A well-known industry figure with over twenty years of experience in destination marketing, Jay leads Miles Partnerships’ media teams as they plan and execute campaigns for destinations of all sizes, including the West Virginia Department of Tourism. He develops and maintains strong relationships throughout the industry, collaborating with partners to expand knowledge, performance and client opportunities. Jay employs data-driven strategies to identify trends and enhance performance, implementing best practices to optimize return on investments.

Jay has overseen the development and execution of dozens of destination strategies, ranging from rebranding initiatives to campaign and media strategies for a number of national, regional, state and city DMOs. What’s more, Jay is a tourism industry leader in many digital media platforms and a frequent speaker on digital media topics at tourism industry events.

With over a decade of media planning and buying experience, Ivy Vaughn brings strategic insight and cross-channel expertise to every campaign she leads. As a Media Supervisor at Miles, Ivy is responsible for developing and executing integrated media strategies that maximize reach and performance across all channels—including print, out-of-home, broadcast, digital, paid search, and SEM.

Ivy collaborates closely with account teams to manage campaign deliverables and serves as the primary liaison with media vendors to ensure optimal delivery and results. Her well-rounded approach ensures that each client’s media plan is tailored for both reach and impact.

She has played a key role in multichannel media campaigns for a variety of tourism and hospitality clients, including Chattanooga Tourism Co., Winter Park & Fraser Chamber, Grand County Colorado Tourism Board, Nebraska Tourism Commission, and Ocean Casino Resort.

Kim leads the Destination Optimization team at Miles Partnership, where she works with destinations to help local business partners shine online by improving their visibility across Google, major travel platforms, and now, emerging AI tools – so communities can thrive in the digital space.

Kim’s career in digital travel marketing spans from the early days of the web, when she helped launch some of the industry’s first destination websites, to leadership roles in SEO and hospitality marketing at Miles Partnership. She brings decades of hands-on experience to her work today, always focused on making complex technology approachable and useful for tourism professionals.

With fifteen years of industry experience, Liz is a veteran destination organization professional who oversees the execution of robust marketing strategies. She manages and directs client relationships and programs, liaising across media, creative, development and content to develop, execute and implement client programming. Liz uses her expertise and experience to refine and optimize campaigns, so they deliver the best, most timely and most efficient results. A Certified Destination Management Executive through Destinations International, Liz stays up to date on the latest cultural and industry trends, generating new ideas to take the West Virginia Department of Tourism’s marketing initiatives to the next level of excellence.

Michelle Gifford is the Instagram expert behind the success of six, seven and eight-figure brands that are not just making waves – they’re making a serious profit.  With a proven track record of transforming businesses into powerhouse brands, she’s the strategist that business owners turn to when they’re ready to elevate their brand, sell out programs, and amplify their impact – all through the power of Instagram. 

Michelle’s expertise goes beyond just results; she helps businesses find their authentic voice and market it in a way that truly connects with their audience.  With hundreds of businesses under her belt, she’s crafted strategies that don’t just inspire – they drive real, measurable outcomes.  

As a sought-after strategist, coach, podcaster and agency owner, Michelle is always ahead of the curve, tracking the latest trends, providing actionable strategies, and delivering the tools you need to make Instagram work for your business.  

And when she’s not empowering others to reach new heights, Michelle is a wife and mom of 5, embodying the balance of success at work and home.  She’s living proof that you can do it all – and do it exceptionally well.

Tim Brady is the President & CEO of the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau, leading efforts to grow Charleston’s tourism economy through sports, entertainment, and community-driven events. Since 2020, he’s helped attract major events like the USA Cycling Pro Road Nationals and revived the state high school football championships, bringing millions in economic impact. Under his leadership, the city’s convention center has hosted over a million visitors, while local businesses and residents have benefited from expanded outreach and marketing initiatives.

As part of his work with People Inc., the largest digital and print publisher in America, Jess is honored to be a contributor to the West Virginia Vacation Guide. In his role as Senior Projects Editor for People Inc. Travel Content, Jess also crafts and manages the award-winning travel guides for Visit North Carolina and Kansas Tourism, and he’s a frequent contributor to Midwest Living magazine. Jess lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he loves to catch the latest restaurant openings and live theater productions.

