. http://bit.ly/1qrN5sh

As a result of the realignment, the DMAI leadership team now includes Welsh; Christine Shimasaski, managing director of empowerMINT and EIC; Julie Hart, CFO; and Paul Ouimet, executive director of DestinationNEXT. http://bit.ly/1V6NU6d

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