Executive Director Profile: Annie Von Domitz
Contributed by Jan Ekern
Annie Von Domitz is the Events & Project Manager at the Oregon Travel Information Council (TIC), where she has worked for the past four years. Prior to that she worked for VanNatta Public Relations and Association Management, where she handled the administrative functions for four associations.
Her part-time job at TIC is three-fold: 1) she is the Executive Director of MISA; 2) she manages Oregon’s historical marker program; and 3) she plans the annual training conference for Oregon’s travel information counselors.
Annie first got involved with MISA at the Mesa, AZ, conference in 2005. For three years she provided numerous administrative functions for the association, and in early 2008 she assumed the position of Executive Director. She provides a stable home for MISA, whose board and membership change over time. Annie is the long-term memory of MISA, keeping everything on track from the financials to the annual conference. She responds to emails and phone calls, providing MISA with a human presence.
Annie manages Oregon’s historical marker program. Started in the 1930s by the DOT, the markers were made of routed Port Orford cedar with an image of a beaver. The rustic “beaver boards” were symbolic of the state’s heritage, but had fallen into disrepair. TIC took over the program in 1991 and is leading the charge to renovate and update them. As part of the state’s upcoming 150th birthday, Annie is working on a new series of markers. The new program will have a regional focus, so Annie is working closely with local communities to identify and highlight the geological, historical and cultural features of each region. Annie is proud of how the huge collaboration has come together. So many different agencies, communities and regional groups working toward a single goal are a testament to Annie’s skills in collaborative management. She enjoys helping the regions identify their own heritage and developing a broader network of stakeholders.
Every year the TIC offers a conference for the state’s travel information counselors, providing them with training, updates, networking opportunities, and a first-hand look at lesser-known areas of the state. Annie facilitates the entire conference, including a local FAM tour. She coordinates with presenters from parks, DOT, Travel Oregon, and the regions.
Annie graduated from the University of Oregon, where she first met her husband, Bryan. They’ve been married 8 years and have a son, Rhys, age 4. Rhys is learning how to swim and has just graduated to the 2nd class. The family enjoys anything outdoorsy: hiking, backpacking, sports. Plus, Annie likes to garden, read and travel.
MISA is fortunate to have Annie as Executive Director. She likes the fact that MISA is small, friendly and dynamic, and its members bring fresh ideas and learn from each other. Annie is a perfect fit for the association.
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