Southern Indiana (April 9, 2024) – SoIN Tourism is pleased to announce the promotion of Todd Read to senior tourism manager, as well as the addition of Larissa Nemeth and Marissa Murphy to the bureau’s marketing team. The three roles will focus on attracting travelers to Clark and Floyd counties in Southern Indiana, just north of Louisville, Ky. The two-county region has experienced a significant increase in visitor spending since 2019.
“Finding and retaining top talent is vital for our organization to serve our community well,” said SoIN Tourism Executive Director Jim Epperson. “Bringing Marissa Murphy and Larissa Nemeth on with their skills keeps our team on the cutting edge of marketing. Recognizing Todd Read’s status within the tourism industry and our community with a promotion signals the long-term investment we’re willing to make in our people.”
Todd Read Promoted to Sr. Tourism Manager
As senior tourism manager, Read oversees group sales and visitor services, working to ensure all visitors, whether they are traveling solo or as part of a bus tour, have an engaging, positive experience in SoIN. Read started at the bureau nine years ago as Visitor Information Coordinator, managing the visitor center and welcome center, while creating new programming and marketing solutions.
Since 2018, he has served as trade and consumer sales manager, showcasing the best of Southern Indiana at national and international trade shows to attract group tours to SoIN. As part of this work, he spearheaded efforts to secure TAP Dance 2024, an annual conference hosted by Travel Alliance Partners (TAP). The conference will bring tour operators from across the world to SoIN this June. In 2023, Read received the Spirit of TAP award. He has also been recognized as a Group Travel All-Star in Leisure Group Travel and named one of Louisville Business First’s 20 People to Know in Tourism/Hospitality.
Staff Members Join SoIN
SoIN Tourism recently welcomed two new members to its marketing team. Marissa Murphy, joined as marketing coordinator in December 2023. She will play a pivotal role in supporting the marketing team and sales services. Her responsibilities include partner outreach, content creation, database management, and more in this newly established position.
Murphy began her journey with SoIN Tourism as a marketing and public relations intern last summer. Currently a senior at IU Southeast, she is set to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in strategic communication.
Hired in April, Larissa Nemeth is the newest addition to SoIN Tourism. She will serve as the digital strategy manager, overseeing the organization’s content and relationship management systems, enhancing relationships with tourism businesses, optimizing website content and executing digital marketing campaigns to boost brand awareness and customer engagement.
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Nemeth earned her Bachelor of Science in Communications Studies from Emerson College in Boston. Her passion for helping others and working toward positive change allowed her to grow within several non-profit positions in Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Her skills in community building, problem solving and critical thinking made her a great fit for her new role at SoIN Tourism.
2024 Board of Managers
SoIN Tourism has a new slate of officers in place for the organization’s Board of Managers, as well as new members. Officers for 2024 are Eric Ballenger, President; Courtney Lewis, Vice President; Mark Bliss, Treasurer and Rick Lovan, Secretary.
New appointees include Jim Book, appointed by the Clark County Commissioners; Ronald Ellis, appointed by the Mayor of Jeffersonville, and Tammi Gibson and Kyle Hoehn, appointed by Clarksville Town Council. They join the 13-member Board of Managers, SoIN Tourism’s governing arm. Members are appointed by five authorities: Clark County Commissioners, Floyd County Commissioners, Clarksville Town Council, Jeffersonville Mayor and New Albany Mayor.
SoIN Tourism would like to extend a special thanks to past Board Members Carlene Bottorff, Dylan Fisher, John Gilkey and Dana Huber whose terms ended in January.
To learn more about SoIN Tourism or to schedule an interview, please contact Communications Manager Anna Rosales-Crone at Anna@GoSoIN.com.
SoIN Tourism is the official destination marketing organization for Clark and Floyd Counties in Southern Indiana, just north of Louisville, Ky. Offering authentic experiences in the Kentuckiana region, SoIN includes historic downtowns in Jeffersonville and New Albany, Clarksville’s retail corridor, as well as the communities of Charlestown, Floyds Knobs, Henryville, Memphis, New Washington, Sellersburg, and Starlight. Visitors who would like more information can visit the destination's website, GoSoIN.com.
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