USA: Tourism Commission To Have New Boss Soon

A state official helping the Nebraska Tourism Commission search for its new executive director says she hopes a replacement for fired director Kathy McKillip can be hired within 60 days.

State Personnel Director Margie Bell gave tourism commissioners the timeline during a Friday morning meeting in a conference room at the Lincoln Community Foundation building.

McKillip was fired May 26 after an examination by state Auditor Charlie Janssen's office uncovered various questionable expenses and business practices by the commission under her leadership. The agency has been without a permanent director since.

Many of the audit findings centered on costs associated with the "Nebraska Nice" campaign, which was crafted by advertising firm Bailey Lauerman under McKillip's guidance.

Some in the travel industry have said they hope McKillip's firing leads to a new tourism campaign with a different slogan.

Bailey Lauerman is continuing to work on phase two of "Nebraska Nice" under an existing contract, staff from the firm told commissioners Friday.

Also Friday, commissioners appointed Deputy Director Heather Hogue to serve as interim director of the independent state agency until a permanent leader is hired.

Bell's timeline for the search is aggressive, said Commission Chairman John Chapo.

"I think it's important," he said. "And I think it's our highest priority."

Bell will help a seven-person subcommittee with the executive director search. The committee is led by Commissioner Deb Loseke of Columbus and includes commissioners Lisa Burke of North Platte, Roger Kuhn of Lincoln and Roger Dixon of Omaha, along with noncommissioners Jeff Maul of the Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau, Keith Backsen of the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau and Mike Kesselring, a former commissioner from Crawford.