Mary Harris Appointed Executive Director SYVVA
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY, CA, April 30, 2007. Santa Ynez Valley Visitor Association (SYVVA) Board President Mike Hendrick announced that Mary Harris was appointed Executive Director as of April 16, 2007. She is responsible for providing professional leadership in marketing and fund-raising to the 100-member not-for-profit organization that promotes year-round tourism in the Santa Ynez Valley communities of Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Solvang.
A resident of Santa Ynez, Harris expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to work with the organization and its members. Recently, Harris was General Manager and Sales Director at the Essex Conference Center & Retreat in Massachusetts, where she was an active member of the North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau and served on their Sales Advisory Committee. From 1982-89, she was director of Tufts University European Center in Talloires, France (hosting the US Olympic Committee headquarters during the 1992 Winter Games.) Harris also has years of experience in fundraising, grant writing and academic administration. She has a Masters degree from Tufts University/The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy and a Bachelors degree from the University of Connecticut. She is fluent in French and Danish.
Hendrick, who is general manager of the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott in Buellton stated, "We are delighted to welcome Mary as our new Executive Director. On behalf of our all-volunteer SYVVA board of directors, Mary will provide exceptional leadership and services to our members"
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