TDC hires executive director

The South Walton Tourist Development Council has found a new director – the current one.
On May 12, the TDC council and the Walton County Board of County Commissioners voted to appoint current interim executive director Sonny Mares to the head position.
“I’m delighted,” said Mares. “We have a great team here.
“(Everyone) is familiar with the operations and the mission. I look forward to continuing that relationship.”
The TDC Council hired Performance Management, Inc. to do a nationwide search for candidates and ultimately decided on Mares after a county search committee interviewed the top candidates.
Mares took over the interim director position earlier this year when Kriss Titus left after nine years as director. Overall, Mares has 30-plus years of experience as director of convention and visitor bureaus across the nation in large cities such as Milwaukee, Jacksonville and Mobile.
 “He was a fantastic choice,” said TDC Director of Public Relations and Visitor Services Tracy Louthain. “He’s intimately experienced and even went through the strategic planning session.”
Since the retirement of Titus, the TDC and Mares have been in the spotlight over the removal of the controversial blue directional signs, particularly on 30A.  Last month the TDC Council voted to remove the community signs, but keep the directional ones until a new design could be implemented.
According to Mares, the TDC has a very solid goal and will work to reach out to their clients.
“We are working to collaborate and show inclusiveness,” he said. “We want to reach out to our specific sponsors.”