Travel Nevada announces promotions within marketing department
CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs (Travel Nevada) today announced a series of internal promotions in its Carson City office prompted by the resignation of former director Claudia Vecchio.
David Peterson, formerly the department’s deputy director, stepped in as interim director upon Vecchio’s departure in November 2017. Brenda Nebesky, formerly chief marketing officer, recently stepped into the role of interim deputy director, while former marketing manager, M.E. Kawchack, was promoted to chief marketing officer.
Nebesky joined the Nevada Division of Tourism (Travel Nevada) as art director in 2014 and was promoted to chief marketing officer in 2016, supervising the creative and media strategy for the agency. In her new role as interim deputy director, Nebesky will continue to guide marketing efforts while overseeing the promotion of the other agencies within the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno, and has worked in the marketing field for more than 20 years.
Kawchack began working for Travel Nevada 2007, and became marketing manager in 2011, overseeing project management as well as supervising the agency’s SEO and SEM programs. She previously worked at the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority and multiple production companies in New York. She received a B.S. in film and communications from Boston University.
“Brenda and Emmy are invaluable to our marketing department, and I am grateful that we can look to them to fill larger roles within the department,” Interim Director Peterson said. “Travel Nevada is fortunate to have a full staff of dedicated, passionate, and talented professionals, and I couldn’t be happier that we can encourage our employees’ professional growth while the state of Nevada benefits from their talent.”
In addition to these promotions, Travel Nevada hired Steven Brooks as marketing coordinator. Brooks graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, in December 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in business entrepreneurship. He worked as an intern for the The Abbi Agency in Reno and then for Travel Nevada as a legislative intern during the 2016 legislative session. As marketing coordinator, he will continue to support the marketing department, working with the Digital Asset Management System, coordinating website content and event listings, among other duties.
“Steven worked tirelessly for Travel Nevada during the legislative session, and we knew that we could not let such talent get away, so I am thrilled that we were able to find a permanent position for him here.” Peterson said.
EDITORS: High-resolution photos are available
The Nevada Division of Tourism is a division of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. More commonly knowns as Travel Nevada, it is responsible for promoting and marketing Nevada as a travel destination to domestic and international travelers. Operating within a performance-based budget structure, Travel Nevada is funded solely by a percentage of lodging tax paid by overnight guests throughout the state. For more, visit www.TravelNevada.biz.
