Celebrating Visionary Leadership in State Tourism
Presented in partnership with the National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD), the State Tourism Director of the Year Award is one of travel’s highest honors — recognizing an exceptional leader who has made a lasting impact on travel and tourism in their state and across the industry.
This award celebrates a state tourism director whose vision, innovation and leadership have driven measurable success, elevating their state’s profile. Honorees have demonstrated outstanding ability to maximize resources, inspire their teams and create meaningful economic impact through travel and tourism.
Nominated by their NCSTD peers, award recipients represent the best of state tourism leadership — those who push our industry forward and champion bold ideas to promote travel and tourism in their state.
For more information about the State Tourism Director of the Year Award, please contact [email protected].
Congratulations to the 2025 State Tourism Director of the Year
DIANE SHOBER
Executive Director
Wyoming Office of Tourism

Previous Winners
2024 State Tourism Director of the Year
MIKE MANGEOT
Commissioner
Kentucky Department of Tourism
2023 State Tourism Director of the Year
DAVID LORENZ
Vice President
Travel Michigan
2022 State Tourism Director of the Year
WIT TUTTELL
Director
Visit North Carolina
2021 State Tourism Director of the Year
BRAD DEAN
CEO
Discover Puerto Rico
2019 State Tourism Director of the Year
DUANE PARRISH
Director
South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
2018 State Tourism Director of the Year
SARA OTTE COLEMAN
Director
North Dakota Tourism Division