Hilary Braaksma is a Custom Project Editor for People Inc. Travel Content. As part of an innovative and industry-leading tourism content team, she has worked across mediums for some of the nation’s top tourism campaigns, with clients like West Virginia Tourism, Visit North Carolina, Colorado Tourism and other DMOs. Recent projects include award-winning print guides, as well as digital content for popular People Inc. lifestyle brands, like Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, and Southern Living. Hilary lives in Des Moines, Iowa and enjoys spending time with her family, trying new restaurants and being outdoors.

Kathryn Goldman is a copyright, trademark, and internet law attorney who helps creative professionals protect their work so they can profit from it. She believes sustainable businesses are built on properly protected creative assets. Kathryn has assisted countless artists, writers, designers, and creative entrepreneurs with the moves from early stage idea to startup essentials to scaling their businesses and ultimately to sale or wrap-up. 

Kathryn runs the Creative Law Center. The Creative Law Center provides innovative creatives with the affordable business and legal resources they need when evolving from artist to entrepreneur. The Creative Law Center offers understandable information, actionable strategies, and easy to use tools for the development of creative businesses.

Kathryn practices law in Baltimore, Maryland, USA with the firm of Goldman & Minton, P.C.

Cate Schlobohm serves as the Director at the WVU Purpose Center, bringing over 13 years of diverse experience in higher education. Her expertise spans undergraduate and graduate recruitment, marketing and communications, K-12 STEM outreach, student development, and managing campus visitors’ experiences. In 2022, Cate combined her passion for personal development with her professional background by becoming a Gallup-certified CliftonStrengths® coach. She now works with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners to identify and cultivate their natural talents, helping them transform those talents into strengths across various areas, from well-being to leadership, both in academic and career contexts. Cate has shared her insights on Strengths at the national level in academic settings and with local and state-wide community partners.

A proud two-time alumna of WVU’s Reed College of Media, Cate holds both of her degrees from the institution. She lives in Morgantown with her husband, two young children, and their Labradoodle, Cliff.

Cate’s top five strengths are: Arranger®, Positivity®, Developer®, Maximizer®, and Woo®.

Kelly Collins is the Chief Executive Officer of the State Fair of West Virginia, a position she has held for more than a decade. Under her leadership, the fair has grown in scope and impact, serving as a cornerstone of tourism, agriculture, and economic development in the region.

Collins has been widely recognized for her leadership and contributions to the state. She was named the 2025 Greater Greenbrier Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year, and a 2024 WV State Journal 40 Under 40 honoree and WV Wonder Woman.

An active member of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions, she is a graduate of the Institute of Fair Management and earned her Certified Fair Executive designation in 2018.

She is a past president of the West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals,

Collins serves on the boards of the Greenbrier Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Greenbrier County Chamber of Commerce, and the West Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association. In 2018, she was named the Southeast Tourism Society’s Shining Star, recognizing her as a rising leader in the tourism industry.

A proud graduate of West Virginia University, Collins holds a B.S. in Journalism and an M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications. During her time at WVU, she worked in the Sports Communications Office and interned with the New York Jets.

She lives in Greenbrier County with her husband Zack, their three children—Lou, Laine, and Cooper—two dogs, a cat, and a few fair fish.

Ben Isenberg began his career with a foundation in Environmental Science and a passion for sustainable conservation practices, which naturally evolved into a focus on destination marketing. Over the past two decades, he has supported major tourism initiatives for destinations such as the US Travel Association, Mexico, Jamaica, Namibia, Orlando, Boston, St Lucia, Annapolis, Alexandria, Armenia, Mystic, and Washington, DC. In the hospitality sector, Ben has led strategic marketing efforts for top brands including the Palms Casino Resort, Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Choice Hotels International.

Today, Ben leads Symmetry, a hospitality-focused marketing agency that partners with destinations, hospitality companies, and events to develop brand strategies, grow audiences, and drive economic impact. Under his leadership, Symmetry has helped produce and promote major events including the International Hospitality Investment Forum, the Washington, DC Auto Show, the Annapolis Boat Shows, Whizzbangers Ball, Healing Appalachia, and a portfolio of regional festivals and community-driven experiences.

