By Delaware Advancement Corporation—
MUNCIE, IN — LaShanta Vaughn, a respected leader in both the convention and tourism business sectors, has accepted the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Horizon Convention Center.
“LaShanta is a driving and rising force in shaping Muncie’s identity as an outstanding and welcoming destination for both visitors and conventions,” said Rob Keisling, Chair of the Delaware Advancement Corporation (DAC) Board of Directors.
The DAC Board conducted a nationwide search that included more than 100 resumes. The search committee evaluated 60 resumes, conducted multiple interviews and determined the best fit for the role of President and CEO of the convention center was Vaughn.
Vaughn led the sales efforts of the Horizon Convention Center for five years as the Sales Manager and then Director of Sales before more recently becoming the CEO and Executive Director of Visit Muncie, Inc, publicly known under the brand name of Destination: Muncie.
“LaShanta has accomplished so much in her role as Executive Director of Visit Muncie,” said Jarod Walls, Chair of the Visit Muncie Board. “Under her leadership we have bolstered and filled key staff positions, invigorated the Destination: Muncie brand with fresh web, print and digital media content, and put Muncie on the map to new visitors and clients.”
Vaughn has served in her role at Destination: Muncie since April of last year.
Because of Vaughn’s knowledge of HCC’s operations, communication and collaboration between the organizations has been regular in recent months.
Vaughn has also been convening over 30 Muncie and Delaware County tourism partners in Quarterly Leadership Roundtables which organized efforts to coordinate calendars, share marketing assets and create collective conversations around promoting Muncie and its offerings.
These events rotate locations, including the Academy of Model Aeronautics, Ball State University and local hoteliers.
“No one understands Muncie’s assets the way LaShanta does,” said Ashley Wright of the Courtyard by Marriott, the convention center’s partner hotel located downtown. “She’s been selling our community for years and has a working knowledge of what people are looking for. She has a passion and urgency that you can feel when talking with her.”
While she will officially begin her duties April 28, the DAC and Visit Muncie executive committees have been working together with a focus on how the two organizations can create even more synergy.
“LaShanta is a winner with high integrity,” said Mayor Dan Ridenour. “The city is fortunate to have her in this role. Her leadership is creating momentum and results.”
During Vaughn’s tenure at Visit Muncie she has overseen the distribution of multiple Destination: Muncie Experience Guides, a 70 plus page magazine featuring local amenities. She has also helped implement Crowdriff, a photography sharing software, into its website and social media, and has begun implementing a new Customer Relationship Management software to more strategically target visitor profiles and multi-hotel group conventions and events.
She has seen Visit Muncie reinvigorate the area’s presence in multiple social and digital media campaigns, increasing likes and followers from a few hundred to over 10,000, and still growing exponentially.
“LaShanta’s passion for this community is palpable,” said Keisling. “Her ability to bring people together, inspire creative collaboration, and drive results made her the natural choice for this key leadership position.”
As CEO of the Horizon Convention Center, Vaughn will lead strategic planning, community engagement, and business development efforts to grow the facility’s regional impact and economic contributions.
“I am honored and excited to take on this new role,” said Vaughn. “The Horizon Convention Center is a centerpiece of Muncie’s future, and I look forward to building on its legacy while continuing to promote our incredible community.”
About Delaware Advancement Corporation
The Delaware Advancement Corporation is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization that oversees the Horizon Convention Center and is funded through Food & Beverage Tax revenues.
About Visit Muncie, Inc.
Visit Muncie, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization funded by the Innkeepers Tax paid by overnight guests in area hotels.
