Executive Director
Opportunity Guide
 
http://www.enjoyaurora.com/

 
“To encourage, foster, promote and stimulate conventions and tourism in the Aurora, Illinois area in order to improve and advance all business in the area, including, but not limited to, hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and restaurants; and to acquaint and inform the public as to these objectives by providing information and other civic, educational, social and public features as will foster, encourage and stimulate these purposes.”
 
The Aurora area is one of the fastest growing regions in America, and Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois. Founded in 1987, the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (AACVB) is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to aggressively promoting and marketing the Aurora area as a premier overnight destination. The goal of the AACVB is to enhance the economic and environmental well-being of the region, which is comprised ten communities: Aurora, Batavia, Big Rock, Hinckley, Montgomery, North Aurora, Plano, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Yorkville.


The AACVB has four primary responsibilities:
 

• To encourage groups to hold meetings, conference, tradeshows, sporting events and group travel in the ten communities it serves
• To assist these groups with meeting preparations in advance of their arrival and also while their meeting or event is in progress
• To encourage individual recreational travelers to visit and enjoy the historic, cultural, retail, dining and recreational opportunities this destination offers
• To court travel writers and all members of the media to experience the fruits of the scenic Fox River Valley-one of Illinois' most vibrant regions-and to share this knowledge with a large circulation of their readers
   

The AACVB is currently governed by up to a 22 member Board of Directors, the majority of whom are appointed by officials of member municipalities.

After the previous Executive Director vacated the role, the AACVB Board completed an organizational assessment to identify its most pressing needs, the Board is now ready to engage in the search for its next chief executive.


The Opportunity: Executive Director
This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary professional to lead AACVB to the next level of growth, success, and action. The Executive Director will work closely with the Board of Directors to bring about strategic leadership for the Bureau. He/she will interact with municipal and state elected officials and governmental agencies to promote the economic impact of tourism within AACVB’s service area.

The next leader will also manage fiscal and budgetary matters, Board relations, external relations, community engagement, marketing, and general oversight of operations and staff. The position oversees AACVB’s three employees: an administrative assistant, sales representative, and a marketing and public relations representative (currently vacant).


The AACVB Board is currently building its strategies and goals derived from the recently completed organizational assessment. The next Executive Director will be responsible for putting into action the strategic plan to fulfill the vision and achieve the goals. The Executive Director will serve as the chief ambassador for future success and active partnerships that advance the AACVB as an integral contributor to a broad range of community interests and audiences. This new Executive Director is charged with bringing fresh perspective as well as best practices in the tourism industry, serving as a resource for the Board of Directors as they embark on this new chapter in AACVB’s history.


Performance Objectives:


Visionary Leadership

• In collaboration with the Board of Directors, develop and implement the organization’s strategic plan, which is representative of the mission and the shared vision.
• Identify and implement plans for the growth of the organization that are collaborative and foster partnership opportunities.
• Promote and foster an organizational culture that creates and sustains a productive and motivated climate for staff, Board Members, and other stakeholders.
• Keep informed of industry trends through participation in state and national industry associations and meetings, and utilize information to develop future plans for the organization.
   

Public Support, Marketing & Fundraising

• Nurture partnerships and relationships with current and prospective supporters, especially the City of Aurora as well as hotel owners/operators. Cultivate long-term relationships to ensure continued funding and funder involvement.
• In collaboration with the Board, create and implement a marketing and revenue enhancement plan to identify and build strong relationships with key allies: community leaders and volunteers, and, deeply engage both present and potential AACVB partners.
• Collaborate with the AACVB Board and staff to expand and increase the organization’s revenue base, as measured by increased financial commitments to the organization.
• Mentor and grow Board and staff capabilities in the areas of public relations, marketing and fundraising.
• Build and sustain a positive working relationship with the City of Aurora, one of the

AACVB’s primary partners and funders, in a collegial, assertive and creative manner.

• Stay abreast of public/governmental funding opportunities (local, regional, state, federal, etc.) and position AACVB as an appealing and strategic use of public support. Renew existing funding and grow new avenues of support.
• Explore other revenue opportunities that can propel AACVB forward into new areas of its mission and vision.
   

Board Relationship

• Establish and maintain a strong relationship with the Board of Directors, serving as a trusted advisor and providing recommendations on all matters requiring Board action.
• Work with and provide training for the Board to create an overall culture of teamwork, collaboration and effective communication.
• Communicate effectively and promptly with the Board; and serve as the strongest link of communication between Board members, staff, municipal partners and the community at large/ other stakeholders.
• Work with Board’s committees/task forces to ensure that the efforts of these work groups continue to be aligned to the organization’s mission.
   

General Leadership and Staff Management

• Prepare the annual operation budget and provide financial oversight.
• Attend, or delegate a representative to attend, all meetings of municipal agencies at which matters pertaining to the area tourism industry appear on the agenda or are expected to be raised.
• Lead and mentor staff in maximizing their performance in executing operational aspects of AACVB.
• Continually evaluate internal operations policies and procedures, roles and infrastructure, ensuring roles are clearly defined and accountabilities accurately described, to achieve maximum impact.

 
The Qualified Candidate:
AACVB is in search of a dynamic, energetic, and visionary leader to help propel the mission of the
Convention Visitor Bureau forward. The next Executive Director will bring a genuine commitment to the community coupled with an experienced executive leadership level skill set.

The ideal applicant must possess the following characteristics:
 

• Demonstrated visionary leadership capability combined with ability to manage the day to day operations in a community based organization
   
• Proven ability to create and build strong external relationships with a variety of constituencies
   
• Proven ability to make effective one-on-one and group presentations especially to audiences that include elected officials
   
• Experience in government relations either as a municipal, county or state government employee or in a role that required frequent interactions with these officials
   
• Proven expertise in the application of social media to organizational success
   
• Enthusiastic willingness to fully immerse oneself in the Aurora area community activities
   

It is preferred that the applicant also have:
 

• Prior experience working directly with a Board of Directors as either the chief executive or vice president
   
• Experience with the tourism industry, especially Convention and Visitors Bureaus
   
• An undergraduate degree

 
Moving AACVB to the next level of success requires a flexible and professional communication appearance and style coupled with the ability to work with and garner support/develop consensus from a diverse audience (Board members, elected officials, partner organizations, staff, etc.). An understanding of the complexities involved in working in the hotel industry would be an asset.

This position offers a competitive salary and benefit package. AACVB is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria.
 
Background and reference checks will be conducted for finalist candidates for this position.

To Apply
The search is being managed by Joe McLennan, Associate Vice President at Kistner Eddy Executive Services (KEES). To apply, all candidates must submit their cover letter, resume, and complete the online application at http://alfordexecutivesearch.applicantstack.com/x/openings. Due to extremely high volume, no applications will be accepted via email.

Questions may be addressed to Kelly Monahan at kmonahan@alfordexecutivesearch.com.


Kistner Eddy Executive Services is a retained search firm dedicated to providing recruitment services of exceptional quality and strengthening not-for-profit and public institutions through professional staffing solutions. For more information on KEES and our sister company, Alford Executive search, please visit www.alfordexecutivesearch.com.