Three staff changes have been made at the Fredericksburg Department of Economic Development and Tourism, resulting from the recent retirements of Lura Hill and Karen Hedelt.
Business Development Manager
Angela Freeman has been hired as the city’s Business Development Manager.
“It’s not a new position, but rather a changed title from Assistant Director for Economic Development,” said Director Bill Freehling. “It’s the position I vacated when I became the department director after Karen Hedelt retired. The new title reflects that the focus of the job is business development — both recruitment of new businesses and expansion of existing ones.”
Freeman spent the last five years working for a government contractor in Dumfries, Freehling said. Prior to that, she spent 10 years focused on business recruitment for the City of Hampton economic development office. She has a bachelor of science degree in business management from Hampton University.
As Business Development Manager, Freeman’s primary responsibility will be working with developers, commercial real estate brokers, and prospects to bring new businesses and projects to the city of Fredericksburg. Business recruitment is one of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s top priorities, according to Fredericksburg City Manager Tim Baroody.
“Angela rose to the top in reviewing more than 40 resumes,” Baroody said. “We were impressed with her public- and private-sector background, poise, and on-the-ground experience in economic development.”
Freeman begins her position on Monday, Feb. 13, 2017.
Tourism Sales Manager
Victoria Matthews was promoted from her part-time position of Conference Sales and Services Coordinator to the full-time position of Tourism Sales Manager.
She replaces Lura Hill, who retired from the city in January, after a 30-year career.
Before joining the city in 2006, Matthews worked in meeting planning for the Irrigation Association, The Vision Council, and Bieneck International, Inc. She has a bachelor’s degree in international relations and German from Lynchburg College.
Matthews begins her position on Monday, Feb. 13.
Conference Sales and Services Coordinator
Clint Manning has been hired to replace Victoria Matthews as Conference Sales and Services Coordinator. He comes to the city from a background in the international hospitality industry, Freehling said.
Manning grew up in Barbados, then earned a bachelor of science degree in sport management and marketing from Limestone College in South Carolina, and a master of education in marketing and sport administration from the University of Miami.
He worked as executive director and tourism consultant for properties in Barbados, including the Barbados Brazilian Club and The Mint Travel Collection.
He then moved to Brazil, learned Portuguese, and started his own company in the travel industry, Freehling said.
Manning moved to Fredericksburg in 2015 to be with his fiancée, and continued his sales and marketing work.
More
Bill Freehling Named Fredericksburg’s Director of Economic Development and Tourism
City Council Honors Karen Hedelt
City Accepting Applications for Business Development Manager
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