To help you get to know who’s who in Illinois tourism, ITN profiles an industry leader each month. This month, we introduce Katherine Walker, president and CEO of the Macomb Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Macomb Area Convention & Visitors Bureau began operation in July 1988 to represent the City of Macomb and McDonough County in Western Illinois. As the city celebrates its 175th birthday this year, Bureau President and CEO Katherine Walker and her staff will be busy promoting the area’s wealth of offerings, which include Western Illinois University, a vibrant downtown, affordable accommodations and their popular self-guided historic barn tours.

Walker’s responsibilities are as varied as Macomb’s offerings. As a cornerstone for the area’s tourism promotion, the Bureau’s programs have included everything from hosting the St. Louis Rams summer training camp for nine years (and welcoming their scrimmage partners the Tennessee Titans and the Chicago Bears) to planning national and regional business meetings, including three visits over the past decade from National Forensic Association members. The Bureau also works closely with Roger Carmack and the other partners at the Western Illinois Tourism Development Office to promote the area and its unique attributes.

Walker’s career in tourism began in 1987 when she coordinated a travel television program that showcased Illinois in 12 major Midwest markets. She also worked at the Quincy Convention Bureau initiating their motorcoach program.

Before that, Walker had a bylined column in the Quincy Herald-Whig for more than five years. At the paper, she also worked as a feature, news and sports photographer. Her photos have been published in national magazines such as Sports Illustrated, Women’s World, Family and American Women in Business.

Active in the community, Walker is the current president of the Western Illinois Museum Board and serves as president-elect of the Macomb Rotary Club. She has been an invaluable partner to the statewide industry through her ongoing support of state-sponsored programs and initiatives. Along with Carmack, Walker established and spearheaded the annual Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism silent auction and student scholarship program, which provides scholarship awards to Illinois students pursuing a major in travel and tourism.

Throughout her career, Walker has been honored with numerous awards, including Rotary International’s Paul Harris Award and Western Illinois University’s (WIU) Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Distinguished Service Award. The Macomb CVB has also received various awards and honors during Walker’s tenure, including several Governor’s Awards for marketing excellence.

Walker is an adjunct faculty member at WIU, where she has been teaching upper-level courses since 1990 on topics such as group tour management, destination promotion and marketing, commercial recreation, and the principles of tourism. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Quincy University and a master’s degree from Western Illinois University, as well as a certificate in finance and administration from the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (now Destination Marketing Association International).

In her spare time she enjoys reading, golf and home improvement projects. Practicing what she preaches, Walker is also a passionate traveler who delights in visiting attractions and restaurants in new cities. Some of her favorite destinations include Chicago, Vancouver, Hawaii and Las Vegas. Walker has raised two children: son John, who passed away in 1997 at age 16; and daughter Karen, 19, who is busy attending college and working.

“Tourism and destination promotion has been a passion of mine for almost 20 years. It’s so interesting to see how technology and the Internet are changing the way we promote and do our business,” said Walker.

For more information about the Macomb area and its wealth of offerings, visit www.makeitmacomb.com.