Susan Lisak has been hired as the new director of the Dolores Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center.
Lisak has a professional background in marketing and has been active with the Dolores and Cortez Chambers. She is public relations director for the Rotary Club of Dolores, and will take over as club president in July.
Her role as chamber director is to promote local businesses and tourism. Some of her goals include improving the website, meeting each business owners face-to-face, and creating pamphlets and maps that highlight things to do in Dolores and vicinity.
“I’m excited to start working with businesses in the area,” she said. “I will be managing the visitor’s center and helping tourists when they come to town.”
Creating town maps with all the businesses in town, parks, and trails is one of her plans.
“That way, a visitor knows where to go to eat and stay the night, where to buy supplies, browse a gallery, get coffee, or see live music,” she said.
Dolores has a lot to offer, but if a visiting family is unsure of where to go for fun, they may just travel on down the road.
To get them to stay, they need a map showing where the river trail is, fishing access, and how to get to “The Beach,” a popular spot for swimming and boating. Highlighting the new McPhee Overlook Trail with its stunning views of the McPhee Reservoir is also important for the memorable visitor experience.
Beyond town, of course there are many places to explore, Lisak says, but the goal is to make Dolores the base camp they come back to each night.
“We want to promote one-day, two-day, three-day and weeklong itineraries,” she says.
As chamber director, she will also help organize local festivals including the Dolores River Festival, Escalante Days and Nights, and the October Harvest Festival.
Lisak was recognized as the 2018 Dolores Citizen of the Year for her volunteering enthusiasm, positive attitude, and organizational skills.
She moved to Dolores in 2014 after a long career in the hospitality and marketing industry in a bigger city.
“When I moved to Dolores, it was part of my plan to get out of the corporate race and get more involved in the community,” Lisak said. “This town has been very receptive, and I hope to work with everybody to keep Dolores a great place.”
She takes over the reigns from former director Rocky Moss, who is the current Cortez Chamber of Commerce director.
For more information on Dolores check out the chamber website and its Facebook page.
jmimiaga@the-journal.com
