Destination Door County announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Julie Gilbert will resign from her role.
Gilbert will continue to serve as CEO in the coming weeks and work with the board of directors and leadership team to ensure an orderly transition. As part of its transition planning, the board appointed Jon Jarosh, currently DDC chief communications officer, to serve as interim CEO, effective Feb 9.
“Jon is a passionate, trusted leader who deeply understands our work and our community,” said Lutsey. “His appointment reflects the Board’s confidence in his leadership.”
Gilbert has led Destination Door County through a period of significant growth and progress since she arrived in 2021, strengthening the organization’s role as a steward of the local visitor economy and building strong community partnerships. She is relocating out of state and will continue her professional work in the tourism industry.
“We have the deepest respect and appreciation for Julie and the leadership she has provided to Destination Door County and the greater community,” said Jeff Lutsey, chair of the Destination Door County Board of Directors. “Under her leadership, DDC has transformed and grown stronger, as a leader in destination marketing, as well as community collaboration and stewardship. And this has made us much stronger and more resilient moving forward. We are grateful for her willingness to remain fully engaged during this transition and to work closely with the Board and staff to position the organization and county for continued success,” he said.
The board of directors has begun planning for the leadership transition and has initiated a comprehensive CEO search process. During this time, the organization’s priorities, programs, and day-to-day operations will continue without interruption.