Ben relocated to West Virginia in 2022 through the Ascend WV program and now calls the Greenbrier Valley home with his wife and two teenage children. He is an avid outdoor enthusiast, a NICA coach for the Greenbrier Valley Hellbenders youth mountain bike team, and a founding board member of the Greenbrier Valley Off-Road Biking Association (GVORBA), where he works to advance trail development and outdoor recreation access across the region.

Jennifer Allen is the founder of Wonders Within Reach: a travel blog for families with disabilities. As mom to three children with unique disabilities, including one wheelchair user, Jennifer created Wonders Within Reach to inspire and enable families with differing needs to get out and explore. She partners with destinations to celebrate accessible locations, to show others what is possible, to improve inclusion and representation, and to raise disability awareness along the way.

Katie Willard is the Founder and CEO of The Social Bee Marketing Agency, a boutique marketing agency with Appalachian roots and a national reach. A proud West Virginian with a deep-rooted appreciation for small business, Katie grew up surrounded by a family of entrepreneurs who showed her what it means to build something from the ground up. With over a decade of experience in content marketing, digital strategy, and creative campaign development, she has led award-winning work for fairs, festivals, and public sector partners, managing social media strategy for more than 100 brands with a focus on authentic storytelling and meaningful community impact.

Katie launched The Social Bee in 2020 and has grown the company into a nationally recognized agency rooted in West Virginia values. Her team has helped events nationwide build deeper audience connections, drive attendance, and amplify their stories in real time.

When she’s not strategizing for a client or speaking at a conference, Katie’s probably on the river—floating the Greenbrier with her husband, son, and two spirited dogs, chasing the calm in her corner of #AlmostHeaven.

Madelin is Group Strategy and Account Director and Partner at Artisan Council, where she has spent the past decade helping global, social-first brands shape their digital presence. With a specialization in social media and digital storytelling, Madelin has been a member of award-winning campaigns recognized with both Shorty and Webby Awards.

At Artisan Council, she has developed innovative strategies that harness the power of social platforms to connect audiences worldwide, with a particular focus on the growing impact of social video in connecting with customers. Her work highlights how storytelling, creativity, and data-driven insight create meaningful engagement in the digital age.

Madelin will bring her expertise in social-first strategy to the conference stage, offering insights into how travel and tourism brands can use social video to capture attention, build community, and drive lasting impact.

Lisa is a Senior Social Media Manager at Artisan Council, where she specializes in bringing a brand’s identity to life through social-first content. Day-to-day she focuses on tone of voice, trending content, and storytelling across any and all social media platforms. She has over a decade experience in digital marketing and visual storytelling, ranging from art direction and production to social media strategy and execution and believes great storytelling is the key to unlocking a brand’s persona online. 

Drawing on her deep expertise in social storytelling, Lisa will explore how travel and tourism brands can level up their content strategies to engage, inspire, and leave audiences wanting more.

Heather Ersts is director of tourism development for Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC), a nonprofit, partnership-focused destination marketing and management organization. VAAAC’s mission is to foster a welcoming destination and promote tourism on behalf of visitors, partners and community.

Susan Riddle has led Visit Mountaineer Country Convention and Visitors Bureau as President and CEO since 2016, transforming the organization into a powerhouse for event recruitment and destination development. Under her leadership, Mountaineer Country has become a go-to stage for destination-branding and national sporting events. 

Through creating the Mountaineer Country Tourism Advancement Fund, Susan’s team helps secure resources to bid, recruit, sponsor, and host dozens of signature events that bring visitors, visibility, and millions in economic impact to North Central West Virginia. Her collaborative approach ensures that each event succeeds and leaves a lasting legacy for the community while establishing strong working relationships with key event stakeholders, such as USA Diving. USA Diving’s Mike Retcher captured her impact best: “Susan is someone who’s been a driving force in bringing world-class events to the region.”

Susan’s leadership extends beyond events. She serves on the Governor’s West Virginia Tourism Advisory Council and WVU’s Hospitality Advisory Council. She holds treasurer roles with the WV Association of CVBs, Mountaineer Trail Network Recreational Authority, the Arts Council of Greater Morgantown, and Mylan Park Foundation. Each role reinforces her dedication to building strong infrastructure and partnerships that make Mountaineer Country a premier tourism destination.