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Lebanon Tourist & Convention Commission…
MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Lebanon Tourist & Convention Commission is to develop, increase and promote tourism in Lebanon and surrounding areas by featuring its history, culture, products and recreation/convention facilities. Our goal is to become a choice destination for group travel, conventions and individual leisure/recreation travel. Through these efforts, the commission seeks to increase visitor spending, local revenue and job development, thereby enhancing the area’s quality of life.
GENERAL CONTACT INFORMATION
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Chair Ph. 270.692.6975 Nancy Higdon has taught school at St. Augustine Grade School for the past 21 years. She graduated from Western Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in education and earned a master’s degree in learning disabilities from the University of Louisville. Higdon is married to Freddie Higdon and has three children - Ashley, Matthew and Scott. She represents the Lebanon Hotel/Motel Association and has been with the LTCC since it was created in 2003. Her current term expires in 2010.
Vice Chair Ph. 270.692.3177 Jim Richardson is Executive Vice President, Sr. Lender and CFO of Farmers National Bank of Lebanon. He has 36 years finance experience and 32 years in banking, serving as CEO of several Community Banks across Kentucky. Richardson was a member of the Leadership Lebanon class in 1988 and served as its chair in 1989. He was a member of the Leadership Kentucky class of 1990 and led the formation of the Leadership program in neighboring Taylor County in 1995. He served as adjunct faculty (Finance and Accounting) from 1996 to 2002 and is a past board member of the economic development efforts in Campbellsville and Cynthiana and has assisted in the efforts of Marion County for the past 20 years. Richardson earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northern Kentucky University and an MBA in finance from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a graduate of LSU Graduate School of Banking of the South and the University of Louisville Executive Banking Institute. He sat for the CPA exam in November of 1998, passing all four parts in his first attempt and received his CPA license in May 2000. Richardson represents the Lebanon-Marion County Chamber of Commerce and has been with the LTCC since it was created in 2003. He served as its first chair from 2003-2004. His current term expires in June 2009.
Treasurer Ph. 270.699.9600 David Winebrenner Jr., CPCU, has been in the financial services business since graduating from the University of Louisville School of Business in 1989. His office is located in Lebanon and he works with families, businesses and individuals in building long-term wealth. He also has a background in insurance and risk management to assist in the protection of client assets and holds the Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter designation. David is series 7, 24 and 65 registered. Winebrenner has taken an active role in Lebanon as Marion County Chamber of Commerce past president, St. Augustine Finance Council past chair, past member of the Lebanon/Marion County Board of Economic Development, Lebanon/Marion County Rotary Club past president, current member of the Lebanon Country Club & Rosewood Golf Club and Lebanon’s Knights of Columbus Council past Grand Knight. He has been married to his wife Hope for 18 years, they have four children - Jonah, Caleb, Anna and Elijah – and he is an avid golfer with his family and enjoys swimming for exercise. Winebrenner represents a mayoral at-large pick has been with the LTCC since 2007. His current term expires in 2010.
Director Ph. 270.692.3970 Jim McMurtry owns and operates Big Jim’s Steakhouse & Buffet. He represents the Lebanon Restaurant Association and has been with the LTCC since 2005. His current term expires in 2011.
Director Ph. 270.692.9167 Carlotta Brussell is the director of human resources for St. Catharine College. She was a member of the National Tri-County SHRM 1999 – 2005 and was its president for four years. Brussell’s civic activities include work with Marion County Ham Days, Leadership Lebanon and St. Augustine Parish Council. She represents the Lebanon Hotel/Motel Association and she has been with the LTCC since 2005. She served as its chair from 2006-2008 and her current term expires in 2011.
