Tourism Council

Meet the Staff

Below is a list of Tourism Council staff members with email addresses. You may contact staff directly, call our office at 401-724-2200, or send a general email.

Robert Billington President bvri@aol.com Serves as President and CEO of the Council and for over twenty years has led the charge to bring the Valley communities together to create outstanding tourism in the Blackstone Valley through pride of place, education, development along the Blackstone River, community development, and job creation.

Natalie Carter Director of Operations natalie@tourblackstone.com Serves as Director of Operations, Business Manager, and grant writer. Co-chairs the Blackstone Valley and Amber Valley Compact, an international relationship with the Amber Valley in England.

Lilly Kayamba Market Analyst Group Tour Manager Elderhostel Administrator BVTCLilly@aol.com Designs and promotes group tours to tour operators throughout the United States. Lilly also researches, develops and administers Rhode Island history art and cultural programs for Elderhostel, the nation’s first and the world’s largest travel and education organization for adults 55 and older.

Donna Houle Special Projects Manager donna@tourblackstone.com Serves as Manager of the Blackstone Valley Scenic Railway Tours providing narrated train tours of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and assists in special programs and also manages the Visual Library and  Co-chairs the Annual Dinner Meeting and Auction.

Amanda Wood Office Manager Translator amanda@tourblackstone.com Serves as Office Manager and coordinates the Rhode Island Chinese Dragon Boat Race and Festival and Blackstone Valley Heritage Golf Tournament as well as transportation and reservation manager for all vessels and vehicles owned and operated by the Council, and serves as our Portuguese and Spanish translator.

Olon Reeder Public Affairs Intergovernmental Relations olon@tourblackstone.com President and CEO of Reeder Associates and works on location representing Council interests. Since October 1992, Reeder Associates has represented the Council and facilitates media relations, promotes and publishes the region’s social, cultural, historic and recreational events and activities, develops a public relations strategy and related activity.

Ramon Rodriguez River Engineer info@tourblackstone.com Serves as Port Manager for all Council vessels including the Blackstone Valley Explorer, the Samuel Slater Canal Boat and the Spirit of the Blackstone.

Patricia McAlpine Blackstone River Education Coordinator patti@tourblackstone.com Serves as coordinator of the Blackstone Valley Explorer programs including “RiverClassroom,” and serves as editor of the electronic newsletter.

Kristin Zawistowski Keep America Beautiful Coordinator kristin@tourblackstone.com Serves as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer implementing “Keep the Blackstone Valley Beautiful,” an affiliate of "Keep America Beautiful."

Lesley McLaughlin Program Assistant Lesley@tourblackstone.com Serves as administrative and marketing support for various projects and programs, including the Canoe Trail, Travel Experiences and Tour Rhode Island.

Gordon Beeton Information Architect Gordon@tourblackstone.com Serves as the Council’s Information Architect, responsible for collecting and disseminating data and serves as Education Outreach and Interpretive Planner for compliance with the United Nations ’World Tourism Organizations’ SBEST initiative. Is an educator aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer riverboat, and serves as Race Director for the Rhode Island Chinese Dragon Boat Race.

Lorraine Provencher Special Project Coordinator/Website Content Manager bvfootsteps@aol.com Serves as Project Coordinator for the Blackstone Valley Preserve America Footsteps In History Weekend working with all the REACH partners throughout Blackstone River Valley of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Manages content of all Blackstone Valley Tourism Council websites. Visitor Center Wendy Jencks Visitor Center Manager wendy@tourblackstone.com Serves as Manager of the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center and coordinator of visitor center projects, including Visitor Center celebrations. Delivers tourism brochures and flyers to the entire Blackstone River Valley.

 

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Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, On the banks of the Blackstone, 175 Main Street, Pawtucket, Rhode Island  02860 
1-800-454-BVTC (2882)  Local: 401-724-2200 Fax: 401-724-1342 info@tourblackstone.com