Stone Joins Calvert County, Maryland Department of Economic Development as Tourism Specialist

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md., -- April 3, 2006 - The Calvert County, Maryland Department of Economic Development is pleased to announce that Erica Stone has joined their staff as tourism specialist.

Stone, a 20-year resident of Calvert County, comes to the Department after a six-year career with the United Service Organizations (USO) in Arlington, Va., as a communications specialist. She brings with her a wealth of marketing experience, media contacts and plans for streamlining, updating and expanding the County’s tourism initiatives. “I have always felt that Calvert County is one of Maryland’s gems; in fact, I’m probably the County’s most enthusiastic cheerleader,” she said. “There is so much potential here for developing fresh and progressive tourism programs for seniors, students and group tour operators plus there’s the whole untapped market of baby boomers that resides just a short drive away in Washington, D.C.,” she said. “Being offered this position is truly an honor. This is the opportunity I have always dreamed of – working to market tourism in my home County.”

Stone graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations. Her work at the USO included marketing research, management of public relations campaigns for major tours and worldwide entertainment activities, media pitches and extensive use of print and electronic products to publicize USO events. Ms. Stone also possesses extensive writing experience.

Linda Vassallo, director of the Calvert County, Md. Department of Economic Development, is certain that Stone’s talent and experience will be useful in marketing the many qualities that make Calvert County an attractive tourist destination. “Calvert County is lucky to have someone on board with Erica’s skill and enthusiasm,” she said. “She has great ideas, knows the County extremely well and is eager to bring fresh plans and measurable results to our tourism and marketing programs.”

“One of the first things our team will focus on is the education of our citizens about the local tourism attractions,” Vassallo said. “With so many things to see and do locally, we hope that continued education of our citizens about the local tourism community will result in an outstanding ambassador program.”

Another key area that the Department of Economic Development will immediately focus on is the County’s tourism cooperative marketing efforts with tourism industry partners. “A new outreach tool is being implemented to further engage the tourism business community,” Vassallo said. “This will ensure that all of our interested partners will have an opportunity to participate in this program, which is strongly supported by the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development, Office of Tourism Development.”

For more information on the Calvert County, Maryland Department of Economic Development, our visitor sites and attractions and the services available to assist County businesses, call 410.535.4583, 800.331.9771 or 301.855.1880; or send an e-mail to info@ecalvert.com