President and CEO of Visit Stillwater
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“ The County continues to repair and try to add to the asphalt roads as the money allows ,” she said . “ With the economy as it is now , it ’ s becoming difficult to make the progress that has been made in the past , but we ’ re trying to push forward with what the economy has dealt us .”
President and CEO of Visit Stillwater
Cristy Morrison
Visit Stillwater , the tourist information center for the City , delivered its semi-annual report to the Stillwater Economic Development Authority trustees this past spring , and in that report the organization announced growth .
The Chairman of the organization ’ s Board of Directors Blaire Atkinson and President and CEO Cristy Morrison of Visit Stillwater delivered the good news .
Among achievements highlighted were estimates of revenues generated by visitors and numbers of the 2024 guides distributed . And , the group has been involved with hundreds of special events . Overall , the report charted that Stillwater would continue to draw in visitors , events and locals to contribute to the overall growth of the city .
Morrison has occupied her current role since 1995 as the CEO of Visit Stillwater . Prior to that , Morrison had the role of Vice President in Marketing , Membership and Community Development at the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce from 1990 to 1995 .
Morrison said it “ has been an honor to represent Stillwater in various economic development capacities since graduating from Oklahoma State University .”
She knows the area is making progress from her vantage point in her career .
“ It has afforded me a closeup of progress made throughout Stillwater and Payne County over the past three and a half decades ,” she said , and there is a “ tremendous amount of development within both the private and public sectors .”
Morrison said she has had the unique opportunity to promote the community where she has lived the longest .
“ It is the home of my alma mater throughout my entire career ,” she said . “ There are very few destination marketing professionals who work with individuals they went to college with or have known their entire careers .”
“ In many instances , these long-term relationships have given Stillwater an advantage when recruiting groups to America ’ s Friendliest College Town ,” Morrison said .
Stillwater ’ s destination marketing organization was led by six directors over the first 10 years – two male and four female .
Morrison said equality and women in leadership – and progress in this area – has been on the rise here .
“ There were only a couple of women in leadership positions back in 1995 when I began my career with Visit Stillwater ,” she said .
Citing specific examples in the education sector , she said , “ There are now certainly many more female leaders throughout Stillwater and on campus with OSU President Kayse Shrum , OSU Provost Jeanette Mendez , OSU Foundation President Blaire Atkinson and OSU Alumni Association President Ann Caine .”
To Morrison , progress has been watching it and having had a hand in it .
“ It is rewarding to look back on different projects and developments I have had the opportunity to be a part of ,” she said .
Morrison said she looks towards future progress and wants to see a downtown “ completely developed with even more residential , recreational , retail , dining and nightlife with a prominent gateway to the OSU campus .”
“ I also look forward to enhancements to the other two core commercial districts on Campus Corner and The Strip / Washington Street ,” she said . SwOk
Morrison said she looks towards future progress and wants to see a downtown “ completely developed with even more residential , recreational , retail , dining and nightlife with a prominent gateway to the OSU campus .”
STORY BY : KIERSTEN SHAUN Stillwater Oklahoma Magazine
PHOTOS PROVIDED
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 13