The CVB is excited to announce the hiring of James Wood (“Jimâ€) as incoming President and CEO. An extensive nationwide search guided by an executive search firm and local committee was conducted in recruiting Jim.
John Chaszar, the CVB’s Commission President stated, “We were encouraged that through the national search process we were able to find someone with Jim’s experience and tenure in the industry. Our CVB has seen Evansville’s occupancy and room rates grow over the last decade with a keen focus on youth sports, including investments at the Deaconess Sports Park and Goebel Soccer Complex. With the nearing completion of I-69 and recent Old National Events Plaza investments, the meeting and convention business is also poised to grow. We are confident that Jim will bring the energy, skills and knowledge necessary to keep our momentum moving forward for years to come. We look forward to Jim leading our team, with an anticipated start date of January 15, 2020.â€
Wood comes to Evansville with extensive managerial and sales experience in the Louisville, Providence, Atlantic City, and Tampa markets, as well as with the Marriott hotels. Jim is well known in the industry and has been active with many trade organizations. He has exhibited skills of building consensus within a collaborative environment, as well as working from a strategic plan. Jim is a doer and a very productive individual. He takes tasks with enthusiasm and accomplishes a lot. He is a salesperson at heart and by trade. Jim’s willingness to understand what others are trying to achieve is what helps him find creative solutions to any situation set before him.
Wood’s knowledge of events extends past hosting events, as he has also overseen the operations of destination businesses nationally, as well as in this Ohio River Valley. He was seeking a midwestern middle-market destination and Evansville was fortunate to be looking to recruit just such an experienced leader.
“I want to thank the commission and the many community leaders whom I met during the selection process for putting the destination marketing of Evansville in my hands,†said Wood. “I am thrilled to be named President and CEO of the CVB. Evansville is a dynamic community that I am excited to use my skills and abilities to continue to grow the region on the strong foundation that is in place. I was particularly impressed with the community’s charming destination and finding it that is poised to grow. Evansville’s central location, convention and gaming facilities, its sports market, and position at Indiana’s 3rd largest city make it a strong foundation for growth of the destination market. As well, continuing tourism industry growth boosts the community quality of life not just for visitors the tourism industry employs, but also for the region’s residents.â€
It’s a shame there is such a lack of local people capable of being the CEO of the CVB. Perhaps they are all already too involved in making Evansville the shining destination of Indiana with our Fiasco Center and dog parks. Perhaps a charter school graduate will go to IVY Tech and lead Evansville to nirvana in the near future.
An extensive national search resulted in hiring an old white guy from Louisville who will spend 3 – 5 years semi-retired in Evansville before heading to a beach somewhere.
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