The Galesburg Area Tourism & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors is pleased to announce that it has hired tourism professional Randy Newcomb to lead and expand tourism efforts for Galesburg and Knox County as its new Executive Director.
Randy brings 24 years of tourism experience to Galesburg, most recently as Executive Director of the Kentucky Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau in Benton, a position he held for 17 years. He promoted tourism through the Kentucky Lake CVB for 23 years.
Newcomb earned several statewide awards for his work, including the Traverse Award for Marketing and Advertising 15 times, most recently in 2017, and Kentucky’s Western Waterland Director’s Award, President’s Award, and Member of the Year. He also served as Board Chairman for the Kentucky Travel Industry Association, as has served as President of the Kentucky Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus. He begins his new duties at the Galesburg Welcome Center on September 1, 2020.
“Randy brings a wealth of experience and fresh ideas to Knox County,” notes Phil Dickinson, Chair of the Galesburg Tourism and Visitors Bureau Board. “We look forward to the impact Randy can have in our area as we work to tell our community’s stories, allow families to spend quality time together, and more fully enhance the economic vitality tourism brings to our area” Dickinson adds.
The new Tourism & Visitors Bureau Board began the search for a new executive director in September 2019. The search was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine. The search resumed in early April, and Newcomb rose quickly to the top of the list of candidates.
The Board was particularly impressed with how Kentucky Lake’s CVB – under Newcomb’s leadership – rose to the challenge when Asian carp invaded the lake and devastated fishing-based tourism. The area and CVB’s robust response to that threat helped rebuild tourism around the lake-associated businesses and community.
“The pandemic brings new challenges to the tourism industry,” Newcomb adds. “But having been through an industry-wide crisis, I have confidence we can find a path forward to showcase the many wonderful assets Galesburg and Knox County have to offer. It’s an exciting challenge.”
As a community member, he was active in the local Rotary club, the Chamber of Commerce, and the area’s Economic Development Association, as well as other tourism associations.
Newcomb is a graduate of Murray State University with a degree in public relations. Before joining the Kentucky Lake CVB, he held positions in public relations and marketing.
***Report Courtesy of the Galesburg Area Tourism & Visitors Bureau***
