Highland County Visitors Bureau hosts Welcome Center grand opening
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Forsha-crforsha@gmail.com
Local business leaders, politicians and members of the community joined Highland County Visitors Bureau Executive Director Destiny Bryson, the CVB Board of Trustees and the Highland County Chamber of Commerce Thursday evening for an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Highland County Visitors Bureau Welcome Center is located in historic uptown Hillsboro at 130 South High Street. As previously reported in The Highland County Press, Bryson was named the Visitors Bureau’s executive director on Aug. 22.
Bryson and members of the board of trustees greeted guests from Highland County businesses and many Highland County residents, who stopped by the former longtime location of Webster’s Shoe Repair to check out the newly remodeled building and to wish Bryson success.
Among those in attendance were Greenfield city manager Ron Coffey (also a CVB board member); Highland County Commissioners Tom Horst (also a CVB board member) and Jeff Duncan; and a representative from Secretary of State Jon Husted’s office. Many other members of the community and local business representatives visited the open house, including Steve Thompson of Thompson Funeral Home and Susan Davis Thompson of Davis Law Office and Preferred Midwest Title, who purchased and renovated the Welcome Center.
The CVB board of trustees include: board president Tom Horst, Highland County Commissioners representative; vice president Tim Koehl, at large member; secretary Kim Abbott, government representative; Ron Coffey, at large member; Janet Shawhan, hospitality representative; Debra Crago, Greenfield business representative; Phil Clyburn, at large member; Sharon Hughes, Rocky Fork Lake representative; Joe Mahan, Hillsboro business representative; and Sharon Bedard, Lynchburg business representative.
Highland County Chamber of Commerce president Melissa Elmore and several of the Chamber Red Coats were present for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the newly renovated Welcome Center.
Following the ribbon-cutting, board president Tom Horst introduced Bryson, who spoke to the crowd. Bryson named the board of trustees and thanked them for their efforts.
“They volunteer their time to serve on that board, and I’m truly thankful for the service they give to the bureau,” Bryson said.
Bryson also thanked the sponsors of the open house, including SOS, Tissot’s Home Center, White’s Cake Box, Batter Up Bakery and Walmart.
“I especially want to thank Steve and Sue Thompson, who have done a wonderful job with the office,” Bryson said.
Bryson said that she plans to accomplish the Visitors Bureau’s mission to “attract visitors to Highland County through education, promotion and marketing of attractions and activities in this region” through social media and the Visitors Bureau website.
“I look forward to the execution of this mission by building a strong web and social media presence,” Bryson said. “I think that’s key. You’re going to be seeing some changes to our website, and we’re going to be active on Facebook. I encourage you to follow us and to give us your feedback on the changes that we’ve made and how we can improve.”
[[In-content Ad]]
Bryson said that the welcome center will be “staffed with trained volunteers” and encouraged those in attendance to sign up to volunteer.
“Eventually, we’d like to have the office open on a daily basis,” Bryson said. “For now, we’re going to try two or three days a week.”
Bryson will be attending the Ohio Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus’ annual conference this month, along with meeting with fellow members of the Ohio’s Appalachian Country organization, in an effort to promote the bureau.
“I ask you to work with me as I start this campaign for Highland County,” Bryson said. “I welcome any ideas and feedback on the things that we’re doing here, and if you’re having an activity, let me know. If you have an attraction, give me your brochures.”
Following Bryson’s remarks, guests enjoyed cookies, cake, iced tea and water and viewed “before and after” photos of the welcome center.
Brochures for several local businesses, along with copies of the Highland County Fair Book, were also available for those in attendance.
If you are interested in volunteering or have upcoming events you would like to share with HCVB, call Bryson at (937) 763-7012 or email her at visithighlandcounty@yahoo.com.
The Highland County Visitors Bureau Welcome Center is located in historic uptown Hillsboro at 130 South High Street. As previously reported in The Highland County Press, Bryson was named the Visitors Bureau’s executive director on Aug. 22.
Bryson and members of the board of trustees greeted guests from Highland County businesses and many Highland County residents, who stopped by the former longtime location of Webster’s Shoe Repair to check out the newly remodeled building and to wish Bryson success.
Among those in attendance were Greenfield city manager Ron Coffey (also a CVB board member); Highland County Commissioners Tom Horst (also a CVB board member) and Jeff Duncan; and a representative from Secretary of State Jon Husted’s office. Many other members of the community and local business representatives visited the open house, including Steve Thompson of Thompson Funeral Home and Susan Davis Thompson of Davis Law Office and Preferred Midwest Title, who purchased and renovated the Welcome Center.
The CVB board of trustees include: board president Tom Horst, Highland County Commissioners representative; vice president Tim Koehl, at large member; secretary Kim Abbott, government representative; Ron Coffey, at large member; Janet Shawhan, hospitality representative; Debra Crago, Greenfield business representative; Phil Clyburn, at large member; Sharon Hughes, Rocky Fork Lake representative; Joe Mahan, Hillsboro business representative; and Sharon Bedard, Lynchburg business representative.
Highland County Chamber of Commerce president Melissa Elmore and several of the Chamber Red Coats were present for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the newly renovated Welcome Center.
Following the ribbon-cutting, board president Tom Horst introduced Bryson, who spoke to the crowd. Bryson named the board of trustees and thanked them for their efforts.
“They volunteer their time to serve on that board, and I’m truly thankful for the service they give to the bureau,” Bryson said.
Bryson also thanked the sponsors of the open house, including SOS, Tissot’s Home Center, White’s Cake Box, Batter Up Bakery and Walmart.
“I especially want to thank Steve and Sue Thompson, who have done a wonderful job with the office,” Bryson said.
Bryson said that she plans to accomplish the Visitors Bureau’s mission to “attract visitors to Highland County through education, promotion and marketing of attractions and activities in this region” through social media and the Visitors Bureau website.
“I look forward to the execution of this mission by building a strong web and social media presence,” Bryson said. “I think that’s key. You’re going to be seeing some changes to our website, and we’re going to be active on Facebook. I encourage you to follow us and to give us your feedback on the changes that we’ve made and how we can improve.”
[[In-content Ad]]
Bryson said that the welcome center will be “staffed with trained volunteers” and encouraged those in attendance to sign up to volunteer.
“Eventually, we’d like to have the office open on a daily basis,” Bryson said. “For now, we’re going to try two or three days a week.”
Bryson will be attending the Ohio Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus’ annual conference this month, along with meeting with fellow members of the Ohio’s Appalachian Country organization, in an effort to promote the bureau.
“I ask you to work with me as I start this campaign for Highland County,” Bryson said. “I welcome any ideas and feedback on the things that we’re doing here, and if you’re having an activity, let me know. If you have an attraction, give me your brochures.”
Following Bryson’s remarks, guests enjoyed cookies, cake, iced tea and water and viewed “before and after” photos of the welcome center.
Brochures for several local businesses, along with copies of the Highland County Fair Book, were also available for those in attendance.
If you are interested in volunteering or have upcoming events you would like to share with HCVB, call Bryson at (937) 763-7012 or email her at visithighlandcounty@yahoo.com.