Contact: Pam Seidl, Director of Marketing & Community Relations
pseidl@foxcities.org
www.foxcities.org
Appleton, WI– The Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau has named Randy Prasse as its new executive director. Prasse, a veteran destination marketing executive, replaces Lynn Peters who announced her plans to depart from the Bureau in December. His selection is a result of a comprehensive nationwide search conducted by the board of directors.
“Randy is a great addition to the Fox Cities CVB team. His professional qualifications, including his nearly 20 years of successes in Wisconsin’s tourism industry, speak volumes,” commented Cheryl Zaug Casey, board chair of the Fox Cities CVB. Zaug Casey continued. “On behalf of the board of directors, I’m pleased to welcome him to our forward-looking organization and region.”
“The Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau is recognized throughout Wisconsin and the tourism industry nationally as an innovative and aggressive marketing organization,” said Prasse. “I intend to continue the fine work that Lynn Peters and the team have done over the years to ensure the organization remains sustainable and, like the region itself, is poised for future growth.”
Prasse has held leadership positions with Real Racine, the East Town Association in downtown Milwaukee, and the Tri-County Economic Development Alliance, a regional economic development alliance, comprised of 23 communities in northwest Illinois.
He also served the State of Wisconsin as the CEO of Wisconsin State Fair Park, overseeing the Fair Park’s budget, finances, programming, marketing, community outreach and the execution of the annual 11-day Wisconsin State Fair. Under his watch, the fair park enjoyed a renaissance by posting back-to-back fiscal years of $1.5m surpluses in 2007 and 2008, after experiencing a $3.7m loss in fiscal year 2004— a result of logical cost reductions and consistent revenue increases from 2004 to 2009.
Prasse currently serves as the president of International Festivals & Events Association-Wisconsin, working with festival and event organizations throughout Wisconsin. Prior to joining the Fox Cities CVB, Prasse was the Director of Destination Marketing & Branding for Discover Mediaworks—the parent company of the popular “Discover Wisconsin” television program, celebrating 25 years of programming in 2012.
“From a purely economic perspective, tourism is one of the top three industries in the State of Wisconsin,” commented Prasse. “In addition to the Bureau’s role in marketing all the Fox Cities has to offer our visitors, I plan to educate and advocate for the tangible economic impact that visitor spending in the Fox Cities has on the entire region.”
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Visitor spending in the Fox Cities was slightly less than $363.5 million in 2010. The Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates that this direct spending created 5,613 jobs and $101.93 million in income for Fox Cities Residents.
The Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau is an economic development organization that strengthens the Fox Cities by attracting visitors in the convention, sports and leisure markets through sales, marketing and destination development.
For more information on the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, call 800-236-6673 or visit www.foxcities.org
