Amelia Island VP named executive director

VCB Board Chairman Charles Cox reported to Historic City News that Richard Goldman has been named as the executive director of the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Goldman replaces Cox who has served as the organization’s interim director during the search for a permanent executive director.

“We are extremely pleased that Richard will be bringing his wealth of experience and proven track record of success to our Visitors and Convention Bureau,” Cox said. “This is a critical time for tourism in St. Johns County and I know all of the members of the VCB Board of Directors share my conviction that Richard is truly the right person to lead the VCB to even greater success in its work to market the county as one of the nation’s truly outstanding destinations.”

Goldman most recently served as the senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Amelia Island Plantation where he was responsible for directing all of the marketing efforts for the 1350-acre resort. A past chairman of VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism marketing organization, Goldman continues to serve on its Executive and Government Relations Committees. He is also immediate vice chair of the Florida Commission on Tourism and has served as a board member of the Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach, Yulee Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to joining Amelia Island Plantation in 1998, Goldman spent 17 years with Ryder and Schild Advertising where he served as the vice president of marketing and research for more than 10 years. He also gained considerable experience as the agency’s vice president of marketing and media services, as well as media director. He began his career in 1978 as a media planner with the marketing and advertising giant Ogilvy & Mather.

A graduate of the University of Florida, Goldman will be responsible for providing overall direction for maintaining and enhancing St. Johns County’s success as a popular tourism destination. As executive director of the VCB, he will supervise the organization’s marketing, advertising, public relations and sales efforts funded entirely with tourist development tax dollars paid by overnight visitors to the county.