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Visitors Bureau president, CEO retires
The city of Dripping Springs declared March 31 as “Pam Owens Day,” celebrating one of its own for her years of service.
Pam Owens, the first president and CEO of the Dripping Springs Visitors Bureau — as well as its marketing arm, Destination Dripping Springs — retired at the end of March after seven years in the position. Prior to working with the DSVB, Owens served as the director of tourism for the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce from 2012–2016 under current Dripping Springs City Councilmember Sherri Parks. Owens also served on several boards and committees, including the Dripping Springs Community Foundation; Helping Hands; Phillips Cemetery Association; Texas Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus; and the Dripping Springs Ranch Park Board of Directors. Her retirement last month also marked 40 years of living in Dripping Springs.
Owens’ impact on the Dripping Springs community was formally recognized with the proclamation of Pam Owens Day at the city council meeting on March 21.
According to the proclamation, “The Dripping Springs community owes her a tremendous debt of gratitude for all her work, passion and care during her tenure… The city council calls upon the citizens of Dripping Springs to honor and celebrate Pam Owens for all she’s done to create excitement and boost the local economy when it comes to tourism for our city.”
Owens was instrumental in initiating a trademark and asking the Texas Legislature to officially designate Dripping Springs as the Wedding Capital of Texas in 2015. She was also key to several other projects benefiting the community, including the Wedding Capital of Texas Showcase and Networking Group; Dripping with Taste Wine & Food Festival; Dripping Springs Visitors Guide (a partnership with The Century News); Dripping with Taste Trail Passport; Dripping Springs Brewers Festival; Light Up Historic Mercer Street; and the Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival.
“Look around Dripping Springs, and all over you will see the meaningful stamp Pam Owens has made on our town,” said Hope Boatright, former marketing communications manager for Destination Dripping Springs. “From mentoring young professionals and helping them get a foot in the door, to growing and eventually selling several successful local businesses, to hosting fun and engaging events that stimulate the local economy to launching the a vibrant and impactful tourism board in Dripping Springs and so, so much more, Pam has spent the last nearly four decades working diligently to transform Dripping Springs into a better place to live, work and visit — and we are all so grateful for it.”
Owens has certifications from both the Texas Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus and the Texas Travel Alliance. She also serves on the board of directors of the 19-county Texas Hill Country Trail Region as a recent past president.
'I have lived in big cities all my life, and Pam really showed me how amazing it is to find a community,” said Samantha Larghe, brand manager for Destination Dripping Springs. “She has been a huge inspiration and mentor; I am very thankful to have her in my life. Her passion and dedication for the city of Dripping Springs has had a significant positive impact on tourism and local businesses.'
“I have loved working alongside Pam the past seven years,” added Susan Kimball, president and CEO of the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce. “Her love of Dripping Springs is unmatched and she has done so much for tourism in our town. I look forward to hearing all about her post-retirement adventures. They are welldeserved!”
