Washington County Visitors Association Announces New Personnel | Sports Destination Management

Washington County Visitors Association Announces New Personnel

Share
Jan 24, 2022

The Washington County Visitors Association (WCVA) is pleased to announce that Luke Zak has joined the organization as its new Sports Destination Sales Executive. In his new role, Zak will be charged with organizing and leading the destination group sales and service function for the sports and social, military, educational, religious, and fraternal group (SMERF) markets.

An MBA graduate of the University of Oregon Warsaw Sports Marketing Center, Zak brings over a decade of sports management and tourism experience to the organization, through working extensively with numerous governing bodies and their partnering destination marketing and management organizations (DMMOs) in event development organization roles.

“We are thrilled to have Luke join the sales team,” said Dave Parulo, President and CEO of the WCVA. “His sports event expertise will help us bring value to our community and sports-related partners and expand the positive economic impact we create, together, with our stakeholders.”

Zak furthered his interest in sports, leadership, business, and community during his time at the University of Oregon, where he had the opportunity to deliver strategic guidance to best-in-class clients. His work included preparing a case study, which was presented to the Portland Timbers, as well as a capstone strategic planning project executed in collaboration with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

In addition to his studies, Zak interned with Wasserman, an industry-leading sports and entertainment agency, over the summer of 2020.  He also served as operations manager for the Minnesota Wind Chill, an American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL) team.

Tualatin Valley/Washington County has been a longtime preferred sports destination for sports events, and facilities in the destination have been recognized as some of the best in the region. The diversity of events hosted in Tualatin Valley include the American Junior Golf Association’s All-Star InvitationalMaster’s International Badminton ChampionshipsUnited States Tennis Association’s Davis Cup Men’s Quarterfinals, the International Ultra Triathlon Association’s World Championship Double Anvil and many more events.

ABOUT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY VISITORS ASSOCIATION:
The Washington County Visitors Association (WCVA) is the official destination marketing organization for Washington County, Oregon, promoting the county under the destination brand Tualatin Valley. The mission of the organization is to inspire individual and group consumers to visit the Tualatin Valley, making a sustained and measurable economic impact through tourism.

ABOUT TUALATIN VALLEY:
Tualatin Valley is scenically situated between Portland and the Oregon Coast in the Pacific Northwest. The valley is the gateway to the famed Willamette Valley wine country and the Tillamook Forest, and provides an array of outdoor recreation opportunities, scenic wetlands and wildlife preserves, performing and visual arts, superb dining, and tax-free shopping. The destination’s thriving business sector includes the Nike World Headquarters, Columbia Sportswear Corporate Headquarters, Leupold & Stevens Corporate Headquarters, Intel Corporate and numerous other high-tech businesses.

(Click to Expand)