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Mark Eckman, Executive Director

Duties

Mark leads the UNstoppable CBCVB team with responsibilities involving strategic planning, financial management, staff supervision, as well as local and regional partnership development. Not to mention, he educates area stakeholders on how much visitors contribute to local businesses and local government with more than $300 million in travel expenditures spent annually in Pottawattamie County.

Biography

Mark was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and eventually moved to the Okoboji, Iowa area. There he graduated with his high school diploma and was first introduced to working in the travel industry. Through that, he learned about the impact of tourism by working at businesses entirely dependent on travelers such as restaurants and local accommodations.

He received a bachelor’s degree in journalism/public relations with a minor in business from the University of Iowa. In his first post-college position, he led the Villages of Van Buren, Inc. which promoted rural Van Buren County as a travel destination. The organization launched Bike Van Buren and the Van Buren County Scenic Drive which continue to occur more than 30 years later. After three and a half years, he became the group travel manager for the Iowa Tourism Office. His position and responsibilities evolved over the next 16 years and involved ag tourism, international travel promotion, advertising creation/placement, partnership development, and event planning. Next, Mark returned to southeast Iowa to lead the Ottumwa Area Convention & Visitors Bureau for four and a half years and during that time landed the opportunity for Ottumwa to host the Iowa Tourism Conference for the first time. On December 1, 2014, he assumed the role of CBCVB executive director. During his tenure, the Council Bluffs CVB has been recognized for its website and social media efforts and was named outstanding community of the year by Iowa Tourism.

In his free time, Mark likes to travel to see friends and relatives, including his sister’s family in the Twin Cities and his brother’s son and daughter in North Carolina. As an Iowa grad, he is a big Hawkeye fan and gets to a home football game once a year. His favorite professional football team is the San Francisco 49ers, but he also roots for the Vikings, Chiefs, and Bears. Concerts and theater are other favorite past times along with reading biographies.

Scott Hoffman, Director of Hospitality

Duties

As the director of hospitality, Scott operates the CBCVB's Iowa Welcome Center to ensure each visitor has an UNforgettable time in Council Bluffs.

Biography

Scott was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and has stayed close to home ever since.  In high school, Scott started in the food and beverage/hospitality industry in the Omaha metro area until the Kanesville Queen arrived in Council Bluffs.  In the fall of 1997, Scott began his career in the world of gaming and extensive food and beverage at the casinos.  Soon, Council Bluffs became a second home and Scott became involved in the community, finding the people warm and welcoming.  Community Involvement came quite easily, as giving back just seemed the natural thing to do. 

Over the past couple of decades, Scott has been involved volunteering for Iowa Western Community College, the Bluffs Arts Council, MICAH House, Celebrate CB, Jennie Edmundson’s Spirit of Courage, and the Midlands Humane Society to name a few.  Scott is currently on the Board of the Union Pacific Museum as well as staying connected with some of the previously mentioned organizations.  Scott has been fortunate to work in the community at places including Harveys, Harrah’s, STIR Cove, Horseshoe, the Mid-America Center, and most recently, Ameristar Casino and Hotel as the executive sales manager.  Staying so involved in the community, it just made sense for him to take on this new role with the Council Bluffs Convention & Visitors Bureau to help 'Bring it to CB', which he has been doing and enjoying for years.

Outside of work, Scott enjoys all things outdoors, especially with his two Labrador retrievers, Buff and CoCo, by his side. He also enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

Kathy Rosene, Director of Sales

Duties

To event planners, Kathy brings UNbeatable passion and experience in selling Council Bluffs as an ideal location for meetings and conventions. What’s more, she possesses UNmatched attention to detail and an UNequaled ability in building relationships that make CB the planner’s best choice.

Biography

Kathy Rosene was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and attended North High School.    She got into the hospitality business at the Sioux City Hilton when she was offered the job of sales manager for the property.  It was a career path that she knew was for her!  She then migrated down to Omaha as the national sales manager for the Red Lion Hotel in downtown Omaha.  There she traveled the country representing the entire hotel chain.

From the Red Lion Hotel, she moved to her "dream job" as national sales manager for the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau.   She traveled all over the United States and Canada representing Omaha by making presentations to boards and making sales calls on Associations and corporations from Washington DC to cities on the West coast.   After 22 years she "retired" and went back into hotel sales working with Hilton, Wyndham, and IHG properties.  She has been active in several industry groups and was Supplier of the year for the Kansas City chapter of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals.  She was also a member of the Sertoma Club of Omaha for many years.

In her free time, Kathy loves to be with her family.   Sioux City is still "home base" for her family and she has three younger sisters and three nieces and a nephew along with great-nieces and nephews.   She loves to garden, golf, play Scrabble and is active in her church, and enjoys spending time with the many amazing friends she has met over the years in the tourism industry. 

Emma Schwaller, Director of Marketing

Duties

As director of marketing, Emma creates and manages the exciting content you consume on UNleashCB.com and the Council Bluffs Convention & Visitors Bureau’s social media pages. She promotes Council Bluffs and shares things to do in the city and Pottawattamie County through web and social media copy, blogs, photos, digital advertisements, and videos.

Biography

Emma was proudly born and raised here in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She spent the majority of her childhood exploring the breathtaking Loess Hills with her family. She graduated from Lewis Central High School and continued her education at Iowa State University where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary design.

During her time in Ames, Emma managed a photo scanning and printing business that was located in the Main Street Cultural District. Here she found that she was very passionate about photographs, specifically the stories and people behind them. As the director of content, Emma is here to share the story of Council Bluffs by highlighting the city’s UNbelievable destinations, and UNforgettable people.

When she isn’t promoting the great city of Council Bluffs, you can find Emma creating art in her studio, gardening with her husband, or cuddled up listening to podcasts with her two mischievous cats, Otis and Henry.