Charles Ryan Associates (CRA) recognized Alisa Bailey as the 2015 Charlie Award winner during a surprise reception at the agency’s headquarters in Charleston on Wednesday, December 9.
Bailey, who is president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), was joined by family, friends, colleagues, co-workers and others members of the community to celebrate.
“Alisa exemplifies the spirit of the Charlie Award because of her tireless pursuit of communications excellence,” said Caryn Foster Durham, managing partner/co-owner of CRA. “She is constantly looking for new ways to innovate for the brands she works for and engage new audiences.
“Alisa empowers those around her in a way that she doesn’t even recognize is special,” Foster Durham continued. “She is very deserving of this award.”
Bailey is the second individual to receive the Charlie Award – a new tradition started by CRA last year as a way to recognize outstanding professionals who demonstrate a strong dedication and commitment for excellence in the field of communications or marketing. CRA founder Charlie Ryan was given the inaugural award during CRA’s 40th anniversary in 2014.
Bailey was recognized as Tourism Professional of the Year during the West Virginia Governor’s Conference on Tourism earlier this year – an award that recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding and significant contribution that enriches West Virginia’s tourism industry, through excellent job performance, leadership in the tourism industry or development and improvement of tourism facilities and activities.
A Charleston native, Bailey returned to the area in 2012 to take the position of CEO with the CVB. Since her return, Bailey has led the CVB team in booking more than 32,000 room nights, developing a new website, securing more than $200,000 in marketing grants, launching a new
“I’m Charlie West” campaign, establishing a new visitor experience at Capitol Market, launching an ambassador program for volunteers, developing a marketing video that has received more than 24,000 views on YouTube, completing a comprehensive sales and marketing plan, and establishing new financial and personnel policies.
She previously served as president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, during which time the agency doubled its marketing budget, received numerous national awards and increased website visitation by more than 700 percent.
Prior to Bailey’s nine-year service in Virginia, she served as West Virginia’s first female Bureau Chief of Commerce, overseeing eight state agencies including Economic Development, Tourism, Natural Resources, Forestry, Geological Survey, Labor, Miners’ Health Safety & Training and the Water Development Authority. She also served as West Virginia’s state tourism director under Governors Cecil Underwood and Gaston Caperton.
In the forthcoming years, CRA will continue to honor professionals who have demonstrated excellence in communications throughout their careers.
With offices in Charleston, W.Va., and Richmond, Va., CRA comprises 27 employees and three divisions. The company offers a blend of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, interactive, crisis communications, research and social media services. Susan Lavenski and Caryn Foster Durham own the firm.
For more information about CRA, visit www.charlesryan.com and be sure to like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CharlesRyanAssociates.
