Justin Fortney named City’s new tourism director

The City of Guthrie has named Justin Fortney as their new tourism director replacing Andrea Post who left the city for another job opportunity. Fortney had been serving as interim tourism director for the last month.

On being named the new tourism director, “This means an awful lot because hospitality is in my DNA. To be able to make Guthrie as outrageously hospitable to our guests makes me excited to get up every morning,” Fortney said.

There were four candidates interviewed for the position by a committee made up of Guthrie City Manager Leroy Alsup, Guthrie Human Resource Director Jim Ahlgren, Guthrie Planning Director Rebecca Blaine and Mike Monahan, Chairman of the Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board (CVB).

Fortney, a Guthrie resident and graduate of Mid America Christian University is involved in the Red Brick Nights as one of the event coordinators and developed Apothecary Nights that preceded the current Red Brick Nights event. Fortney previously spent 13 years working for the Oklahoma State Department of Health as a public information officer and covered Logan, Blaine and Kingfisher counties.

Fortney is a singer/songwriter in his spare time and developed a house concert series named Front Porch Jubilee. Fortney was a board member of the CVB and serves on the Logan County Council on Aging and the St. Mary’s School Advisory Committee.

“Justin was a unanimous selection and I am confident that he will do an excellent job. We are pleased with his experience and knowledge he brings to the table,” said Alsup.

“Justin will do a great job for the City of Guthrie as we continue to grow the tourism industry and attract events and visitors to Guthrie year-round,” said Monahan.

With Fortney’s appointment of tourism director there are now two openings to be filled on the CVB. Applications can be found on the cityofguthrie.com website. Applications are then turned over to the mayor and city council for approval. The CVB meets the third Monday of every month in city hall.