The Colorado City and County Management Association (CCCMA) named City of Montrose Assistant City Manager, Rob Joseph, the 2016 Assistant City Manager of the Year at the 2017 Winter Conference in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The award was made in recognition of and honor to Joseph’s significant contributions to local government in Colorado. Joseph has served as Assistant City Manager and Director of the Office of Business and Tourism (OBT) since 2013. Regarding the award, City Manager Bell stated, “I am very proud to have Rob Joseph on our city's management team. Rob has accomplished great things for both the city organization and for the Montrose community over the past several years. Rob's efforts have helped to establish a foundation of excellence here at the city and it is especially rewarding to see that he is now being recognized by his peers across the state for his hard work and dedication to the field of public administration."
Joseph’s accomplishments and successes far exceed the 2016 timeframe. However, 2016 represents yet another year of tremendous success, marked in part by the OBT’s successful designation as a Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) organization under his leadership. In August 2016, DMAI and tourism professionals worldwide recognized his leadership, vision, and inspiration by electing him to join the prestigious DMAI Board of Directors. Rob now sits next to tourism powerhouses Brand USA and NYC & Company, representing Visit Montrose, the City of Montrose, and the State of Colorado, internationally.
Rob’s expertise in education, his eye for innovation, and his ever-entrepreneurial spirit have contributed to his ability to build strong relationships within Montrose and with industry partners, including the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO), the Colorado Association of Destination Marketing Associations (CADMO), Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), and Miles Media, among others. He has also enfolded key regional agencies from both a tourism and marketing sense as well as regional partnerships into his inner circle. These include the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), History Colorado’s Ute Indian Museum (UIM), the Museum of the Mountain West (MMW), and the Black Canyon National Park Service (NPS). By getting to know the marketplace and aligning himself with the best in the area and the industry, Rob’s resourcefulness and enterprising approach positioned Montrose as a future leader in Colorado tourism. It has also lent itself to building numerous bridges throughout the community which have helped to further engrain the city’s vision for and commitment to building its resources, assets, and the overall well-being of residents and visitors alike.
Mr. Joseph was quick to understand and embrace the idea that community relationship management is fundamental to local government as well as to community marketing and how it fits into the community marketing framework. Through his leadership, he has built a team which continuously strives to coordinate a message among the entire community of Montrose, expanding beyond traditional tourism partnerships to include organizations such as the hospital, recreation district, and school district. His inclusive stature and willingness to test industry standards through the simple act of open conversation have made him a primary contributor to healthy and productive governmental relations.
His direction and visionary expertise have directed the annual visitor’s guide creation and publication. The Official Montrose Visitor Guide (OMVG) is now in its fourth year of production. In August 2016, Rob championed a new effort for Montrose to develop its own air marketing program and to work with the Colorado Flights Alliance (CFA) in a new capacity. While CFA’s marketing programs have proven successful and Montrose fully supports them, Rob’s vision is to employ the Visit Montrose marketing apparatus to present Montrose as the target travel destination. The OMVG is one avenue through which this vision is to be accomplished.
Rob Joseph consistently contributes pioneering ideas as a tourism professional and assistant city manager and is a tireless advocate for Montrose, the Western Slope, Colorado, employees, and residents as a whole. Through his innovative concepts and inspired leadership, he has delivered major and lasting contributions to Montrose’s tourism effort and positioned Visit Montrose as a statewide leader.