Meet the Advisory Board
The TourismOhio Advisory Board is charged with advising the director of the Ohio Development Services Agency and the director of TourismOhio on strategies for promoting Ohio’s numerous travel destinations and experiences.
Advisory Board
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Advisory Board
Helping grow Ohio tourism one day at a time.
Columbus
Brian Ross
Board Vice Chair
Experience Columbus
Brian is the President and CEO of Experience Columbus. He has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality business, working for Hyatt Hotels and Resorts before joining Experience Columbus in 2007.
Lee Alexakos
Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
Lee has more than 30 years of experience in marketing at Cedar Point and is currently the Vice President of Community Relations. Her responsibilities include coordination of all cause marketing programs, government relations and communications, and economic development initiatives relating to public/private partnerships and tourism infrastructure.
Lynn Blashford
White Castle
Lynn is the Chief Marketing Officer at White Castle. She has been with the Columbus-based company for the past 10 years and currently oversees their brand strategy and marketing for both the restaurant and retail products divisions, or as some would say charged with keeping the Crave alive and well. Prior to White Castle her years of experience are extensive in the restaurant hospitality industry.
Jodi Burroughs
Hocking Hills Canopy Tours
Jodi is a graduate of The Ohio State University’s Max M. Fisher College of Business and has been providing exciting tree-top adventures since 2007.
Valerie Freda
Cabins by the Caves
Valerie owns a vacation property management business located in the Hocking Hills in Logan. She is an Ohio native and a licensed realtor with 30 years of business management experience. As the Chief Operating Officer of Cabins by the Caves, her responsibilities include marketing and oversight of 51 vacation rental properties along with sales and real estate development in the area.
Joe Mazur
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
Joe was named President of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in early 2017. The CVSR exists to provide a means for people to experience and engage in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio’s only national park and a community and regional asset. Mazur holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kent State University.
J.P. Nauseef
Ex-Officio Member of the Board, JobsOhio
J.P. Nauseef joined JobsOhio in March 2019 to serve as president and chief investment officer. Under his leadership, JobsOhio leads economic development activity for the state, including companies looking to expand operations and those interested in investing in Ohio, resulting in job opportunities and capital investment to the state.
Dan Sullivan
HNS Sports Group, Executive Director of The Memorial Tournament
Under Dan’s leadership, the Memorial continues its strong reputation as one of the most prestigious and well-regarded tournaments on the PGA Tour. Sullivan, a graduate of Miami University, also serves on the Morton Foundation board, a group dedicated to helping children learn and play golf.
Dan Young
Young’s Jersey Dairy
Dan is the CEO of Young’s Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs. The family farm recently celebrated 150 years and has grown to include two restaurants, miniature golf courses, batting cages, corn mazes, educational tours, large events and more.
Matt MacLaren
Ohio. Find It Here.
Matt is the Director of Ohio’s Tourism Agency, TourismOhio. Matt is focused on implementing the Ohio. Find It Here. strategic plan and managing TourismOhio staff and vendors to grow Ohio’s $46 billion tourism industry by increasing its 222 million annual visitors.
