Plover hires first tourism director

By Brandi Makuski

Plover has hired its first-ever tourism director.

The Plover Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (PACVB) last week hired Malorie Paine to fill the role.

Paine stood out among the 40-plus applicants for the role, according to PACVB Board Chairman Chris Brooks. She has a decade of marketing, communications, journalism, and event management background. Paine earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Communications from the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Most recently, she worked as the marketing/communications manager for the Food + Farm Exploration Center, which is scheduled to open this summer.

“Her recent work has gained her the knowledge of what Plover is and what Plover needs while having bigger overall goals. This is a big win for the Central Wisconsin area,” Brooks said in a statement on Wednesday. “We are excited to gain Malorie’s experience from some of the biggest stages in the country and bring that vision and talent to our community.”

Paine will start her new role on June 5.

The village left its 30-year partnership with the Stevens Point Area Convention and Visitors Bureau last October. Village leaders said they weren’t happy with its representation in marketing efforts and joined forces with the town of Plover.

The five-member Tourism Commission consists of two representatives from the village, two representatives from the town, and a business representative. Members include Brooks, Josh Patel as vice-chair, Ross Ballard, as secretary, Village President Gary Wolf, and Kathleen Langlois, a business owner from the town.

The Commission’s office, operated by Paine, will be located in the village’s municipal building, 2400 Post Rd.