Trending
ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Survey people about events in Belmont County and there are most likely a handful that will show up on everyone's list.
Things like 'Blame my Roots Fest', the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival and Belmont County Fair are popular events which put Belmont County front and center.
Jackee Pugh - the Executive Director of the Belmont County Tourism Council - is quite proud and excited about those events. But, she is also quick to point out there are numerous other events, festivals and even eight museums located throughout Belmont County.
"It's obviously not something I am proud of, but I will admit when I was growing up here in Belmont County, I was one of those people who said, 'there isn't anything to do around here,'" Pugh admitted. "I've come to realize that the people who think that probably aren't looking very hard."
Continuing to spread the word about the events and attractions is probably the main part of Pugh's job as the executive director, a position she started in early October and then officially took over as of the first of the year, replacing Barb Ballint, who retired.
"Barb did an amazing job of building a strong foundation at the tourism office," Pugh said. "She helped grow events, publicized Belmont County as a tourist destination both for visitors and residents here to have a staycation."
Pugh - a St. Clairsville High School graduate - went to Columbus for college and remained there for a period of time before she decided to move back to the Ohio Valley.
"I have strong family ties here, and I just wanted to move back here and raise a family here," Pugh said.
Prior to accepting the position with the tourism office, Pugh, who has a graphic design degree, worked at Muskingum University as a digital marketing manager.
"I've been blessed to be in marketing, worked in higher education and even in the corporate setting, but I've now found my home here at the tourism office," Pugh said.
Pugh wants to continue to build on that strong foundation that Ballint and others have built.
As she becomes more and more comfortable with each passing game, Pugh is shifting her focus to her major objectives.
"I want to continue to build our networking and our brand," Pugh said.
The networking aspect is where Pugh wants to continue to get to events and meet the people who host events to make sure they know the tourism office can and is willing to help.
"We want local people, commissioners, chambers of commerce and businesses to know how the tourism office can help them," Pugh said. "We want to continue to get our foot in the door. It feels like we're meeting and greeting all over the county, but we're excited for the pathways where that may lead us."
The 2022 Belmont County Visitors Guide was just recently completed and is available at the office and at other locations throughout the county.
"We're using the tagline 'friendly, beautiful Belmont County,'" Pugh said. "People will see that in all of the marketing pieces we're putting together. We're focused on making cohesiveness as we put together our branding packages."
On top of the larger aforementioned events, Pugh also pointed out the smaller events that the county hosts, including the National Pike Wagon Train and the Rubberneck Tour, which are held in early June and October, respectively.
The Rubberneck Tour will be held for the 49th time.
"We're excited about partnering with all of these events," Pugh said. "The Rubberneck Tour was started by Doc Householder and has a long history."
Among Pugh's travels to meet with different groups across the county, she's also making it a point of emphasis to visit as many of the attractions that are featured in the visitors' guide as possible.
"I've visited the Heritage Museum, Victorian Mansion Museum and the one-room schoolhouse already and part of the reason I've not been to more is because some are closed through the winter," Pugh admitted. "I've met with all of the curators of the museums though."
Utilizing her marketing background, Pugh hopes to expand the tourism office's reach through digital media.
"There's always room for improvement and growth in terms of our marketing," Pugh said. "There are so many (ways) to target specific demographics and get the word out about the events and attractions."
Pugh pointed out that the email blasts the tourism office utilizes has a readership of more than "double the national average."
"We're clearly reaching people who want the information," Pugh said. "It's actually a mix of people from inside and outside of Belmont County. Our email lists aren't bought either. All of the people receiving it have come to us wanting the information."
Overall, Pugh is quite pleased with how the transition is going and the positive feedback she's received.
"We're not re-inventing the wheel and we all need to work together," Pugh said. "I think things are really going well and I am excited about the future."