The Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau is moving forward with tourism plans as they search for a new executive director.

The role was previously filled by Jane Ellis, who the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) said departed from the position on July 14.

Board Chair Debbie Bartes said the board would not discuss personnel matters, but that the CVB is covering responsibilities until the role is filled.

Ellis

Submitted photo

In a press release from the CVB on July 22, they said Ellis “poured great passion into her work” for the CVB and they appreciated that contribution.

Ellis had been with the CVB since February 2002, shifting into the executive director role in December of 2007.

“We wish Jane all the very best success in her future endeavors,” the release said.

Ellis could not be reached for comment by deadline.

“We’re still moving forward with plans, coming up with new plans and implementing things,” Bartes said last week.

In a work session on Aug. 1, the CVB met and the executive director position and job description were evaluated. From that work session, a three-person committee was formed to make decisions on the hiring process.

This committee will advertise the position, interview candidates, and present their selection to the board of directors for a final interview and consideration.

Bartes said last week they plan to have the description finalized this week, then they will start the search with people in the tourism industry.

Bartes said by the next CVB meeting on Sept. 20, the search should have begun.

She added that while they don’t expect this process to take an extended period of time, we are being “very deliberate.”

Until then, different board members are covering certain responsibilities in the job. As board chair, Bartes said she has the bulk of those responsibilities. Kim Robinson is doing payroll.

“We divided out jobs that people are doing,” she said. “We haven’t stopped the business of the CVB.”

Community input is needed, Bartes said, as to what people would like to see the CVB doing in the community.

Efforts would be reciprocal, she added.

“We want to make sure we’re serving the community and at the same time that they’re being good stewards of the community as well,” she said.

“We’re working cooperatively with the Chamber of Commerce, we’re trying to make sure that everybody’s voice is heard. We want to strengthen relationships with other community organizations.”

Two board members work in the Visitors Center on a Saturday, with the staff and public.

“It’s one thing to sit on a board and spend an hour or so a month and get an overrun of what’s going on, it’s another thing to be here and see what the public is asking, how we can better serve the public and what we can do to put heads in beds, which is what we need to be doing,” she said.

“The best way to do that is sit in the (front desk) chair and see what’s happening.”

Reevaluating everything

As for current projects, Bartes said there are a lot of irons in the fire.

The CVB is collaborating with Indianapolis news channels Fox59 and CBS4 on quarterly segments promoting Brown County tourism on their Indy Now show.

This opened an opportunity for local tourism related businesses as well, CVB Integrated Marketing Manager Kamady Rudd said.

Indy Now is also planning “A Week in Brown County” segment to air in October allowing businesses to be more specific in their promotion.

In addition to the television segments, the CVB is in the process of updating the Leaf Camera, which takes a photo every 15 minutes of the scenery behind the Brown County Music Center. It is also collaborating with a company that specializes in tourism for live, 24/7 cameras to promote all seasons in Brown County.

“We are still working out the details and looking for the best location for the camera before proceeding,” Rudd said. “This live video is something that will be on our website for people to access whenever they’re wanting a piece of Brown County.”

Bartes said that even though it may feel like the Visitors Center just opened, she said that it’s important to remember it was five years ago, in a pre-COVID world.

“We need a refresh up front,” she said.

A complete overhaul of the website is also on the docket in the future.

“We have a lot of irons in the fire,” Bartes said. “We’re using this opportunity to make things happen. … We’re reevaluating everything.”