Explore Evansville President and CEO Alexis Berggren has resigned, effective at the year’s end, to become general manager of the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina.
Berggren arrived in Evansville in 2017 as general manager of Old National Events Plaza. Five years later, she took over as leader of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Convention & Visitors Bureau, which since has branded as Explore Evansville.
During her nearly three years with the tourism agency, Evansville saw the return of riverboat cruise lines and growth of its youth sports facilities, as well as landmark events such as the Indiana High School Athletic Association state wrestling finals in February and April’s total solar eclipse.
Berggren served on the agency’s board before being hired in 2022 as president and CEO. She tells Evansville Business she’s proud of her time in the River City.
“I’m probably most proud of the talented staff we’ve recruited,” Berggren says. “Their dedication and hard work have been crucial to the growth of Explore Evansville.
“Another highlight for me was our community engagement in preparation for the 2024 total solar eclipse,” she adds. “While the results were terrific, it was the connections we built with people across the region that truly stood out to me. It was a powerful reminder of how critical meaningful community engagement is to the success of Explore Evansville.”
“We are grateful for Alexis’ visionary leadership and the impact she has made on our community,” Ali Hashemy, Explore Evansville’s board chair, said in an Oct. 17 news release. “She has laid a strong foundation for continued growth, and we are confident that the organization will continue to build on the momentum she has helped create.”
Berggren notes her time at Old National Events Plaza coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, and “we were able to keep the building operational throughout the pandemic and even hosted the first live entertainment event in the city during that challenging period. We worked hard to stay proactive and relevant, including collaborating with the Vanderburgh County Health Department to promote vaccination efforts through a campaign that underscored the importance of community health.”
Explore Evansville will search for Berggren’s CEO as she concludes her tenure in the city in December.
“The board is committed to a smooth transition, maintaining the high standards of service and collaboration that have been hallmarks of Berggren’s tenure,” the tourism agency’s statement says.
The next leader of Explore Evansville will be the agency’s fourth since the retirement of Bob Warren in 2018.
