Ozark Gateway Region Announces First Annual Marketing Summit in Walnut Ridge
The Ozark Gateway Region, in partnership with the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, will host its first annual Marketing Summit on Wednesday, October 9, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Lawrence County School District Auditorium. Special thanks to Jacob Kersey with Lawrence County School District for making this location possible.
This new annual event will rotate from county to county across the Ozark Gateway Region, giving each community an opportunity to showcase its unique assets while connecting local businesses, leaders, and tourism professionals.
Registration Details
- Free to attend with registration.
- Register by September 19 to receive a free lunch.
- General registration (without lunch) will remain open through October 3.
- Registration is required to attend.
Summit Highlights
The day-long event will feature a dynamic lineup of speakers and sessions designed to help businesses and communities better leverage tourism opportunities, including:
- Ozark Gateway Region – Presenting on regional grant opportunities, how to gain exposure in the Ozark Gateway Region, and practical social media scheduling and tips to reach wider audiences.
- Arkansas Tourism Representative – Sharing insight on statewide grant opportunities, regional association program, festival promotion and planning, and strategies for maximizing state resources.
- Arkansas Tourism Photographer – Offering practical tips on capturing engaging photos that connect with audiences across websites, social media, and marketing materials. How to see like a photographer.
- CJRW (State Advertising Agency) – Discussing co-op advertising opportunities to help drive more visitors your way.
- Social Media Influencers/Social Media Bloggers – Providing real-world advice on growing your online presence, engaging audiences, and attracting influencer attention to highlight local businesses.
Ozark Gateway Region Marketing Summit – Speaker Lineup
October 9 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Lawrence County School District Auditorium
Susie Cowan – Arkansas Tourism
- Grant opportunities available to counties, cities and regions
- Importance of tourism associations
- Festival promotion and planning
Kirk Jordan – Arkansas Tourism
- How to see like a photographer
- Tips for creating images that tell your story and attract visitors
Terrence Ward – Lawrence County Chamber Director & Social Media Influencer
- How to build social media presence
- How to gain exposure for your business or community
- Building a stronger presence through social media strategies
Adam Davis – Superintendent, Mammoth Spring State Park & Social Media Influencer
- Capturing and editing engaging video content
- How to showcase experiences that draw attention online
Gez Rogers – Social Media Blogger (Waterfalls in AR, Other Cool Places, Find a Place Arkansas)
- Reaching wider audiences through social media
- Capturing the type of content people are searching for and want to share
Tiffany Maltezo – CJRW (State Advertising Agency)
- Co-op opportunities with Arkansas Tourism
- Expanding your reach through Arkansas.com and statewide publications
Crystal Crow – Ozark Gateway Region President & Cathy Drew – Ozark Gateway Region Director
- Co-op opportunities through Ozark Gateway Region
- Social media scheduling made simple
- Additional ways Ozark Gateway can help market your business and community
Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late ’60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit.
Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000.
After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Over the years, Drew has helped the organization meet new marketing goals, such as in- and out-of-state marketing, assuring that all 100,000 copies of their magazines are distributed each year.
In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Drew was featured in several local and statewide publications over the years, as well as the 1997 cover of the Ozark Gateway Region tabloid, along with her then 4-year-old son, Jon. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow.
She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training.
Drew is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs’ current membership chair.
In March of 2018, Drew was honored with induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry.