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Black Hills News StoriesGo back to News ArticlesNort Johnson Selected as President & CEO of Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes AssociationRAPID CITY, S.D. (8/2/10) -- Nort Johnson, Sturgis, has been selected as the President and CEO of Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Association, the private sector's tourism marketing corporation for western South Dakota. He will take the reins of South Dakota's largest tourism trade association on October 12, replacing Bill Honerkamp, who is retiring.Johnson is a Minnesota native with career experiences as a printing plant manager, running an in-house marketing agency, and as an economic development promoter. He is currently Vice President for Marketing at BHB&L Association, a position he took in March 2010. The hiring was announced by Josh Daiss, general manager of Mount Rushmore KOA Kampground near Hill City. Daiss is BHB&L's 2010 Chairman of the Board of Directors and also headed the CEO Executive Transition Committee that began searching for a new CEO last September. He said, "Nort was selected from among 200 candidates for BHB&L boss. Black Hills & Badlands is a marketing organization, and we picked a savvy marketer to lead the operation." The full BHB&L Board of Directors formally approved Johnson's promotion at a meeting on July 29. Johnson will be only the ninth CEO to direct BHB&L since it began promoting tourism in 1939. "I am blessed with this opportunity to build on 70 years of Black Hills & Badlands marketing equity," he said. "Continuing our good work while developing cutting-edge strategies to attract more guests, expand the visitor season and increase visitor spending are challenges we are prepared to meet." Johnson's background includes eight years as general manager of Cannon Valley Publishing in Northfield, Minn., and two years as production manager at Marshall Publishing in Marshall, Minn., where he directed the creative, pre-press, printing and fulfillment departments. In 1996, Johnson became manager of The Schwan Food Company's print and fulfillment services in Marshall, a position he held for more than 10 years. There he managed an in-house marketing staff of 19 as well as outside contractors. Schwan's sales strategies included market research, multi-media advertising direct to consumers, wholesale-retail promotions, point of sale and variable data marketing. He spent four years as an economic development director in Marshall and in Sturgis, SD. He joined the BHB&L staff in March, in time to finish up the Association's 2010 spring ad campaign, publish Exploring the Black Hills & Badlands magazine and contribute to the Black Hills Digital Strategy's online marketing. Johnson has four grown children and 5 grandchildren. He enjoys camping, four-wheeling the Black Hills backcountry, motorcycling, hiking and the diverse attractions of western South Dakota. BHB&L Association is headquartered in the Black Hills Visitor Information Center along I-90 in Rapid City. A staff of 12 full time and 12 seasonal and hourly employees runs a $1.8 million program of advertising, publications, public relations, direct sales and online promos to lure vacationers to the Black Hills. BHB&L's trade territory includes 12 counties in western South Dakota, plus Crook and Weston counties in Wyoming. The organization is privately funded by about 500 member businesses. Current BHB&L President Bill Honerkamp completes 30 years with the organization on October 1, and will step down. A retirement party is planned in conjunction with the organization's annual meeting on October 28. -30- CONTACT: |
