Tourism Bureau Names Executive Director
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Clark-Floyd Counties Convention and Tourism Bureau has hired Jim Epperson as executive director. He has led the Harrison County Convention and Tourism Bureau since 2002.
August 22, 2013
News Release
James L. Epperson was hired as the new Executive Director of the Clark-Floyd Counties Convention and Tourism Bureau at the Wednesday, August 21 meeting of the Board of Managers.
The process of securing a successor of Jim Keith, Executive Director for the past 32 years, began in January, 2012 with the development of a succession process to assure a smooth transition. The Executive Director search began March 5, 2013 resulting in 65 applicants which a consultant screened to determine the final ten for the Bureau's Personnel Committee to review and interview. The process led to Jim Epperson rising to the top in meeting the qualifications and the profile as outlined in the succession process.
Jim Epperson has served as Executive Director of the Harrison County Convention and Tourism Bureau in Corydon, Indiana since 2002. Prior to returning home to Southern Indiana he worked for the Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism where he became the state's Tourism Director from 1998 to 2002. It's interesting to note his first job in a tourism related field started between his high school and IUS college experience as a Welcome Center attendant at the I-65 Welcome Center in Henryville working for the Clark and Floyd Counties Convention and Tourism Bureau that summer.
As a New Albany native and Indiana University Southeast graduate he is very involved in the Indiana Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus. He served as its president and is currently the Government Affairs chair. He has served as a visiting professor of Purdue University's Department of Hospitality Tourism Management and the Research Committee of the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). He is also a past Board Member of CenStates Travel and Tourism Research Association.
He is married and he and his wife, Sandy, have two daughters – one a college sophomore and other a high school freshman.
Carlene Bottorff, chair of the Personnel Committee, said the Board was unanimous in his selection and look forward to him leading the Board as we promote greater visitor spending and additional tourism activities in Southern Indiana, the Sunny Side of Louisville. Jim will start his role as Executive Director at the Convention and Tourism Bureau October 1, 2013.
Source: Clark-Floyd Counties Convention and Tourism Bureau