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STAR CITY — Rachel Johnson, Visit Mountaineer Country CVB's Arts and Culture Experience specialist, is making her rounds to area municipalities.
Her goals: to make sure councils and commissions know how the convention and visitors bureau can help them and to make sure the tourism agency is helping them.
"We couldn't do what we do - bring people in - without the support of our municipalities," Johnson told Star City Town Council recently. "We bring new money into the region through tourism."
She said each councilor should have received a survey in the mail and she'd like to hear from all of them.
"We really do want your opinions," she said. "We want to know how are we doing? Are we supporting our municipalities? We ask you to think like a visitor but lead like a local."
Johnson also told Star City leaders about a couple of initiatives and two upcoming events, plus updated them on the search for a new president and CEO. It was announced in July that then-CVB leader, Susan Riddle, was moving on to be CEO of Mylan Park.
"The application process is closed," Johnson said. "Now, the search committee is reviewing those applications and determining the next steps."
Johnson said the board hopes to have a new president/CEO in place by the end of the year. In the meantime, Hannah Winaught is serving as interim executive director.
The initiatives Johnson explained will help local events with marketing and teach elementary students to enjoy and respect the outdoors.
The convention and visitors bureau will be distributing mini-grants - Johnson said the goal is by the end of the year - that will help organizers market their events in north-central West Virginia.
Johnson said each grant will be for $250 and will help with digital marketing support such as boosted social media posts.
"At this time, the total number is to be determined and will be based on available funds and the number of qualified applicants," she said.
The second initiative is in its third year. Leave No Trace teaches fifth-grade students in 18 schools across three counties the importance of enjoying nature while minimizing impact.
Finally, Johnson asked Star City Town Council to save the dates of two upcoming events: Mountaineer Monster 2026 and the 2027 Mountaineer Country Tourism Summit.
Mountaineer Monster is a cycling event that starts Oct. 24 at Chestnut Ridge Park and has three routes with different lengths: 100 miles, 200 miles and 470 miles. The bike riders will pedal through Morgantown and Star City during the weeklong bikepacking event. Depending on the route, they will also ride and camp though Preston and Marion counties.
Johnson said 60 cyclists took part in the 2025 event and at least 100 are expected this year.
For more information and a look at the routes, go to bikepacking.com/event/2026-mountaineer-monster/.
The Tourism Summit is planned for April 27 at West Virginia University Erickson Alumni Center. The annual conference "brings together business leaders, entrepreneurs, hospitality professionals and community partners from across north-central West Virginia for a day of insight, collaboration, and forward-thinking strategy. Designed to explore how tourism fuels economic development, workforce recruitment and long-term regional growth, the summit highlights innovative initiatives, data-driven marketing strategies and partnership opportunities that strengthen our destination."
More information on the 2027 Tourism Summit will be available as the date approaches.