Five local business leaders have been named to the Visit Santa Cruz County board of directors.

Joining the 25-member board for two-year terms starting July 1 are:

  • Jess Brown, executive director of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. Brown, who is on the board of directors of Leadership Santa Cruz County, has also served as chair of the Tannery Arts Center and Goodwill Central Coast boards and as president of the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, Monterey Museum of Art and Cabrillo College Foundation. 
  • Owen Lawlor, principal of Lawlor Land Use and co-managing member of SCFS Venture LLC/The Cruz Hotel. Lawlor has more than 20 years of experience in residential and commercial real estate development. He’s currently involved in projects including a 205-unit mixed-use development under construction now and the Front Street/River Street mixed-use project and the  232-room Cruz Hotel on the San Lorenzo River, both in downtown Santa Cruz.
  • Tim McDonald, general manager of Hotel Paradox. McDonald grew up in the Bay Area before managing hotels in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Miami and Dallas. He returned to the area for a position at the newly renovated and rebranded Delta Hotel in Silicon Valley in 2021 before accepting the general manager job at Hotel Paradox.
  • Keiki McKay, executive director of the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association. In addition to her role at SCMWA, where she has helped rebrand the Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains, McKay is a co-owner of two restaurants, Cantine Winepub in Aptos and Seabright Social in Seabright.
  • And Herman Wuysang, general manager of the Santa Cruz La Quinta Inn & Suites. Wuysang has more than 30 years experience in the hospitality industry, including roles at Marriott, Hyatt and IHG. He has launched new hotels, overseen major hotel renovations and has managed brand transitions. 

Visit Santa Cruz County is a nonprofit organization that works to market the region to visitors and enhance tourism and its impact on the local economy.

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