City begins search for tourism director
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on June 22, 2016 1:46 PM
The search for a new Goldsboro travel and tourism director is underway with the city already receiving more than 50 applications.
The applicant pool includes several out-of-state candidates, a few from Goldsboro and others from across North Carolina, said Randy Guthrie, Goldsboro assistant city manager.
"There appears to be some good, qualified applicants in the pool, based on a preliminary review," Guthrie said. "There's some people from this area. There were a few out of state and a few with Goldsboro addresses."
The city of Goldsboro posted the job in late May and city staff, including Guthrie, plan to review the applications before the selection is narrowed to several top candidates.
The job is also listed on the N.C. League of Municipalities website and will remain open until a director is hired, Guthrie said.
The initial screening process could include telephone interviews and, depending on the number of total applications, city officials could narrow its selection to four or five top picks.
Interviews are expected in July and may be conducted by city staff and members of the Goldsboro Tourism Council, Guthrie said.
The city is seeking a multi-talented director who will not only market and promote local tourism opportunities but also focus on new ways to draw visitors into the area. A combination of education and experience equivalent to a college degree in communications, public relations, marketing or hospitality management is also being sought. The hiring pay range is $57,404 to $90,698.
"I think it's a combination of the right person with the right educational background, experience, enthusiasm, creativity and a desire to promote our community is what we would be looking for," Guthrie said.
A new director could be in place by the fall.
"I hope that we could have somebody in here in August or September," he said.
City officials started searching for a new director following the unexpected death of Betsy Rosemann, Goldsboro's travel and tourism director of 11 years, in early May. Rosemann was 55.
Guthrie and Scott Barnard, director of Goldsboro Parks and Recreation, are sharing the responsibilities previously performed by the tourism director. Guthrie has taken on more of an administrative role, while Barnard has continued tourism-related duties designed to attract visitors into the county.
"He's heavily involved with sports tourism and marketing and promoting events, and he worked really closely with Betsy before so he's heavily involved in that process,"" Guthrie said.
The Goldsboro Tourism Council meeting in May was canceled, but the board plans to have its monthly meeting Wednesday.
The Goldsboro Travel and Tourism office is located in the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce and previously operated as a branch of the chamber until it became a city department in 2012.