Charlotte Morrison is getting ready for the next chapter in her life.
After 26 years as vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Quad Cities, Ms. Morrison retired on Monday, July 31.
“If you can remember back to school … it’s the excitement of watching the clock,” Ms. Morrison told the QCBJ about her feelings just a few days before her retirement.
But in Ms. Morrison’s case, when school is out, it will not be time for summer vacation. She will be replacing one passion for another.
The Rock Island woman said she plans to continue to be involved in numerous organizations and worthy causes. And retirement will mean she has more time to devote to the community work.
Some of that work includes serving on the board of trustees with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra and working with the Quad Cities Botanical Center, to name just a few. (Her Linkedin account shows some 20 local organizations that Ms. Morrison is or has been involved with over the years.)
“I’m also a creative person. I really love to paint,” she said about her other retirement era activities.
However, before the painting begins, Ms. Morrison had a full plate of work todo it in her final days on the job. On Friday morning, July 28, for instance, she was busy helping the community get ready to host thousands of bicyclists as the 50th ride of RAGBRAI ended in downtown Davenport on Saturday, July 29.
She said she was proud how the community came together to host the big event that took place on the same day of the Quad-City Times Bix 7 road race. Those two events brought in at least 50,000 visitors to the community, tourism leaders estimated.
That made Saturday, July 29 – called BixBRAI in the Quad Cities – one of the highlights of her long career with Visit Quad Cities. Other highlights over the years have been growing and marketing the Quad Cities brand, and getting the area cities to work together to improve tourism options for the region.
“There’s been a lot more working together among the cities. That’s been a big plus for the entire Quad Cities,” she added.
Her many years of helping grow and market the QC brand has been appreciated by her colleagues at Visit Quad Cities.
“Charlotte Morrison’s nearly three-decade career with Visit Quad Cities has been incredible,” said Dave Herrell, president and CEO, Visit Quad Cities. “Charlotte’s loyalty and passion for the Quad Cities regional destination and all things tourism has made a positive impact. Her many talents, perspective, and expertise has provided a significant amount of value for our organization and the community that she loves. She will be terribly missed by our team but we wish her the very best in this exciting new chapter of her life and can’t thank her enough for all she has done for the QC.”
In addition to her work with Visit Quad Cities, Ms. Morrison’s career has included several other chapters in the communications field. For instance, she was director of marketing and public relations at Nehlsen Communications, formerly in Moline. She was also director of marketing, communications and public relations for the former Eagle Food Centers, Milan, and its 110 stores located throughout the Midwest.
