SearchWide Global Tapped by Visit Estes Park to Lead CEO Search
November 13, 2024 – Executive recruitment firm SearchWide Global was recently retained by Visit Estes Park in Colorado to lead in its search for a new CEO. Senior vice president Kellie Henderson is leading the assignment. Visit Estes Park is seeking an outgoing, supportive, and motivating leader to serve as the new CEO. The CEO is responsible for the efficient administration of all departments and functions within the organization including strategic planning, budget preparation and management and staff oversight.
This position represents the organization, providing leadership and guidance, and develops and maintains positive and effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders. The CEO reports directly to the board of directors.
The incoming leader will engage and connect with community stakeholders. They will begin to build strong relationships with the Estes Park community by actively engaging with town officials, businesses, and other local partners. The CEO will first prioritize a listening tour to gain trust, credibility, and insights into stakeholder needs.
SearchWide is looking for candidates with a minimum of eight years of progressively responsible leadership experience in a marketing environment; destination marketing experience preferred. They must have a background in strategic and operational planning. They should have experience with budget preparation and management as well as familiarity with managing complex external stakeholder relationships.
Situated about 90 miles northwest of Denver, at 7,522 feet above sea level, Estes Park sits in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Visit Estes Park, the name under which the Estes Park Local Marketing District operates, is the official destination marketing organization for Estes Park. The organization’s mission is to nurture visitor reverence of this vibrant mountain town for business success, environmental sustainability and community harmony.
SearchWide Global, based in St. Paul, MN, is a full-service executive recruitment firm primarily for companies in the travel, tourism, hospitality, convention, trade association, venue management, and experiential marketing industries. The firm specializes in C-level and director-level executive searches for companies ranging in size from Fortune 500 corporations to mid-sized public and private companies and associations.
Related: SearchWide Global Recruits CEO for the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce
Ms. Henderson works in all sectors of hospitality, travel and tourism. She has experience recognizing clients’ needs, identifying best-in-class talent. She also leads SearchWide Global’s industry-wide diversity initiative. She serves on the Destinations International Foundation board of trustees and is involved in several other industry organizations. Previously, Ms. Henderson worked in the destination marketing organization and hotel industry.
Recently Completed Search
SearchWide recently assisted in the recruitment of nationally recognized tourism executive and travel communicatorKara Franker as new president and CEO of Visit Florida Keys, the operations corporation for the Monroe County Tourist Development Council (TDC).
SearchWide Global Recruits Executive Director for the Alaska Raptor Center
After an extensive six-month national search, SearchWide Global has assisted in the recruitment of Carol Bryant-Martin as the new executive director of the Alaska Raptor Center. Nicole Newman, the search firm’s vice president, led the assignment. “We conducted a national search and are thrilled to welcome Carol and her family from Tallahassee, Florida,” said Roger Hames, board chair. “She has the right mix of skills, energy, and ideas to lead the Alaska Raptor Center to new levels of excellence.”
“Kara’s diverse experience with tourism marketing, her legal and executive management background, and her enthusiasm and love of the Florida Keys make her a candidate exceptionally qualified to oversee Florida Keys tourism marketing,” said Diane Schmidt, a TDC and VFK board member and chair of the selection committee comprised of Keys community leaders.
“I am so excited to join the team in the Florida Keys,” said Ms. Franker. “It is a dream to represent such an incredible destination and community. I will focus on continuing the great work that has already been done and strengthening our community engagement, while ensuring we maintain top market share through our marketing programs.”
Related: SearchWide Global Recruits CEO for Visit Bend
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
