A Brand Manistee Leadership Team will:

• Guide the brand development process, in partnership with North Star Destination Strategies, a consulting firm selected by the Team after an extensive competitive bid process. 
  
• Seek the participation of all interests throughout Manistee County in developing and implementing the Brand Manistee County initiative

Funding for the Brand Manistee Project has been provided by a U. S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Grant, and funding from: City of Manistee; Little River Casino; a private donor; and the Consumers Energy Foundation through the Manistee County Community Foundation.  The Brand Manistee County Leadership Team will be seeking additional funding for the project, including the implementation plan.

The Brand Manistee County Leadership Team includes:


Judy Ball, Executive Director, Manistee County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau judybmanitee@sbcglobal.net

Amy Berry, Communications Manager, Mariah Power aberry@mariahpower.com

Jim Draze, Chair, Village of Kaleva Planning Commission and Small Business Owner/Operator  Jimdraze@hotmail.com

Cathy Fairbanks, Executive Assistant, Alliance for Economic Success and Small Business Owner/Operator cathy@allianceforeconomicsuccess.com

Cyndy Fuller, Mayor of Manistee and President, Harbor Village cfuller@harbor-village.com

Michael Garrow, General Manager, Little River Casino and Resort  michaelg@lrcr.com

Laura Heintzelman, Executive Director, Manistee County Community Foundation lheintzelman@manisteefoundation.org

Ray Schmidt, Owner/Operator, Schmidt Outfitters schmidt@schmidtoutfitters.com

Amy Wojciechowski, Business Division Chairperson, West Shore Community College and Board Member, Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce; Board Member, Alliance for Economic Success ajwojciechowski@westshore.edu

Facilitator:  Tim Ervin, Alliance for Economic Success tervin26@charter.net

Additional team members may be added as circumstances warrant.

“Tourism is an economic engine for cities, counties, and regions.  As more communities awaken to this fact, the competition for "mind share" and "wallet share" is growing more intense. Mobility is king, and travelers are time-programmed and pressured like never before. More long weekends and fewer extended vacations are the trend; and a "been there, done that" attitude is spurring the need for convention and visitors bureaus and local tourism marketing partnerships to differentiate – brand – their communities in the sea of pick-up brochures, ads, media stories, and internet portals. “

Judy Ball, Executive Director
Manistee County Convention and Visitor's Bureau
Member, Brand Manistee County Leadership Team