Micheau

ESCANABA — The Bays de Noc Convention and Visitors Bureau announced earlier this week that Robert Micheau will be serving as its executive director.

According to a press release issued by the bureau, Micheau has nine years of experience in marketing, event planning, and public relations. A Gladstone native, Micheau graduated summa cum laude from the Forbes School of Business at Ashford University with a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Public Relations.

Micheau will be joining the directors of the other Commerce Center organizations including Vicki Schwab, executive director of the Delta County Economic Development Alliance, and Vickie Micheau, Micheau’s mother, who is the executive director of the Delta County Chamber of Commerce and oversees the work of the U.P. State Fair Authority.

Schwab stated she and other members of the Commerce Center organizations are excited to start working with Micheau.

“On behalf of the Commerce Center organizations, we are looking forward to working with Robert Micheau as executive director and supporting the mission of (the) Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, putting heads on beds,” she wrote in an e-mail interview.

In another e-mail interview, Micheau wrote about what he hopes to accomplish in his new position.

“I want to help bring new visitors to the area that will stay in our friendly, lodging properties while they enjoy all the fun activities, events, and the natural beauty this area has to offer,” he stated.

Before he started working at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Micheau worked as Michigan Works’ director of communications for the Upper Peninsula for nine years.

“In my role at Michigan Works, I worked with Travel Michigan, (the Upper Peninsula Travel and Recreation Association), chambers, CVBs, and other partners through a variety of activities including facilitating an annual tourism conference in the U.P.,” he wrote.

Micheau stated that the time he spent at Michigan Works prepared him for his current role.

“The experience helped me make valuable connections with many of the people I will be working with in this new role and learn more about the opportunities and challenges we face,” he wrote.

Along with his wife, Micheau also operated the Kipling House Bed and Breakfast in Gladstone for six years.

“It was fun having breakfast with all of our guests every morning and learning more about what brought them to the area,” he wrote.

According to Micheau, this experience helped him understand what visitors to the area want.

“It was like doing market research every day to find out what people are looking for when they come here,” he wrote.

Micheau stated that he was grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Bays de Noc Convention and Visitors Bureau’s executive director.

“I want to thank the board for placing their confidence in me and I look forward to working with them as we serve the the tourism community and the various industry partners in Delta County,” he wrote.