Lee VCB welcomes new marketing director
To the editor:
We’re always excited to hire new staff members for the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau and to benefit from the fresh perspectives they bring to our efforts. So I’m delighted that Laura Chmielewski (pronounced chem-a-loo-ski) joined the VCB as marketing director on March 24.
Laura will coordinate the day-to-day efforts of our advertising contract, oversee the development of all creative work, and evaluate technology and the content of social network websites to devise strategies to further our online marketing and branding efforts. In addition to reviewing market competition and consumer trends to recommend publicity plans, she will ensure all of our promotional efforts are integrated and strategic.
In carrying out her new duties, Laura brings the VCB a wealth of marketing expertise. She most recently served as the deputy director at the Chicago Office of Tourism, where she oversaw all areas of marketing strategy and tactics, including the development and creation of promotional programs, team leadership, media planning and events management. She developed programs to promote Chicago as one of the world’s leading leisure travel destinations and was heavily involved in the creation and management of new marketing tools, such as online interactive media, live events and strategic partnerships.
The City of Chicago hosts on average more than 40 million visitors annually; and tourism contributes more than $10 billion yearly to the local economy. Laura has additional tourism experience through her work in the Visitor Services Department of The Art Institute of Chicago; and, before joining the Chicago Office of Tourism, she worked in freelance film production. Laura produced more than 300 music videos, CD covers, commercials, in-store point of sale promotions, billboards, national print ads and television guest appearances.
Laura’s work has been recognized with the 2009 Illinois Governor’s Award for Best Creative Cooperative Partnership for the Explore Chicago Exhibit at O’Hare International Airport and with the 2009 Airports Council International-North America Excellence in Marketing and Communications First Place Award.
We look forward to Laura’s award-winning contributions to the VCB’s destination marketing efforts, and we hope you will join us in welcoming her to the Lee County tourism community.
Tamara Pigott
Lee VCB Executive Director