rebekah snider
BY ADDIE DUKE
Rebekah Snider is the definition of an outstanding citizen . She is dedicated to her role as executive director of Visit Milledgeville and manages to serve as a member of multiple boards and clubs all while prioritizing her time with family .
Originally from Ohio , Snider considers Fayette County home , which is just south of Atlanta . After spending eight years outside the city , she moved down to Milledgeville to attend Georgia College & State University . While attending Georgia College & State University , she was a pre-law student . She intended to major in History and go on to study law at Mercer University ’ s School of Law . Snider ’ s plans changed once she took a few mass communications courses as electives . Through these courses she realized her love for communications and found out she had a passion for public relations . Snider graduated with a double major in History and Mass Communications and now serves as the executive director of Visit Milledgeville . “ Milledgeville is so fortunate to have Rebekah Snider as Executive Director of our CVB , as the previous ten years she worked for the State of Georgia with the tourism industry . She is charged with maintaining tourism as one of our city ’ s top economic drivers .” says Judith Greer .
After graduating GC & SU , Snider went on to Atlanta to pursue her career further . Snider met her now husband in Atlanta . Her husband is originally from Milledgeville . Love was the factor that ultimately brought Snider back to the Old Capital city . Outside of her career responsibilities , Snider enjoys traveling and reading . Her love for travel is a big reason why she is so passionate about her job . “ I love to travel which is why this is the perfect industry for me because if I cannot be on vacation I sure love telling people why they should be on vacation .” Snider also enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons . “ We are family people , so I feel like so much of our time is spent around our family and spending time with our children and helping them experience the world and Georgia . We love going to museums and art galleries .”
Snider ’ s involvement in the Milledgeville community is commendable . Her passion goes
beyond her career and family . Community is something she enjoys being a part of and her involvement makes that evident . “ For this organization ( Visit Milledgeville ), it requires me to serve on several boards that this community is a part of . It is everything from Georgia ’ s Lake country to Georgia ’ s Antebellum Trail . Regionally I serve on the board for the Historical Heartland Travel Association . We belong to Milledgeville Rotary , and I belong to the Milledgeville Chambers of Commerce . My husband and I attend Northridge Christian Church here in town . I feel like we are plugged in both professionally and personally and it has led to a nice small-town life . I loved Atlanta , but it is nice to be at a slower pace .”
As executive director of Visit Milledgeville ,
Snider ’ s key role is to govern the administration of the office . “ At the heart of our responsibilities , we really work as a marketing and branding agency on behalf of our local community , so we get to tell the good news story of Milledgeville , Baldwin County all the time . It is our job and mission to bring visitors to our community to create economic relief for our actual community members .” Snider oversees the strategy behind the development of the plan to bring in visitors . She also helps operate the plan for information services which includes the visitor center as well as the trolley . “ Rebekah is an enthusiastic , dedicated professional who loves promoting Milledgeville and Baldwin County tourism . She is continuously reinventing ways of promoting marketing strategies for visitors to be excited to come to our community . She diligently maintains a positive relationship with community and professional organizations while promoting and overseeing tourism programs ,” says Darlene Handbarry .
Visit Milledgeville was headed into their best year yet before the Covid-19 pandemic hit . While everyone has struggled in some way throughout the pandemic , Snider chooses to see the silver lining in it all . “ We have learned a lot about our industry very quickly in terms of who is coming even during the pandemic and that has really brought us bare bones . I think that it has allowed us to pave the way for a better future , a future where we better understand our
40 Milledgeville Scene | 20 Under 40 2022