From Visit Harford! Inc.:
Wini Roche announced that she would be ending her contractual position as Interim Executive Director with the 501c6 organization effective June 19, 2015 and would not be seeking a permanent position with Visit Harford!, Inc. The search has begun for a candidate to lead Harford’s new official destination marketing organization, Visit Harford! Inc.
“Wini has truly championed the tourism cause in Harford County over the past decade, and her work will have lasting impact” said Patti Parker, President of Visit Harford’s! Board of Directors. “We know we have an excellent foundation to build on, we sincerely thank her and wish her the very best in her new endeavors.”
“Opening the door to new leadership and a fresh start for Harford’s tourism industry is exactly what the organization needs at this time”, stated Roche, who was the County Tourism Manager from 2006 to January 2015 when the tourism division was eliminated from County Government and tourism and visitor services were transitioned to Visit Harford! She has led the organization as a contractual employee since that time. “I can walk away knowing the organization, as well as the tourism industry in Harford County is positioned for success- It’s a new beginning for Visit Harford as well as for me!”
As Harford County’s DMO, Some of Wini’s key achievements include:
• Developed a partner program to engage the business community and leverage funds supporting destination marketing activities including electronic kiosk program, visitors guide, and dynamic visitor website. Recruited more than 100 Partners.
• Created a monthly electronic newsletter E-xperience Harford featuring popular video blog series Where’s Wini? to highlight Harford County attractions. Grew database to more than 21,000 subscribers and website traffic increased 42%.
• Partnered with the Greater Baltimore Committee to commission a Destination Market Study that Illustrated through research, local data, and case studies the economic potential of restructuring the Destination Marketing Organization, investing in destination marketing, and local tourism tax revenue drivers (2011-2012).
• Led initiative on the state and local level to pass a 6% lodging tax that is 100% dedicated to supporting tourism related activities in Harford County.
• Led effort to create Visit Harford! Inc. a 501c6 organization to advance tourism in Harford County. For 7 months she served a dual role as County Tourism Manager and Executive Director of Visit Harford! Inc.
• Created a new brand for Visit Harford! Website, Destination Guide, and collaborative partnership and work space with the Chamber of Commerce.
• Grew tourism related tax receipts to over $10,753,727 and visitor expenditures to over $362,200,000 dollars with Harford County Love it! Campaign.
Mrs. Roche has received recognition for her work on a state-wide level and was Awarded Maryland Tourism Council’s Tourism Person of the Year in 2013 and Tourism Advocate of the Year in 2010 and 2012. She is the spearhead of Tourism Day in Annapolis for the MD Tourism Coalition uniting over 200 tourism leaders with General Assembly members for industry advocacy.
Roche who currently serves on the Maryland Tourism Development Board and is the incoming Chair of the Maryland Tourism Council in 2016 intends to remain active in the tourism industry and says that current plans involve several exciting opportunities on the horizon including continuing her work as a consultant and pursuing some entrepreneurial interests. “You won’t have to wonder “Where’s Wini? … I’ll still be doing what I love!”
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Visit Harford! A 501c6 organization dedicated to the promotion of Harford County and its tourism attractions to visitors and residents is seeking an Executive Director.
The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors for activities relating to Visit Harford! and will facilitate an active role with tourism related organizations in the state and within the county inclusive but not limited to hotels, restaurants, government agencies, other tourism boards and attractions. The Executive Director will support the Executive Committee of the Board and the Board of Directors of Visit Harford relating to strategy, progress, plans and goals. The Executive Director must be a self-starter with the ability to work with and manage staff including volunteers. Literate in marketing and social media trends, ability to develop relationships, make presentations, fiscal management including budgeting, tracking, negotiations and the ability to work collaboratively with local and county governments.
Qualifications
– Able to work in an unsupervised environment
– Ability to develop strategy and plans to execute strategy
– Understanding and experience with defining, developing and working with policies and procedures
– Knowledge of Harford County
– Effective oral and written communication
– Capability of exercising independent judgment, discretion and initiative while utilizing tact and courtesy in frequent contact with business and industry representatives/government officials and the general public
– Demonstrated skills in planning, organizing and effective communication
– Working knowledge of group and on-line reservations systems
– Grant administration experience a plus
– College degree required
Please send resumes to Patti@VisitHarford.com.
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