The Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center announces the appointment of Kaye McHan as new Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing. The appointment follows the retirement of previous Director Bob Kieltyka in June 2019.
“We were very impressed at the caliber of applicants interested in this pivotal position, many from outside the area,” said Board Chair Hilary Wilkes. “While some of the other lead candidates were highly skilled in some of the specific areas required for the job, Kaye brings a demonstrated track record of leading an organization forward to achieve established goals; engaging, motivating and mobilizing staff and stakeholders; and effectively managing partners to realize an overarching vision and strategy. We are thrilled to find someone who is so grounded in operations, project management and partner relationships while still being a creative and strategic visionary.”
Some of McHan’s previous experience includes:
- Executive Director of the Matthews Help Center in the greater Charlotte area
- Assistant Vice President for Development and Project Manager for Marketing for the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota
- Executive Director of the I-Park Foundation in Connecticut
- Executive Director and Artistic Director of the Bascom Center for the Visual Arts from 2003-2012
Most recently, after returning to Highlands, she served as Assistant to the President of Advanced Equine Comfort at Carpe Diem Farms and as Director of Development and Marketing at the International Friendship Center—both located in Highlands.
“While my experience outside the Highlands area provided a rich tapestry for building relationships and broadening my scope and skills in nonprofit leadership, my heart has always been in Highlands,” said McHan. “I feel very fortunate to now put my experiences and passions to work helping to cultivate community, commerce and tourism in ways that preserve and enrich this lifestyle that we all love—and seem to return to. I am especially looking forward to meeting with each of the chamber members and other community leaders to understand their unique challenges and opportunities and help devise ways to foster their continued success.”
One of McHan’s initial priorities will include overseeing the development and deployment of the new CRM platform that the chamber has begun in order to move the organization forward with data-driven strategies for member success and highly targeted tourism management.
Kaye will begin the position of Executive Director on September 3.