Finger Lakes Visitors Connection Staff 2009

Valerie Knoblauch, President
Valerie was hired as the first director of tourism for Ontario County in 1984. Her previous experience included tour guide responsibilities and public relations manager at Gold Seal Vineyards in Hammondsport. Valerie has a degree in English Education from State University College at Oswego and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology. Valerie also holds the CTP designation from the National Tour Association. She has taught on the adjunct faculty at Finger Lakes Community College and the Rochester Institute of Technology Hotel and Food School. Additionally, she has experience on the Board of Directors of New York State Travel and Vacation Association and the Travel Industry Association of America. Valerie has authored several articles on travel and tourism issues, and has published the Ontario County Pictorial History Book. She is a common speaker at the national level on strategic planning, destination management, and marketing.

You may contact Valerie if you have further question on these topics:
Government and Board Relations and Management
Financial/Audit
House Management/Hospitality Events
NYS Matching Funds and Explore NY Grant Program
Product Development
Industry Awards and Recognition
New York Wine & Culinary Center
135 Miles of Farms, Food and Family Fun on Routes 5 and 20
Email Valerie at: Valerie@visitfingerlakes.com
or call her at (585) 394-3915 x 301

Rebecca Campbell, Assistant to the President

Rebecca came to Finger Lakes Visitors Connection on August 1, 2007. Previously she worked at the Canandaigua City School district and assisted in the management of a family business. Her organizational, financial and hospitality skills are put to good use in assisting the President, as well as staff and the industry in ensuring effective and efficient implementation of programs.

You may contact Rebecca if you have further questions on:
Confidential Secretary to the President
Confidential Secretary to the Board of Directors
Brochure Inventory and Distribution Management
Office Management and Record Keeping
General Communications
Coordination of Committee Meetings
Email Rebecca at rebecca@visitfingerlakes.com
or call her at (585) 394-3915 x 300

Sue Schmidt, CMP, Director of Sales
Sue joined the staff in October, 2005. She has a degree in Travel & Tourism and brings 25 years of industry experience ranging from hotel sales and management experience to meeting planning. Most recently Sue was with the Canandaigua Inn on the Lake as Director of Sales & Marketing, where she was responsible for group sales, room sales and soliciting meetings and corporate business. Sue’s focus is directed toward seeking new contacts with corporations, associations, travel agencies and motorcoach operators. She also utilizes our collateral, Internet presence and other sales tools for these markets.

You may contact Sue if you have further questions on these topics:
Meetings Website and Marketing Plan
Groups Website and Marketing Plan
Meeting Planners International
Hoteliers Group
Itinerary Development
Package Development
And for representation at these meetings:
GRVA VIC
Email Sue at: sue@visitfingerlakes.com
or call her at (585) 394-3915 x 309

Meg Colombo, e-Brand Manager
Meg was hired in August of 2004. She has experience working for several small businesses – ranging from publishing to arts to photo styling. Meg's responsibilities include promotion of the Finger Lakes brand on the Internet. She plays a major role in communications utilizing design, website development and maintenance, internet seeding, search engine optomization and the ever growing social media known as Web 2.0.

You may contact Meg with questions about:
FLVC Industry Microsite
Website and our Visitor Guide
Website Updates and Links
Travel Buzz videos
Nature’s Health Club
Fingerlakestrails.com
Printing or Duplication of Projects
Image Requests
Design Support Services
And for representation at:
Canandaigua Tourism Committee and the Victor Round table.
Email Meg at: meg@visitfingerlakes.com
Or call her at: (585) 394-3915 x 303

AJ Shear, Communications Manager
AJ Shear officially joined us March 3, 2009, coming from Messenger Post Newspapers in Canandaigua where he served as Sunday editor for the Daily Messenger and editor of The Golden Times, the group’s senior citizen publication. He is a graduate of SUNY Oswego’s journalism program and has a strong background in writing copy and editing. He is excited to help construct our message through traditional and new media including press releases, internal publications, advertising, media FAM tours and hosting travel writers.

AJ currently resides in Rochester, but has spent summers in Canandaigua since he was a child and is familiar with the area through his time with the Daily Messenger. He also loves the outdoors and enjoys hiking in Victor and at Grimes Glen in Naples. He is thrilled to be able to be a part of FLVC and communicate the message of the region he is so passionate about.

Email AJ at: AJ@visitfingerlakes.com
or call him at (585) 394-3915 x 307

Peggy Boggan, Visitor Services
Peggy is a frontline person who has been with the tourism agency on a part time basis since 1996. She handles the consumer inquiries and assists in the collection of database information for the various websites that we manage. Peggy carries the primary responsibility for the collection of information and promotion of events in Ontario County. Peggy also assists with special events sponsored by Finger Lakes Visitors Connection.

You may contact Peggy with questions about:
Events Database and Update Management
Brochure Inventory and Distribution Management
Consumer Inquiries/Database
Business Database
Packages Posting
I Love NY Website Updates
5 and 20 Website Updates
Frontline Notebook
Site Visits

Email Peggy at: peggy@visitfingerlakes.com
or call her at (585) 394-3915 x 306