PORT ANGELES — Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau, which markets tourism for unincorporated Clallam County, has added three new members in at-large positions on its nine-member board.
Board members are appointed to a three-year term, and reside or do business in the unincorporated areas of Clallam County, outside of the city limits of Forks, Sequim and Port Angeles.
New 2017-20 members are:
• Linda Offutt, Forks Timber Museum.
• Melissa Williams, Feiro Marine Life Center.
• Christina Norman, WeDo Fudge.
Returning board members are Jim Bennett, Misty Valley Inn; Todd Gubler, past president; Craig Jaeger, GreenHouse Inn by the Bay; Bruce Giddens, Clallam County Parks; Scott Nagel, Olympic Peninsula Celebrations; and Pam Dahl, at-large lodging, Aramark.
Clallam County Commissioner Mark Ozias serves as ex-officio on the board.
“Tourism continues to be one of the strongest anchors of economic development and supports all segments of industry in Clallam County either directly or indirectly,” said Jaeger, president of the board of the Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau (OPVB).
“We are excited to welcome the new board members with their deep dedication to the community, especially with their understanding of how tourism benefits our local economy.”
Incoming board member Offutt said that serving on the OPVB Board will give her “the opportunity to help with shaping the future of tourism for the good of the Peninsula as a whole.”
Williams, the new member from the Feiro Marine Life Center, said: “Clallam County is a truly special place, and I was interested in joining the Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau board to help drive economic vitality in our region. The OPVB works hard to increase shoulder season visitation and thus a better impact on businesses across the county.”
Norman from WeDo Fudge said she hoped to be a good ambassador.
“I’m blessed to live in such a beautiful place where visitors from near and far come to explore,” she said.
The OPVB board provides strategic direction on tourism-related policies, programs and promotions, working with local and regional partners and providing administrative support for the Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission, a 12-partner marketing group comprising of the chambers of commerce and tourism marketing entities from the Brinnon/Quilcene area to Quinault via northern U.S. Highway 101 and including areas along Highway 112.