(Flint, Mich., Jan. 30, 2023) On January 23, Amari Steward was promoted to executive director of Explore Flint & Genesee, a division of Flint & Genesee Group. The position opened in November of 2022 after the restructuring of departments at the Group which promoted former executive director Alaina Wiens to Chief Marketing & Communications Officer effective January 1.
“We are very pleased to find such quality talent for this position within our own organization,” says Tim Herman, chief executive officer of Flint & Genesee Group. “We employ exceptional individuals here at the Group and I can’t wait to see Amari’s continued success in her new role.”
Steward was formerly a senior sales manager for Explore Flint & Genesee and has been with the organization since 2016. Through her years with Explore Flint & Genesee, Steward has worked hard to help bring meetings and events to the area, most notably the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament which returned to Flint in 2021. Before joining Explore Flint & Genesee, Steward worked for 10 years in hospitality and hotel management with IGH and Marriot brands in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.
“Explore Flint & Genesee continues to do great work that assists the Group in advancing its vision of being a top-five community in Michigan by 2040,” says Steward. “I appreciate the opportunity to help drive tourism in Flint & Genesee while enhancing visitor experience.”
Explore Flint & Genesee is the Convention & Visitors Bureau division of Flint & Genesee Group, serving all tourism needs. Explore Flint & Genesee staff provide knowledgeable, unbiased advice and support for individuals and groups. These services are funded by the Genesee County accommodations tax and are provided at no cost.
“As a lifelong resident of Genesee County, I am honored to represent and serve this unique and proud community,” says Steward. “We have a great team that I have been working with for the past six years and I am ready to hit the ground running to help drive the economic impact that tourism brings to our region.”
Tourism is a large part of any region’s economy. In 2021, visitor spend in Genesee County was $511.3 million, an increase of 25.3% over 2020. Spending in Genesee County accounted for 41% of the total spend in the East Michigan region according to the Michigan Economic Development Association’s 2021 study of Tourism Economics.
Through her relationships at the local, state, and national levels, Steward plans to continue to foster economic impact in the community.
For more information on Explore Flint & Genesee, visit ExploreFlintandGenesee.org.