Visit Longmont is Longmont’s tourism organization. The group announced Sarah Leonard as its new executive director.
Leonard currently resides in Alaska where she served as the president and CEO at the Alaska Travel Industry Association for the past 20 years.
Bitten by the travel bug while in college, Leonard said she likes to explore the areas she visits.
“Travel just opened my eyes and was a great experience for me personally and professionally that it drew me to how travel experiences could really benefit someone in either their personal or professional career. I have gotten so much joy out of sharing travel experiences in the destinations that I have worked that I’m super excited to continue to do that in a new community like Longmont,” Leonard said.
She found and stayed in Longmont while helping her son settle into housing at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
“I just thought the business community and the trail system, the city parks and rec infrastructure, the proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park and other public lands; it just seemed like such a welcoming and cool little community,” Leonard said.
After exploring for a bit, Leonard discovered that there was a job opportunity in the tourism industry and seized the opportunity to apply.
For her, it was the right time in her personal and professional life to make such a big change and she said she is excited to get to know the community better.
Leonard’s first day on the job will be March 1 but she already has goals for Visit Longmont. She hopes to grow local tourism to benefit local businesses and economic growth. She also hopes to highlight Longmont’s history and culture by enhancing the diversity and opportunities of heritage or cultural tourism, she said.
“The Board of Visit Longmont is thrilled to welcome Sarah to our community,” said Kimberlee McKee, Board Chair. “She brings the knowledge and experience needed to lead the community into the future of tourism.”
“I’m very excited. I’m really committed to digging in and being a part of the community,” Leonard said.
