Kara Dilley Dense is President and CEO of the Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau. With 27 years of experience in the travel industry, Kara has enjoyed success in several facets of the industry. She began her tenure at GCCVB in February 2007.
Kara is a 1995 honor graduate of Concord University with a Bachelor of Science in Travel Industry Management with a concentration in Tourism Planning, Development and Promotion. She has worked with Visit Southern WV (West Virginia), Knoxville Symphony Society, Louise Mandrell Theatre, Park Vista Resort and the City of Gatlinburg’s Department of Tourism and Convention Center.
Since joining the GCCVB, she has led many organizational changes and successes. In 2008, the CVB rebranded its marketing efforts to redefine the county as the Greenbrier Valley. Kara spearheaded the organization’s capital project of a regional visitors' center, which opened in the summer of 2010. She also led the Greenbrier County CVB’s campaign to successfully have Lewisburg voted “Coolest Small Town in America” by Budget Travel Magazine in 2011.
Kara is active within the tourism industry and taking on several leadership positions, including representing West Virginia on the Southeast Tourism Society’s Board of Directors. She serves as Vice President of the West Virginia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus and has been a part of the executive team since 2008. Kara represents all of West Virginia’s CVBs on the West Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association board. Kara was appointed a West Virginia Tourism Commissioner (now the Tourism Advisory Council) by Governor Jim Justice in 2017. The West Virginia Department of Tourism presented her with the West Virginia Tourism Professional of the Year award in October 2017. Kara is currently pursuing the Certified Destination Management Executive certification through Destinations International.
In addition to her professional contributions, she is involved in her community and is President of the Board of Trustees at Greenbrier Valley Theatre, where she has previously performed. She recently became President of the Choir Boosters at Greenbrier East High School. Kara is also a member of the HUBCap Communities initiative in White Sulphur Springs and was a board member for Lewisburg Rotary. She is also an advisory board member of the State Fair of West Virginia. A native of Rainelle, Kara makes her home in Lewisburg with her husband, Brian, and their 16-year-old daughter, Lily.
Beth has worked in the travel and tourism industry for more than 16 years and thrives on being a part of the Greenbrier Valley’s success. At the CVB, she is responsible for the overall strategic marketing plan, including all content planning, direct advertising, print collateral (including the annual Visitors Guide), the CVB website, email marketing and direct inquiries.
She works closely with local businesses to understand the strengths and assets we have to offer while leveraging them to the fullest. If you ask her, it’s the most rewarding part of her job–connecting with owners while seeing how the CVB can amplify their brands and ultimately attract visitors to the Greenbrier Valley.
She graduated from Old Dominion University with a B.A. in Graphic Design. She is a Certified Southeast Tourism Society Travel Marketing Professional and recently received her Content Marketing Certification through HubSpot. She serves as board secretary for the Meadow River Valley Association.
Valerie Pritt is a very passionate West Virginian. She takes great pride in her community and home state. As communications manager for the Greenbrier County CVB, she shares the story of the best region of the state through social media and with journalists from across the country.
She graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science in journalism—public relations. In 2022, She earned her Tourism Marketing Professional certificate through the Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College Program.
Valerie has spent her career in public relations and hospitality. She also worked at Greenbrier Valley Theatre as the publicity director and West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine as a public relations specialist. She serves as a Council member and on the Planning Commission for the City of Lewisburg, a board member for the Court House Farmers Market and Mon Forest Town Partnership marketing committee member.
Office Manager, Delilah Dixon, is a Greenbrier County native who came to the CVB in 2006 after working 10 years in the human resources department of The Greenbrier. As office manager, Delilah facilitates all the Bureau’s accounts receivable and payable, as well as payroll and benefits. She is responsible for managing the day-to-day functions of the office and visitors center building while supporting Board, management and committee endeavors. Delilah holds an associate's Degree in Office Administration from National Business College in Roanoke, VA. She makes her home in the Harts Run area with her husband, Ben, and their beloved dogs, Peekaboo and Sonny Boy.
Mary Cole Deitz joined the staff at the Greenbrier County CVB in May 2006 and recently celebrated her “sweet sixteen” as Visitors Center Manager. She had previously worked at The Greenbrier for twenty-nine years in retail and concierge services. As Visitors Center Manager, she oversees the daily operations of the center, brochure distribution, rental requests, events, and supervises six part-time Visitors Center Specialists. She is most proud of developing the “Art in the Valley” program, which features monthly shows in the center displaying a myriad of local art.
Mary Cole is a Greenbrier County native and a loyal graduate of West Virginia University. She and her husband have two children and six grandchildren, whom they love to spoil!
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