Chamber hoping to stay local to fill new position

Who would know Amish Country better than someone who grew up in the heart of Amish Country?

With that thought in mind, Tiffany Gerber, executive director of Holmes County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau, has set about in search of filling the new position of tourism marketing manager.

While she understands that there are qualified people elsewhere, finding someone local who fits the bill would be her ultimate goal.

“This is a big one for us, a real game-changer that we will be taking our time to find that perfect person that will help us expand and develop new programs in a lot of different ways,” Gerber said.

The position will include the manager being responsible for providing the overall tourism activities for Holmes County/Ohio Amish Country. The role would include being the point of contact for the implementation of the Holmes County marketing strategy and all market research, advertising, promotion and new tourism development activities.

“I’m really trying hard to find the right person because this skill set is not just any old marketer,” Gerber said. “This person will have their hand in travel and to really tell the story of who we are and what Holmes County and Amish Country is at its heart.”

Gerber went on to say that because of a major shift in bus travel, more single travelers are investing in coming to Amish Country, which means this new person will have to figure out ways to create an inviting atmosphere for those travelers.

“We’re looking at smaller groups now, and we need to have a greater vision and be dedicated to that change,” Gerber said. “We live in a very different world than we lived in a few years ago, and this role is going to be a very important one for us as we grow into some new ideas and new ventures.”

Because the new role will include marketing, managing, researching, advertising and promoting and several social media responsibilities, the hats will be many for the tourism marketing manager.

Gerber said the person they are seeking must possess people skills, be knowledgeable of the nuances of Amish Country and Holmes County’s varied communities, develop exciting new marketing strategies and communicate with many different people within and outside the organization while at the same time motivating others to catch the vision of what the chamber is hoping to create as it continues to develop its new image and new programs.

“One of the biggest keys will be finding a person with all of these skills who can communicate well and lead others,” Gerber said. “It’s a big ask, but it’s exactly what we need to fulfill the purpose of this new role.”

According to the application form, the chamber is seeking someone with the minimum qualifications of a bachelor’s degree — preferably in marketing or business management, with at least two years of experience in destination management, marketing or sales.

“We are excited about this new position because we know that with the right person in place, they can elevate what we are focused on doing in the future to a whole new level,” Gerber said. “It’s an exciting opportunity and an exciting time of growth for us here at the chamber.”

If anyone is seeking further information or would like to submit a resume, they can contact Gerber at the chamber at 330-674-3975.