Staci Martin of Virginia Beach is the region’s new Tourism Development Specialist, serving the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula and the Eastern Shore.

In her new position with the Virginia Tourism Corporation, Martin will work with tourism industry partners to facilitate the development of community-based tourism programs, new product and tourism-related businesses. She will also be responsible for providing strategic tourism planning, technical assistance, product development guidance, cooperative marketing advice and consulting services to the region. She will also be in charge of connecting tourism industry representatives with VTC services.

Martin spent the past 10 years as Visitor Services Specialist with Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation’s division of state parks. While there, she managed public relations and marketing for seven coastal state parks. According to VTC spokesperson Caroline Logan, Martin helped to secure over $500,000 of outside...