Visit Marshall County board still searching for executive director

The Visit Marshall County Board is seeking to fill the position of Executive Director of Marshall County Tourism. During the board’s June meeting, the ongoing search was among the topics discussed.

The board had listed the job description on various websites and job boards, with only one applicant submitting a resume. That applicant will be contacted for an interview, but the board is looking for more candidates interested in applying. Since there is no meeting in July, the board will collect applications until August 11th.

The Executive Director will serve as the primary liaison between Marshall County Tourism and other organizations, including local governments, business associations, and community groups. They will also be in charge of developing and managing public awareness campaigns to promote Marshall County as a premier tourist destination. 

For more information or if you’re interested in the position, candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their background, skills, and experience, and explain why they are interested in this position to VisitMarshallCo@gmail.com. A portfolio of relevant advertising and marketing work is encouraged but not required.

During a prior meeting, the board discussed benefits for the Executive Director position. At June’s meeting, Board President Lizziey Sherk reminded the board that they were looking at a salary of the $50,000-$65,000 range. “We were thinking about a bonus structure based on the Department of Revenue and what the Innkeepers' tax looks like. I will continue to be in touch with Carrie Lambert about that.”

Sherk said that she had reached out to Carrie Lambert, Indiana Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director, about bonus compensation. “She did say that there’s not a bonus compensation structure that she knows of for tourism. Not that it’s not possible, just that there isn’t one out there.”

“But there was no verbiage that forbade it,” Mark Damore, one of the three Marshall County Tourism Commission members who serve as liaisons to the Visit Marshall County Board, asked.

Another agenda item was setting up the bank account. Since the board was created earlier this year, it has to set up a bank account to handle the funds received by the Marshall County Tourism Commission. Sherk also recommended opening the account as a non-profit or for-profit, whichever one has the lowest fees.

Signatures on check disbursements were brought up. Board Member Sean Hatfield suggested that two members of the board sign checks. It was decided that checks would be signed by the Board Treasurer and either the Board President or the Executive Director.

Matt Hovermale, one of the three Marshall County Tourism Commission members who serve as liaisons to the Visit Marshall County Board, updated the board on the status of the website renovation. He said a man giving a seminar to Chamber members is knowledgeable about WordPress and looked at the backend of the website. Hovermale said the old non-profit extended the visitmarshallcounty.org URL and domain until 2030, so they own it, and the new organization can’t use it, and it goes to a blank page.

Hovermale said that the man will be submitting a quote to create a new website. The Visit Marshall County Board and the Executive Director, once that person is hired, will be in charge of updating the website once it is created. However, the website will be owned by the Marshall County Tourism Commission.

Sherk suggested creating a Facebook page to aid in promoting Marshall County events and businesses. The board members were all in agreement with that suggestion. Board Member Joslin Stiffler said that he could create the Facebook page. 

It was asked if the Monster Message boards from last year’s Blueberry Festival were going to be utilized again this year.

Last year, it cost $15,000 to rent it for the Blueberry Festival. After some discussion, the board voted to offer to split the cost of the rental and the ad creation with the MC Tourism Commission. That amount was $7,750. The commission meets on July 15 and will consider that offer.