The Evansville-Vanderburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau announced the hiring of James “Jim” Wood as incoming president and CEO. An extensive nationwide search guided by an executive search firm and local committee was conducted in recruiting Wood.
“We were encouraged that through the national search process we were able to find someone with Jim’s experience
and tenure in the industry,” said John Chaszar, CVB commission president. “Our CVB has seen Evansville’s occupancy and room rates grow over the last decade with a keen focus on youth sports, including investments at the Deaconess Sports Park and Goebel Soccer Complex. With the nearing completion of I-69 and recent Old National Events Plaza investments, the meeting and convention business is also poised to grow. We are confident that Jim will bring the energy, skills and knowledge necessary to keep our momentum moving forward for years to come. We look forward to Jim leading our team, with an anticipated start date of January 15, 2020.”
Wood comes to Evansville with extensive managerial and sales experience in the Louisville, Providence, Atlantic City, and Tampa markets, as well as with the Marriott hotels. Wood is well known in the industry and has been active with many trade organizations. He has exhibited skills of building consensus within a collaborative environment, as well as working from a strategic plan. Wood’s knowledge of events extends past hosting events, as he has also overseen the operations of destination businesses nationally, as well as in the Ohio River Valley.
“I want to thank the commission and the many community leaders whom I met during the selection process for putting the destination marketing of Evansville in my hands,” Wood said. “I am thrilled to be named president and CEO of the CVB. Evansville is a dynamic community that I am excited to use my skills and abilities to continue to grow the region on the strong foundation that is in place.
“I was particularly impressed with the community’s charming destination and finding it that is poised to grow. Evansville’s central location, convention and gaming facilities, its sports market, and position at Indiana’s third largest city make it a strong foundation for growth of the destination market. As well, continuing tourism industry growth boosts the community quality of life not just for visitors the tourism industry employs, but also for the region’s residents.”
