2012 Nominations
Scott Clarkson: Ski Area
 What does Tourism mean to Gunnison County?
Tourism is as important to the Gunnison Valley as coal mining once was. We have a stunning, bucolic, picturesque setting as a natural asset that will forever be an attraction to the region, year-round and county-wide. Plus, tourism is a comparatively clean industry that can be more easily managed as a renewable resource.
What kind of related experience would I bring to the GCBTA Board?
I have lived, worked and played in winter resort destinations my entire professional career. I have held marketing management or director roles since 1984. During this time I have always worked closely with the surrounding communities in New Hampshire, Vermont and in California to develop their businesses and to improve tourism economy in efficient and cost-effective ways. Programs that I have spearheaded with my teams have won awards such as the National Ski Areas Association's ‘Best Overall Marketing Campaign' and the Vermont Governor's Award for Excellence in Tourism Marketing. I particularly enjoy generating growth through partnerships and strategic alliances, and ‘keeping it local'.
Andrea Greene: Lodging - Crested Butte
 What does Tourism mean to Gunnison County?
Tourism is a dynamic and resilient economic engine that cannot be exported.
Now more than ever, there is a growing influence of the tourism dollar on our local economy. This dollar comes in a variety of forms, including over night stays, long term stays, and even permanent transfers. The people who visit buy consumables, services, and other products, which in turn, create the demand for every one of the support services we all, locals and visitors, rely on. We are all in one way or another, an inter-dependent provider of guest experiences, so partnership is a key attribute of the tourism in our valley.
What kind of related experience would I bring to the GCBTA Board?
I have served on the GCBTA Board for the past three years representing Crested Butte Lodging. In that time, I have learned the history of the Tourism Association and the results it produces for marketing this valley. I also created the Downtown Crested Butte Lodging Association to further understand my Crested Butte Lodging constituency and better represent their needs as it relates to marketing their lodging offerings. The TA and DCBLA partnered to develop and create our current Downtown Crested Butte brand and marketing efforts which include a website and logo (http://www.downtowncrestedbutte.com/) fully funded by the Downtown Crested Butte Lodging partners and the Town of Crested Butte. I am also the owner of The Ruby of Crested Butte, A Luxury Bed and Breakfast and have operated this business in Downtown Crested Butte for the past seven years.
Jim McDonald: Professional
 What does Tourism mean to Gunnison County?
Tourism provides critical dollars to small businesses and big businesses alike. These businesses in turn provide salaries to our residents, and funding to our non-profits. Tourism also provides exposure to Western State College, whose staff, students, and professors are a cornerstone of our economy.
What kind of related experience would I bring to the GCBTA Board?
As an attorney, a sportsman, and a municipal official I interact with persons from all over the country, which provides me unique insight into what makes the Gunnison County experience special to our guests. Each member of our community has a responsibility to be an ambassador to the world, and my goal in serving on the Tourism Association Board would be to provide our businesses the opportunity to succeed.
Kerry Lefebvre: At Large - Gunnison
 What does Tourism mean to Gunnison County?
I feel that tourism is our most important industry in the Gunnison / Crested Butte Valley. I believe that we have some of the best recreation opportunities in the state and the fact that we are off the beaten path enhances the experience of all of our guests to this area. Having said this, because it takes a little more work to get here, all of us in the hospitality and tourism industries need to be constantly reviewing our marketing strategies to attract the most visitors to the valley that we can.
What kind of related experience would I bring to the GCBTA Board?
The experience that I would bring to the GCBTA board comes from my position as a restaurant owner in Gunnison. I have the perspective of the hospitality industry and the knowledge of the unique challenges of being a small business owner in our seasonal economy. I also am an active participant in a lot of the outdoor recreation available to us in the valley, I enjoy both downhill and cross country skiing, mountain biking, trail running, and rafting.
Policy
You can review a full copy of the Bylaws for the Tourism Association here.
The Board of Director's composition is as follows:
- One (1) At Large – Crested Butte
- One (1) At Large – Gunnison
- One (1) Lodging – Gunnison
- One (1) Lodging – Crested Butte
- One (1) Lodging – Mt. Crested Butte
- One (1) Non-Profit (position rotates)
- One (1) Professional (position rotates)
- One (1) Real Estate/ Property Management (position rotates)
- One (1) Restaurant (position rotates)
- One (1) Retail/Commercial (position rotates)
- One (1) Ski Area (standing seat)
The Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association (TA) is accepting nominations to fill five seats on the organization's board of directors. The seats to be filled include sectors specifically designated as follows:
- Lodging Representative from Crested Butte
- At-Large Representative from north of Jack's Cabin Cut-off
- Ski Area Representative
- Professional Representative from South of Jack’s Cabin Cut-off
- At-Large Representative from South of Jack’s Cabin Cut-off
Lodging/Crested Butte shall mean hotel properties located north of Jack’s Cabin Cutoff including the Town of Crested Butte but excluding the Town of Mt. Crested Butte. Ski Area – shall mean anyone doing business as a ski area in Gunnison County. At-Large – shall refer to any eligible Partner of the Tourism Association (any chamber member category). Professional – shall mean a business involving professional services or practice such as but not exclusive to medical, architectural, legal, accounting, financial, and the like.
Nomination formswill be available for all members of the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce and Crested Butte-Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce as of Feb. 15 when they will be emailed to the membership lists. Nominations must be returned prior to March 1. The person being nominated and the person submitting the nomination both must be Chamber members in good standing.
After the nominations are tallied, the TA's Election Committee will develop a ballot. The ballot will be emailed to Chamber members on March 8. Chamber members without email can call for a paper ballot. Voting closes on March 16 at 5 p.m.
The new board members will be notified on March 21 and will attend their first board meeting on April 10 from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. at Almont Resort. If you don't have email and want to nominate or vote, contact TA Election Committee Chair Stu Ferguson at 641-7992.
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