Experience

• 

  Capital Region USA

  • Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC

  • Executive Director

    • May 2017 - Present
    • Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC

    I direct the day-to-day operations of Capital Region USA, the official regional destination marketing organization promoting Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC, and Washington Dulles International Airport to international leisure travelers.Our partners include Destination DC, the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Maryland Office of Tourism Development, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority as well as a network of DMO members, Brand USA, and Miles Partnership.Our primary markets are in the UK and Western Europe, with additional work in China and India. www.crusa.org; www.capitalregionusa.org

• 

  Michigan Technological University

  • Houghton, Michigan

  • Editorial Director

    • Jun 2015 - May 2017
    • Houghton, Michigan

    Shared Michigan Technological University with the world, telling stories about the students, faculty, alumni, and staff at one of the leading public research universities in the Midwest. I worked with a talented team of writers creating editorial, marketing, web, and social media content for a variety of print and online outlets, including two print/online magazines - "Michigan Tech Magazine" and "Research."

• 

  Cody Country Chamber of Commerce

  • Cody, Wyoming

  • Executive Director

    • 2011 - 2015
    • Cody, Wyoming

    Served as a daily advocate for the business interests of nearly 600 members through innovation, creativity and effective communication in one of America's greatest small communities, Cody, Wyoming. I focused on member recruitment, retention and advocacy, running a year-round visitor center, major event planning, government/national park affairs and communication, marketing, social media, and staff management.I was honored to be named the 2014 Wyoming Chamber Director of the Year by the Wyoming Chamber of Commerce and am a 2015 graduate of the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management (IOM).Accomplishments by our team during my time at the Cody Chamber:- Increased membership by 10% through revised membership tiers, and the improved value of our marketing programs, networking opportunities, and events.- Ran the $1 million annual Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale as a major fundraiser for the chamber and Buffalo Bill Center of the West. - Refurbished our visitor center with new marketing options, signage, a member-sponsored video, new technology, a dedicated ticket sales area and a new staff training program focused on providing excellent customer service. Results: We doubled attraction ticket sales. - Re-established a positive working relationship with Yellowstone National Park staff to work through road and winter use issues. One of our biggest successes was the opening of the East Gate to the Park on time in the spring of 2013 after sequester budget cuts threatened to delay the opening of the season costing the local economy up to $2 million.

• 

  Wyoming Business Council

  • Cheyenne, Wyoming

  • Manager, Marketing and Public Relations

    • 2010 - 2011
    • Cheyenne, Wyoming

    Managed all marketing and public relations for Wyoming’s state economic development agency.Marketed Wyoming as an attractive place to do business through media and public relations, publications, web presence, advertising, and social media.Led three full-time employees.Directed the complete redesign of the agency's website. The website was subsequently honored with a Silver Excellence in Economic Development Award in the category of General Purpose Website for communities with populations of 200,000-500,000 from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in October 2012.

• 

  Cheyenne Regional Medical Center

  • Cheyenne, Wyoming

  • Director of Marketing and Communications

    • 2007 - 2010
    • Cheyenne, Wyoming

    Directed all marketing and communications programs for a 221-bed, 1,800-employee hospital. Managed seven full-time employees and an annual budget of $1.2 million.Managed creation of all marketing materials, internal, and external communications.Coordinated media inquiries and public relations and served as PIO. Upheld brand standards to ensure consistency in marketing and communications.Worked with external advertising agency and managed all department contracts.Accomplishments included winning four ASTER awards in 2009 and 2010, redesigning the website, upgrading graphic design standards and publications, executing a comprehensive advertising campaign and managing multiple hospital-owned physician marketing programs.

• 

  Rocky Mountain International

  • Cheyenne, Wyoming

  • Director of Marketing

    • 2002 - 2007
    • Cheyenne, Wyoming

    Developed and managed annual tourism marketing plan for four U.S. states in five European markets - UK, Germany, France, Italy, and the Benelux countries.Executed numerous annual international and domestic events, sales missions, press events, trade shows (World Travel Market, ITB, BIT, IPW), and familiarization tours in conjunction with state clients and European offices.Published a travel guide, quarterly e-newsletters, an annual marketing report, and press releases.Worked extensively with the media, tour operators, US-based receptives, and consumers to market the Rocky Mountain region as an excellent vacation destination.Directed day-to-day marketing efforts, managed two direct employees, and regularly communicated with dozens of program stakeholders.