What do you do for the visitors center?

As executive director, my focus is to reinvest tourist tax dollars back into the system by promoting both day visits and overnight stays to the population outside a 50 mile radius from Ottawa. That keeps me very busy in town coordinating and working with other tourism entities and active in organizations throughout the state.

What brought you to Ottawa...

Well, I have my mother and father to thank for that! I am an Ottawa native, born and raised here, returned after college and married an "Ottawa guy". Business and personal interests have taken me far and wide but we are here by choice and love what the city and area has to offer.

What is your favorite thing about the community...

First and foremost, I believe that "the community" is the people. Ottawa has a strong history of volunteerism backed by a passion for preservation that was deemed important long before I came along. I have learned by example that the wonderful things about Ottawa are a result of many people, working hard, over many years to make our town a great place to visit and live.

What famous Ottawa person would you like to meet?

I think the Ottawan I would most like to meet would have to be my paternal grandmother who passed away when my father was only 6 months old. Her name was Helen Snyder-Mitchell and she was one of the first female insurance agents in the state of illinois. Originally a secretary with the Central Life Insurance Company, she moved up the ranks and became an agent, unheard of in the early 1900's! I was lucky enough to have an office in that beautiful building at one time and thought how history does repeat itself in a community that cares so deaply about preservation.

What do you enjoy most about working at the Ottawa Visitors Center?

It has to be meeting new people, finding out their stories and hearing over and over again what a beautiful city this is. I never get tired of that. Ottawa is truly a one-of-a-kind place to experience!