A few weeks ago, Museum director Matt Foss, assistant director and collections curator Amalia Wojciechowski, and I, had the incredible opportunity to attend the Wisconsin Governor’s Conference on Tourism held in La Crosse. This year’s theme was “Boundless,” and had an emphasis on outdoor recreation. With a packed agenda featuring industry leaders, expert panels, and a diverse group of attendees, it was an event that offered so much more than just networking—it left us all inspired to continue propelling Wisconsin forward as a tourism destination.
Amalia, Matt, and I at the tourism awards dinner
My first session of the conference was a roundtable discussion for marketing and public relations professionals. It gave us the opportunity to share ideas, discuss tools and strategies, and make connections. The experience was both informative and inspiring. I left the session with lots of ideas to bring back to the Museum.
Images of the outdoor recreation-themed opening reception.
Another highlight was when Matt spoke during a session about how to leverage major events that might be happening right in your backyard. He shared details about how one of our current exhibitions, Gridiron Garments, came to be and that the goal of hosting the exhibition is to draw tourists to Wausau as they travel to or from Green Bay for the 2025 NFL Draft. It was exciting to see our hard work celebrated at the conference.
Between sessions, we were able to explore the area and take in all that La Crosse has to offer. We were fortunate that the weather cooperated and allowed us to take our time walking along the river and through the historic downtown.
The La Crosse downtown area and my view of the river.
I am always grateful for the experiences that working at the Museum provides. Whether it’s comparing notes with other industry professionals or getting to adventure around the state, the opportunities are boundless.
