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Tourism commission reviews Engage Franklin digital contract, exec-director applicant and Q1 finances
Summary
Staff reported Engage Franklin has contracted Inet for digital services but needs admin access to social accounts; the board discussed pursuing Carrie Gribbing for executive director and heard a preliminary Q1 financial update that showed limited expenditures so far.
The Tourism Commission heard a report from staff member Laura on Engage Franklin’s recent marketing actions and preliminary finances. Laura said Engage Franklin has retained Inet on a contractual basis to handle digital services, social media and the website, and that Inet’s campaigns so far have been “very targeted.”
Laura told commissioners the only administrative hold-up is that a departing staffer removed himself as an admin on Facebook and Instagram and did not add a replacement, so Engage Franklin and Inet cannot yet post on the commission’s behalf. "We have contracted on retainer with Inet and they are currently doing that," Laura said. "The only stop up that we have there is when Brandon resigned he took himself off as an admin from Facebook but did not add anybody as an admin for Facebook which is also linked to Instagram."
The report also noted continued promotional partnerships: Engage Franklin has worked with Marquette University to promote the Greater Milwaukee Golf Show and sent materials such as sponsor bags to the event. Laura said she has not yet received hotel-stay reports tied to that weekend but expects some overnight stays.
Commissioners asked about personnel matters. Laura said the board has pursued Carrie Gribbing as an applicant for the executive-director role and asked whether the commission wanted that status included in its public report; members recommended a brief status update and indicated further detail could be discussed under business. "So that has been initiated," Laura said, describing the recruitment activity.
On finances, Laura reported that Q1 books are not closed and that the commission’s notable Q1 expenditures so far include an initial payment tied to a naming-rights commitment and the first expected payment to Inet. She characterized overall spending to date as limited.
The commission later moved into closed session under Wisconsin statute 19.851E to deliberate investing public funds and bargaining related to engaging a destination marketing organization; the chair read the statute aloud before the vote to enter closed session.
The commission returned to open session and did not record any formal hiring decision at this meeting. The commission asked staff to include a status update on the recruitment in future reports and to continue work to restore social-account administrative access so Inet can begin posting on behalf of Engage Franklin.
