The Joe Taylor Vision Award is presented annually to an Iowa tourism leader whose exceptional work and achievements not only advance his or her community but the future of Iowa’s tourism industry. The award is voted on by the board of trustees of the Iowa Travel Industry Partners Foundation.
The 2022 award is presented to Carrie Koelker, Executive Director of Eastern Iowa Tourism Association.
Ms. Koelker has been a staple of Iowa’s tourism industry for over 20 years. Most notably she has served as the Executive Director of the Eastern Iowa Tourism Association for the last 20 years. Carrie brings so much passion and energy to every project she works on, especially when it has the ability to build partnerships and unity among Iowa’s people and places. Carrie has a true vision for the future of Iowa’s tourism industry, and she is helping to make this vision a reality through her work with the Iowa Senate. The industry is truly blessed to have Carrie Koelker on the team.
“Carrie’s leadership and passion are forefront on many of the successes Iowa’s tourism industry has shared these past few years. Whether that be the creation of iTIP, her leadership of the Eastern Iowa Tourism Association, or work advocating for tourism in Iowa’s Senate. Her Senate caucus truly believes in the power of tourism due to her ability to build relationships and spread the good message of tourism. Her ideas inspire and she is a mentor to more than many she will likely ever meet.” stated Council Bluffs Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director and Iowa Travel Industry Partners Foundation Board President Mark Eckman.
Ms. Koelker was unanimously selected by her peers across Iowa to be the recipient of the 2022 Joe Taylor Vision Award and was formally recognized by her peers at the June 13 iTIP annual meeting in Okoboji, Iowa.
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More about Joe Taylor:
The award is named in honor of the late Joe Taylor, longtime CEO of Visit Quad Cities and industry visionary. Mr. Taylor worked for the region’s official destination marketing and management organization for almost 30 years. He served as executive director of the Davenport Area Convention & Visitors Bureau in 1989. Then on July 1, 1990, the three local tourism organizations officially merged to become the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, now Visit Quad Cities.
Iowa Travel Industry Partners is a statewide private public organization set out to be the unified driving force of the travel and tourism industry promoting Iowa and its communities to positively impact the economy and quality of life for all Iowans. For more information visit IowaTravelIndustry.org.