eTourism Moves: New Hires & Promotions for October 2026

There’s been a flurry of activity in the eTourism community. Here are the latest hirings, promotions, and other personnel moves.

Jeff Leicht

Coryn Briggs

Mackinac Island Tourism

Jeff Leitch is the new Executive Director and Coryn Briggs is now Director of Destination Marketing at Mackinac Island Tourism in Michigan. Leitch succeeds Tim Hygh, who announced his retirement earlier this year after serving as the organization’s Executive Director for over 15 years.

About Leitch: He has 20 years of experience across marketing, media, sales, and business leadership to the Executive Director role. Most recently, he served as Senior Sales Director for Retail and Consumer Packaged Goods at LiveRamp, guiding major national brands through marketing technology, data strategy, and customer engagement. Prior to LiveRamp, he spent six years with Meijer, including serving as Director of Meijer Media. Earlier in his career, Leitch held leadership roles in media and advertising with MLive Media Group and iHeartMedia.

About Briggs: She brings more than 19 years of marketing experience to her new role as Director of Destination Marketing. Most recently, Briggs served as Senior Director of Marketing for Traverse City Tourism, where she led integrated marketing strategies and multi-channel campaigns to strengthen destination awareness, inspire travel, and drive visitation.

Krysta Souleyrette

Elizabethtown Tourism

Krysta Souleyrette, who has served as interim Executive Director of Elizabethtown (Ky.) Tourism & Convention Bureau since May 2026, has been awarded the full-time role. Souleyrette joined ETCB in 2018 as Communications Director, where she led media relations, content strategy, and brand storytelling for the destination. In 2023, she was promoted to Director of Marketing, overseeing integrated marketing campaigns, visitor outreach, and partnership development.

Alex Thomas

Visit South Padre Island

Alex Thomas is the new Chief Tourism Officer at Visit South Padre Island, a Texas hot spot for beach lovers. In his new role, Thomas will help guide destination development, visitor experience, community and stakeholder engagement, special events, and strategic tourism initiatives, with a focus on strengthening our relationships with Island businesses and community partners.

Wendy Kerr

Paradise Advertising and Marketing

Wendy Kerr is joining Paradise Advertising and Marketing as Chief Operating Officer. Kerr most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of The Zimmerman Agency, part of The Collective, a group of agencies owned by Omnicom. Throughout her career, she has led operations, finance and IT for a 150-plus-person agency, driven more than $1 million in annual cost savings, modernized business systems and reporting, and developed processes that enabled teams to work more efficiently and effectively.

Leah Freeman

Experience Ruston

Leah Freeman is the new Director of Marketing & Communications at Experience Ruston in Louisiana. She will lead Experience Ruston’s marketing and communications efforts to strengthen the destination’s brand, inspire visitation, and showcase its people, places, and experiences. Her predecessor, Tori Davis, was promoted to the CVB’s President & CEO earlier this year.

Sam Black

Visit Norfolk

Sam Black is the new Director of Marketing and Communications of Visit Norfolk in southeastern Virginia. Black served as Bureau Manager, External Communications, for the Department of Communications and Marketing for the City of Norfolk, where she oversaw the city’s external communications efforts. She also spent over nine years with the Downtown Norfolk Council, gaining extensive experience in destination promotion, community engagement and partnerships.

Siri Emereje

Granville County Government

Siri Emereje has been named Tourism Director at Granville County Government, headquartered in Oxford, NC. Emereje brings more than eight years of experience in destination marketing, tourism development, public-sector tourism funding, and community and stakeholder engagement to the position, most notable with Discover DeKalb in the Atlanta area.

Marrinner Marketing

David Melnick is now President at the Maryland-based marriner marketing after earning a promotion from executive Vice President of Brand Integration.

Lauren Bradley

San Diego Tourism Authority

Lauren Bradley has been promoted to Senior Digital Marketing Manager at the San Diego Tourism Authority. She started with the CVB in April 2021 as Social Media Manager and progressed ever since.

Hilary Feutz

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

Hilary Feutz has been promoted to Senior Director, Marketing, Sales & Services at the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, where she began as Director of Sales Marketing almost four years ago.

Visit Albuquerque

Sarah East was recently promoted to Senior Digital Marketing Manager at Visit Albuquerque. She’s been with the New Mexico CVB for nearly five years after working as a TV news producer in Albuquerque.

Graphic by Clint Poy