President & CEO of Visit Canton
Allyson Bussey has spent her entire career marketing and advocating for the travel and tourism industry. She has been at Visit Canton, the Stark County Convention & Visitors’ Bureau, for over 18 years. During this time, she has worn many hats beginning as the Tourism Marketing Manager and in 2016 became the President. Before her time at Visit Canton she spent 8 years at the Amish Door Village as Marketing Director. Allyson’s passion for tourism have driven her to serve in many industry leadership roles including being an Adventures in NE Ohio Board Member and Past President, an Ohio Travel Association Executive Board Member, and founder of a statewide tourism association named Ohio Has IT! She now serves on several local Boards including Arts in Stark, National First Ladies Library, the NFL Centennial Executive Committee and the BBB Charitable Foundation. Allyson has been awarded: YStark’s 20 under 40 award; Adventure in NE Ohio Excellence Award; the 2014 Ohio Travel Industry Emerging Leader Award. Allyson is a graduate of Kent State University, Leadership Stark County’s signature program and the Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy. Allyson resides in Canton with her husband, Jason, and daughter, Avery, who attends St. Thomas Aquinas.
Ticket Required. We love historic performance spaces, but funding their operations and financing their rehabilitations are significant challenges. This panel discussion will share creative ways of building your capital stack, and new models for funding resources. Jessica DeLong, Ohio Facilities Construction Commission; Mo Ater, Arts in Stark; Allyson Bussey, Visit Canton; Howard Parr, Akron Civic/Goodyear. Approved for 1.00 AIA LU Credit, sponsored by Schooley Caldwell.