Posted by Matt Swenson on 26 June 2026
eTourism Moves: New Hires & Promotions for June
Summer is a season of transition, as many DMOs announced new leaders and staff members as they look to build momentum for the second half of 2026.
Chester County Tourism
Alicia M. Richie is the new executive director of Chester County Tourism, Brandywine Valley, located outside of Philadelphia. Richie has held senior executive positions including the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, where she currently serves as President and CEO; the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism; Discover Lehigh Valley; Visit Philadelphia; Kalahari Resorts & Conventions; and the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. In these roles, she has led destination branding, tourism marketing, public relations, and visitor experience initiatives for major tourism destinations, including statewide campaigns and planning efforts tied to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and America 250. Richie, whose first day is August 24, will succeed Susan Hamley, who retires after more than 12 years.
Sharon Wyman, Discover Long Island
Discover Long Island
Sharon Wyman is the new president and CEO of Discover Long Island in New York, where she is assuming the top spot after 25 years at the DMO. Her most recent role was as chief operating officer, which she assumed in 2020. Wyman is assuming the role after more than a year of leadership under Interim President & CEO Mitch Pally. In 2025, former President & CEO Kristen Reynolds departed to take the lead of Choose Chicago.
Experience Olympia & Beyond
Shauna Stewart has been appointed CEO of Experience Olympia & Beyond in Washington following a national search, assuming the role she has held on an interim basis for six months. Stewart previously led the CVB between 2015 and 2020 and has more than 15 years of tourism- and economic-leadership experience.
Tori Davis, Experience Ruston
Experience Ruston
It’s official: Tori Davis is the president and CEO of Experience Ruston following a comprehensive national search process conducted by the organization’s Board of Directors. Davis has served as interim president and CEO while continuing in her role as vice president of marketing and communications, helping lead the organization through a period of continued growth, increased visibility, and strengthened community engagement. Having served with Experience Ruston since 2020, Davis has helped elevate Lincoln Parish as a destination for tourism, events, sports, culture, and economic opportunity. “Ruston and Lincoln Parish have a unique energy, culture, and sense of community that make this place truly special,” Davis said. “I look forward to continuing our work alongside local leaders, businesses, community partners, and residents to further elevate our destination and create meaningful experiences that benefit both visitors and our community.”
Visit Cranbrook
Mike McPhee is the new executive director of Visit Cranbrook in British Columbia, Canada, bringing over two decades of tourism, outdoor recreation, education and media experience to the role. He's served on boards and committees including the Destination British Columbia Marketing Committee, the Tourism Fernie Board, the Fernie Chamber of Commerce, and most recently as Board Chair of Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association.
Doug Small, Experience Grand Rapids
Experience Grand Rapids
Experience Grand Rapids President & CEO Doug Small plans to retire in June 2027, following a 45-year career in destination marketing and hospitality, including nearly 20 years leading the Michigan-based organization. During Small’s tenure, the destination has driven consistent growth in visitorship and hotel room sales, achieving record results nearly every year for the past 14 years, while generating billions of dollars in regional economic impact.
“One thing I take great pride in is the strong, talented, and creative team we’ve built at Experience Grand Rapids,” said Small. “This organization is in exceptional hands, and I have every confidence in this team’s ability to carry forward what we’ve built together and meet the exciting challenges ahead. I also want to recognize the incredible visitor destination that Grand Rapids has become, the unwavering community support we’ve had, and the strong partnerships that have made it all possible. None of this happens without extraordinary people working together.”
Abbey Hunton, Philadelphia CVB
Philadelphia CVB
Abbey Hunton is the vice president of communications of the Philadelphia CVB. With more than 15 years of communications strategy, media relations, and executive and crisis communications experience, she will shape and steward the organization's public voice, media presence, and communications strategy.
Hunton has spent more than a decade and a half in the health care, higher education, and nonprofit sectors, with a specific focus on integrated communications strategy and media relations. Prior to joining the PHLCVB, Hunton served as vice president of marketing & communications for the Alzheimer’s Association (DE, NJ, PA) and news director for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Hunton holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations from Elizabethtown College.
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Shelby Callas-Bartemes has been named senior vice president, global communications at the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board. She comes from the Los Angeles-based Brandman Agency, where she rose to managing director over the course of 11 years. Callas-Bartemes also has experience marketing area hotels.
Ottawa Tourism
Courtney Merchand has been promoted to director of marketing of paid media at Ottawa Tourism, the DMO she has been part of since 2014. She was most recently association marketing director.
Destination Augusta
Raysean Ricks is joining Destination Augusta as its new communications manager, where he will support communications initiatives across the organization, helping bring Augusta's people, places, events, and experiences to life through compelling storytelling and strategic communications. Most recently, he helped lead communications efforts at Augusta University while also serving as an educator, mentor, and community leader.
Visit Tuolumne County
Myrka Morales is a new marketing and communications manager for Visit Tuolumne County, which serves Napa, California. She brings a strong background in destination and event marketing, most recently serving as the marketing manager at Bear Valley Mountain Resort and continuing her work with The Bear Valley Music Festival.
LaGrange County CVB
Jamie Paino is the new communications and public relations Manager for the LaGrange County CVB in Indiana. Piano brings a strong background in education, nonprofit leadership, communications, marketing, fundraising, and event planning to the role.
Graphic by Clint Poy
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