Director Ph. 270.692.6002 Tom Lund is the executive director of the Marion County Office of Economic Development. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism in 1968 with minors in speech and economics from the University of Colorado. He also graduated from the University of Oklahoma's Industrial Development Institute in 1974 and studied the principals of real estate at the College of Southwest, completed the U.S. Bank of Oregon’s Financial Management and Control of the Small Business Seminar in 1977 and the Kentucky Development Council’s Basic Development Course in 1993. Lund attended the University of Colorado on a football scholarship, earned three varsity letters and was team captain his senior season. He has been honored with New Mexico's First Award for innovation in economic development, the American Economic Development Council's "Best of Class" Award for Design of Sales Literature and Kentucky's Economic Development Professional of the Year Award. His civic activities include work with the Spring View Medical Center board of trustees, Lebanon Aquatic Center board of directors, Marion Adjustment Center board of trustees. He has also been a member of New Mexico Industrial Development Executives Association (president 1974-75), American Economic Development Council Inc., Industrial Development Research Council, Kentucky Industrial Development Council, Kentucky Industrial Development Council board of directors, Southern Industrial Development Council and Central Kentucky Development Roundtable. Lund represents the Lebanon Hotel/Motel Association and has been with the LTCC since it was created in 2003. He served as its chair from 2004-2005. His current term expires in 2010.
Director Ph. 270.692.4072 Eddie Lee is the former Marion County Clerk. He represents a mayoral at-large pick and has been with the LTCC since 2008. His current term expires in June 2009.
BUREAU STAFF
Executive Director Ph. 270.692.0021 Chris Hamilton was born in London but has lived in Lebanon and Marion County for most of his life. He is a Marion County High School graduate and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology and a minor in drama at Campbellsville University. Before becoming the executive director of the Lebanon Tourist & Convention Commission, Hamilton was the editor and general manager of The Lebanon Enterprise and a serial entrepreneur. Hamilton has an extensive record of civic activities that includes membership in the Lebanon-Marion County Rotary Club, Centre Square Committee, Lebanon Park Board, eCommunity Leadership Team, WLSK 100.9 FM The Mike Advisory Board, Knights of Columbus, Kentucky Fellowship of Musicians and Lebanon Main St./Renaissance Committee. He has held several leadership positions such as Family Resource Center Advisory Council chair, Lebanon/Marion County Chamber of Commerce vice president, Marion County Arts & Humanities Council president, Friends of the Library president, Central Kentucky Youth Entrepreneurial Society creator and volunteer instructor, Cinco De Mayo Celebration creator and chair, Marion County Scorekeepers Clinic creator and volunteer instructor, Marion County Historical Society board of trustees and Budweiser-Lebanon Merchants Athletics Club creator and volunteer manager. He has also volunteered his time to many local organizations and programs such as Marion County Little League, Marion County Jr. Miss, Marion County Babe Ruth League, Marion County Fair, Marion County 4-H, Marion County Country Ham Days Committee, Marion County football and baseball programs, St. Catharine College, Marion County Reality Store and the annual Thanksgiving Outreach Program, to name a few. Hamilton has won more than 60 Kentucky Press Association and LCNI awards for writing, photography and graphic arts and several business achievement awards. He was named a Kentucky Colonel by Gov. Steve Beshear. Hamilton has been the executive director of the LTCC since 2005.
Administrative Assistant Ph. 270.692.0021 Nena Pearl is a Lebanon native. She graduated from Marion County High School in 1998 and graduated from Campbellsville University in 2002 with a degree in communications and a minor in journalism. She has been with the LTCC since 2005.
LTCC HISTORY
The Lebanon Tourist & Convention Commission was created in 2003 after the City of Lebanon passed an ordinance that called for the collection of transient room and restaurant taxes. There are seven commissioners appointed using the provisions outlined in Kentucky Revised Statute 91A.360. This allows for three representatives of the local hotel/motel association, one representative of the local restaurant association, one representative of the local chamber of commerce and two chosen by Lebanon’s mayor. The Commission is a significant resource for various economic development-related issues. The LTCC is responsible for kick-starting numerous events and fueling improvements to others in its daily effort to grow the tourism industry in Lebanon. The LTCC has also ignited capital projects that enhance its ability to accomplish that task while improving the quality of life for local citizens. The LTCC office is a source of information for topics such as branding, marketing, agritourism, potential revenue streams, impact data, general promotion of the community and more. It also represents the community on numerous regional and statewide organizations that promote economic development and initiatives to grow the positive impact of tourism-related activities. Others who have served on the board of commissioners are Steve Downs, Donna Nally, Barry Papania, Mike Henning and David Harmon. The Commission is supported by a 3 percent transient room tax and 2 percent restaurant retail sales tax.
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