Tourism moves: the top seat in California changes hands

Julie Coker is the new president & CEO of Visit California, effective October 1 — only the second person ever to hold the job, succeeding the retiring Caroline Beteta. She leaves the top seat at NYC Tourism + Conventions after two years; it remains open, with board chair Charles Flateman running the search (Visit California release, Travel Market Report).

Alicia M. Richie joined Chester County Tourism, Brandywine Valley as executive director on August 24, succeeding Susan Hamley after twelve years. Her old shop moved fast: Tracey Dello Stritto took over at Finger Lakes Visitors Connection two weeks later, on August 3 (FLVC announcement).

Three interim tags turned permanent this month. Discover Long Island promoted COO Sharon Wyman to president & CEO after 25 years with the organization (announcement). At Experience Olympia & Beyond, Shauna Stewart — CEO there from 2015 to 2020 — came back as interim and won a national search to stay (South Sound Magazine). And Experience Ruston made marketing VP Tori Davis its permanent president & CEO on July 1 (Lincoln Parish Journal).

Also on the move

From this week’s Destination Pulse scans — people joining and roles changing across the directory (the change feed lists every row):

• Virginia Tourism Corporation — Joe Wehrle joined as Tourism Relations Manager at the Virginia Welcome Center at Main Street Station; Ryan Winfree joined as Manager, Global Markets.
• Visit OKC — Lesley Patterson now listed as VP of Convention Sales & Destination Services; was Senior Director of Convention Sales. Liv Van Sickle now listed as Senior Event Services Manager; was Event Services Manager.
• Visit Denver — Hannah Jennings joined as Coordinator, Convention Sales; John Craig, DES now Corporate Citywide Sales Manager, East Region.
• Discover Newport — Alyson C. Adkins, CPA now listed as Chief Financial Officer; was VP of Finance.
• Visit Galveston — Martha Overton, CTA joined as Destination Expert.

This week’s board: five top chairs changed hands, three stayed in-house, one still open in New York. Detected by the weekly scans; moves confirmed by the linked sources.