David Rotenizer, Executive Director of the Blacksburg Christiansburg Montgomery County Regional Tourism Office, is retiring effective Aug. 31, 2024.
“David has provided important vision for our regional tourism initiative during his time as the Executive Director,” said Angela Hill, Montgomery County Administrator. “We wish him all the best in his retirement.”
Rotenizer has served in the tourism industry for 25 years, and in his most recent role since the fall of 2021.
“This is home. I was born in Radford, grew up in Blacksburg, and Montgomery County has always held a special place in my heart and soul,” said Rotenizer.
“I began my public service career with Montgomery County and the two towns, and now 40 years later I end my public service with the same county and two towns – this has been a coming full circle career honor.”
Chris Lawrence, Montgomery County Deputy County Administrator, will serve as Interim Executive Director and provide the guidance needed as next steps for the Blacksburg Christiansburg Montgomery County Regional Tourism Office are determined.
As Executive Director, Rotenizer launched a virtual visitor center with a digital experience platform, which can be viewed at https://vc-gotomontva.com/. In addition, from 2022-23, he facilitated community participation in the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6), a national economic and social impact study of non-profit arts and culture organizations held every five years by Americans for the Arts. This was the first time it had ever been conducted in the New River Valley region. Most recently under Rotenizer’s leadership, a commercial highlighting Montgomery County was created and aired during the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Rotenizer applied for and received five American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants through the Virginia Tourism Corporation. Those funds were used to complete a destination optimization study; two international travel writer familiarization tours; the leading spread in the 2024 Virginia Travel Guide’s Blue Ridge Highlands section; an outdoor recreation and sports tourism inventory; and a strategic rebranding and positioning study.Prior to joining Montgomery County, Rotenizer worked for Franklin County serving as Director of Tourism with the Office of Economic Development. Prior to Franklin County, Rotenizer worked for West Virginia State University as an extension agent in community development with a specialization in historic preservation and tourism development. He worked in partnership with the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority and represented Raleigh County and the City of Beckley. He served as the first Director of Tourism for both the Carroll County Office of Tourism and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation.
Rotenizer was appointed by Governor Terry McAuliffe to the Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Foundation. He assisted with the introduction of Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Virginia is for Moonshine Lovers sub-brand; co-chaired the regional collaboration of eight counties and three cities in the establishment the Southern Virginia Tourism Region; and was involved in the launching of the Virginia Mountains Tourism Region. He helped in the development of two state-certified visitor centers and associated VDOT TODS signage and developed a certificate for certified visitor centers. He supported the creation of the Blue Ridge Plateau Marketing Area Steering Committee. Finally, he assisted in the development of The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, ‘Round the Mountain: Southwest Virginia Artisan Network and participated in special outreach projects such as the International Bluegrass Music Association’s annual “World of Bluegrass” conference and festival, and the Jamestown 2007 Commemoration.
In addition to tourism, Rotenizer’s background is comprised of community development and historic preservation, including ethnography and archaeology. From 2009-2013, he served as site manager for the Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex, a historic site, museum and collections management facility under the auspices of the West Virginia Division of Culture & History. Rotenizer served as an AmeriCorps VISTA in the economic capacity building with the Carroll County Office of Economic & Educational Development, as well as a PreserveWV AmeriCorps supervisor through the National Coal Heritage Area and the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia.
Earlier in his career, he served as the Director of Environmental Conservation in Montgomery County from 1984-1988 assisting with the development and launch of the annual Broomin’ & Bloomin’ and Renew the New environmental campaigns, as well as development of a Montgomery County recycling program which included glass, aluminum and used motor oil. He also promoted Operation Waste Watch, a K-12 environmental curriculum and was sponsor of the Riner Archaeology & Ecology Club.
Rotenizer is a current board member of the West Piedmont Planning District Commission; Blue Ridge Parkway Association; The Blue Ridge – New River Valley Chapter of the Virginia Restaurant; Lodging & Travel Association; The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail; and advisory board of the Greater SWVA Digital Collaborative.
Rotenizer is a graduate of Radford University with a bachelor’s degree in general studies and a concentration in Appalachian heritage resources. He also has completed coursework in anthropology and Appalachian studies at the University of Kentucky and general studies from New River Community College. Rotenizer is a certified Tourism Marketing Professional through completion of Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College. Lastly, he is a proud Blacksburg High School alum.
To learn more about the Blacksburg Christiansburg Montgomery County Regional Tourism Office, visit https://gotomontva.com/.
Montgomery County
