Kalene Griffith is the president and CEO of Visit Bentonville, which promotes the city of Bentonville as a world-class travel destination. Griffith played competitive softball at Dodge City Community College and rugby at Kansas State University. She started her community-focused career at Dodge City Parks and Recreation as the adult sports coordinator, which led to her being hired years later as the president and CEO of Visit Bentonville in 2005.
As the mother of a competitive athlete, ranging from soccer and basketball to softball, she continues to witness firsthand the experience of tourism in other cities as she travels to attend her daughter’s softball games and tournaments. Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed Griffith to the Arkansas State Parks, Heritage and Tourism Commission. She is a board member of the Southeast Tourism Society, the Arkansas Hospitality Association Travel Council, the Arkansas Association of Convention Visitors Bureau, Bentonville Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Bentonville Inc., Bentonville Public Arts Advisory Board, Bentonville History Museum, Dress For Success and Amazeum Children’s Museum.
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