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Tourism, county agree on new coordinator |
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Written by Andrew Powell
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Friday, 12 March 2010 |
A new Tourism Coordinator was hired Tuesday evening, with both the Tourism Commission and Fiscal Court giving full support of the hire.
A new Tourism Coordinator was hired Tuesday evening, with both the Tourism Commission and Fiscal Court giving full support of the hire.
The Fiscal Court approved the hiring of Ginger McCartt-West, one of 12 applicants for the position. McCartt-West was the top candidate out of three recommended to the court for the job. She edged David Murphy and Jack Koger for the position, according to a recommendation letter submitted to the Fiscal Court. That recommendation letter was signed by a personnel committee of the Tourism Commission, which includes Pam Gibson, Dave Nutter and Sam Perry.
Gabriel Jones, Chairman of the Tourism Commission, told court members Tuesday the full support of the Tourism Board was given to the panel’s recommendation. The group met on Monday and approved the recommendation before forwarding it on the Fiscal Court.
McCreary County Judge-Executive Blaine Phillips said, in making the recommendation to the Fiscal Court, McCartt-West was just one of “six or seven” applicants for the job that were “very impressive.” Phillips’ office handled applications for the position before handing resumes of the 12 applicants to the Tourism Committee for review. That committee chose those to be granted an interview for the position.
Magistrate Roger Phillips made the first motion to proceed with the hiring of McCartt-West.
“We have always done it this way,” Magistrate Phillips said of the hiring process for the coordinator. “They (tourism commission) work with this person day in and day out. If you picked a bad one, it’s on you.”
Judge Phillips said Wednesday McCartt-West, originally from Oneida, has “strong local and even federal ties” and has a “very high regard and interest in this area.”
“She is ready to hit the ground running,” he added.
McCartt-West will technically begin work today, meeting with Judge Phillips and completing initial employment paperwork. Gabriel Jones said previously the Tourism Commission would be taking more of a “hands-on” approach to initiatives until the new Coordinator could be trained and acclimated to tourism projects.
McCartt-West will replace Adam Phillips who resigned from the position on February 26. Phillips served in the position for nearly two years before resigning to spend more time with his family and to return to WHAY 98.3 full-time. Phillips came on board with the organization and help to manage the process to brand the county, develop Jackson Park.
The McCreary County Tourism will hold its next regular meeting at the Tourism office in downtown Whitley City on Tuesday, March 23 at 4:30 p.m. |
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