Uncategorized
Clemens is Chamber’s new executive director
Published
12 years agoon
By Emily Stifler Explorebigsky.com Managing Editor
Kitty Clemens comes from Colorado Springs, Colo., where she has worked up and down the Front Range in economic development, destination marketing, community relations, public affairs, advertising and the arts.
For Clemens, the position is “an opportunity to do what I’m really passionate about—destination marketing and business development for small communities.”
The tourism industry brings value to economies and communities, she said.
Clemens has worked in tourism development in several small Colorado towns, and most recently focused on a downtown revitalization project for Manitou Springs, an art, recreation and tourism community at the base of Pikes Peak.
There, as the town was installing new streetlights, Clemens led a creative effort to hang banners with artwork from the local school children. Working with the school superintendent, the art teachers, parents, a local sign maker, Clemens’ side project saved the town money and raised funds for the local education foundation.
“It was a win-win for everyone,” she said. “It really did involve the whole community.”
Clemens started working on the revitalization project in Manitou in 2002 and followed it from the preliminary planning stages, all the way through the first half of the final phase eight years later. Not only was that fulfilling, she said it also gave her a much broader perspective of “what it really takes to provide for your residents and also for the visitors that actually pay the bills at the end of the day.”
“It’s being able to look at things from a 30,000-foot view. What you’re asking people to come experience can be just as important as the marketing numbers or the website hits.”
She also knows that in small communities, “you have to be the chief cook and the bottle washer.” As an economic development officer, she doubled as a public information officer.
Clemens also has also written a crisis communication plan for a multi county travel attraction association, done SWOT analysis, and written grants for state and federal funding.
Although retired from skiing, she says she loves hiking, biking, snowshoeing and gardening.
“The mountains are for me. And definitely cooler weather is for me.”
She starts Aug. 1, but is still looking for a place to live, which, she notes, can be tough with a dog. Her dog, an Airedale, is named Albert.
The Chamber of Commerce, which also has several new board members as of this year, went through a restructure this spring while looking to fill the executive director position.
For years the Chamber operated with only two paid staff, an ED and a membership director. It’s added three other new positions this spring: bookkeeper Wanda McCarthy, marketing specialist Wendy Swenson, and operations support Jessica Martin-Trulen.
The new positions are funded by a combination of Big Sky Resort Tax dollars, membership dues, and grants from Yellowstone Country (which functions as part of the Montana Office of Tourism).
Megan Paulson is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Outlaw Partners.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
Event Details
Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
Time
(Wednesday) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
The Waypoint
50 Ousel Falls Rd