Unleash Council Bluffs Executive Director Mark Eckman intends to retire in March 2027 after serving in his role for 12 years. Eckman began as the first executive director of the organization, formerly known as the Council Bluffs Convention & Visitors Bureau, on December 1, 2014, shortly after it was formed as a 501(c)6 nonprofit. Unleash Council Bluffs promotes the city as a visitor destination to capture the expenditures and tax revenue generated by travelers.
The Unleash Council Bluffs Board of Directors has started taking steps to address Eckman’s upcoming departure. “Over the past 12 years, both the board and staff have worked diligently to create the solid foundation that exists today. It is one that produces significant dollars in county visitor expenditures and more than three million dollars in city tax revenue annually,” said Arian Haddix, president of the Unleash Council Bluffs Board of Directors. “We are uniquely positioned to build on these accomplishments and propel the city and region into an even more vibrant future through strategic efforts to promote tourism and highlight what makes the region UNlike anywhere else,” Haddix said.
Since its founding in 2014, Unleash Council Bluffs has earned 16 state tourism awards for the outstanding leadership, achievements, and experiences the city and county possess. Three of the awards honored Council Bluffs as the outstanding community of the year by the Iowa Tourism Office in 2017, 2020, and 2023. What’s more, Council Bluffs hotel/motel tax collections have exceeded $3.18 million for the first time ever over the past five years, totaling more than $16.6 million in income for the City of Council Bluffs.
“I am particularly proud of how Unleash Council Bluffs’ marketing efforts have evolved over the years,” said Eckman. “Few organizations, if any, disseminate as much positive and impactful messaging that speaks to all the reasons to spend time in Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County. That is underscored by the unrivaled event calendar on UNleashCB.com,” he said. “I am thankful for the opportunity to lead CB’s tourism efforts and look forward to seeing the great things Unleash Council Bluffs will accomplish going forward,” Eckman said.
Unleash Council Bluffs serves as a catalyst to grow Pottawattamie County’s visitor economy through collaborative sales and marketing, destination advocacy, and sustainable placemaking activities.
