DAVIS – A familiar face is now at the helm at the Tucker County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Jessica Scowcroft, who was the former Marketing Manager and Assistant Executive Director at the TCCVB, assumed the position as Executive Director Jan. 30.
Scowcroft said she is originally from New Jersey, and came to the area when she attended Davis & Elkins College.
“I came to D&E because I wanted to go to college somewhere I was able to ski,” Scowcroft said. “I wanted to study hospitality management and tourism. I graduated with that degree in 2003.”
During the time Scowcroft attending D&E, she taught skiing at Canaan Valley Resort and Timberline Resort.
“That is where I met Bill Smith,” Scowcroft said. “I did an internship at Snowshoe and worked there for about four years. I really enjoyed W.Va. and wanted to stay here. I had friends who lived in the Canaan Valley who encouraged me to come back to the area. I began working at Timberline in the marketing and planning department for two years before I accepted the position of marketing manager with the Tucker County Convention & Visitors Bureau.”
While Scowcroft was working as the marketing manager at the TCCVB, she was promoted to Assistant Director. “That was about two years ago,” Scowcroft said.
Scowcroft has worked hard during her tenure with the TCCVB. “The last three years, Southeast Tourism Society has offered a marketing college,” she said. “You attend a week for three years and study tourism marketing. The course of study includes brochures, layouts, details, social networking, internet placements and newsletters. It included folks from all over the Southeast, so it was really neat to see folks who have large hotels talking about their obstacles.”
She said the bottom line in tourism is the same regardless of the size of the venue. “The goal is to get tourists into the area on a positive note and how to handle all situations.”
One goal Scowcroft said she is working on is a new visitor guide.
“The video is done,” Scowcroft said. “I pushed for that and it was very exciting. We also did the ‘Get Tucker’d Quicker’ campaign in the Washington D.C. area. When we were budgeting for that, I was very vocal on how I wanted a video of the area.”
Scowcroft said the TCCVB, located on Main Street in Davis, has brochures of local information as well as a bulletin board to highlight any local or regional events.
“We also have all of the visitor’s guides and trail maps of the area,” Scowcroft said. “We have a little bit of information of attractions throughout the state. We try to educate our guests on where to go and what to see.”
Scowcroft serves and helps out all through the area.
“I am a board member of the Tucker Community Foundation and the Corrick’s Ford Battlefield Association,” Scowcroft said. “I assist with the Canaan Valley Birding Festival, ArtSpring and Pickin’ in Parsons. Our office helps with the Leaf Peepers, the Celebration of the Arts and the Governor’s Cup Ski Race. I still teach skiing on the weekends.”
She said she really enjoys cross country skiing.
“I never thought I would get into that because I have been an alpine skier most of my life,” Scowcroft said. “I grew up alpine skiing. After living here, my boyfriend and I decided we were dumb not to be cross country skiing.”
In summer months, Scowcroft said she enjoys hiking, picking cranberries and blueberries and fishing. “I am always looking to spend as much time outdoors as I can.”
Additional information about the Tucker County Convention & Visitors Bureau is available online at www.canaanvalley.org or by calling 304-259-5315.
