DANVILLE, IN (December 1, 2022) –A Hendricks County tourism professional, who has spent two decades putting the county on the tourism map, celebrated her 20th year with Visit Hendricks County this month.
Visit Hendricks County Executive Director/CEO Jaime Bohler Smith’s work has made a difference locally in terms of destination development and job creation, and she has positioned herself and Hendricks County as a leader in the state for tourism.
“Jaime is consistently providing counsel to other destination executives in the areas of fiscal responsibility, community relations and marketing,” said Carrie Lambert, executive director of the Indiana Tourism Association (ITA). “We are simply a stronger industry because of Jaime’s influence.”
Smith joined Visit Hendricks County in 2002 and has grown the organization to more than $3 million in tax collections while working her way up from serving in sales, marketing and communications to her current role as executive director/CEO which she has held since 2014.
Her humble beginnings in tourism included fulfilling the catering orders for the Capital Improvement Board of Managers for Marion County (CIB) — meetings where she now sits as a member of that same board — to delivering guided bus tours of Brown County State Park during her time at the Brown County CVB. She also was recently recognized as the Indiana Tourism Association’s Member of the Year, one of the highest honors that organization gives and was a two-time finalist for Indy’s Best and Brightest.
Her other roles include current President of the ITA having previously held the offices of Vice President and President, chairman of the ITA’s Government Relations committee and an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Tourism, Event and Sport Management at IUPUI.
Under her leadership, Hendricks County tourism continues to thrive in tracked metrics including overnight hotel room stays and visitor spending. That success correlates directly to boosting the local economy and developing a vibrant community as research has shown if you build a place where people want to visit, it becomes a destination where people want to live and work.
Her love for Hendricks County runs deeper than tourism though. She was born and raised in Hendricks County and returned in 2002 after living in various Indiana communities early in her career. She now lives in Pittsboro with her husband Scott to raise their family, which includes son Connor and daughter Paige. She has served on the Hendricks County Senior Services and Hendricks County Parks and Recreation Board of Directors and many other local organizations.
She’s also a member the Board of Directors for the Tri West Youth Football and Cheer Organization, the Pittsboro PTA and volunteers for various Hendricks County 4-H clubs and activities.
“I have the unique perspective of promoting and developing the community I grew up in so I’m sure my 15-year-old self would be shocked to see me today working in my hometown,” Smith said. “I am proof that Indiana and Hendricks County can offer a quality place to visit as well as live, work, raise a family and so much more.”
The Hendricks County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc. d/b/a Visit Hendricks County attracts visitors to the county by promoting and developing tourism, which stimulates economic growth and enhances quality of life. Find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/VisitHendricksCounty and become a fan for updates and reminders, contest info and much more. You can also follow us on Twitter @HendricksCounty or get updates by following or subscribing to our tourism blog at VisitHendricksCounty.com/blog. For more information, visit our website at VisitHendricksCounty.com or call (317) 718-8750.
