Eric Wobser to Lead Shores & Islands Ohio as Regional Tourism Integration Moves Forward

A major leadership and organizational change is underway for the regional tourism organization that helps market Put-in-Bay and communities throughout Ottawa and Erie counties.

The boards of the Ottawa County Visitors Bureau and Erie County Visitors and Convention Bureau have approved management agreements with Greater Sandusky Partnership, marking another step in the planned integration of Greater Sandusky Partnership and Shores & Islands Ohio.

For Put-in-Bay, the announcement matters because the Ottawa County Visitors Bureau is one of the two county organizations that has worked through Shores & Islands Ohio to promote the region as a unified travel destination for more than 20 years. Under the newly approved agreements, Greater Sandusky Partnership will manage those destination-marketing efforts on behalf of the two visitors bureaus.

The county bureaus will continue overseeing lodging-tax revenue dedicated to promoting their respective communities as travel destinations. A final agreement involving Greater Sandusky Partnership, Shores & Islands Ohio and the two county visitors bureaus is expected to be approved by September 1.

Wobser to Lead Both Organizations

Effective September 1, Eric Wobser will become chief executive officer of both Greater Sandusky Partnership and Shores & Islands Ohio as the organizations continue implementing their planned integration.

“This is about bringing together two organizations that already share a common goal to make this region a great place to visit, live and do business,” Wobser said. “Working together allows us to better coordinate those efforts for the benefit of the entire region.”

The integration is intended to create a single organization that more closely connects destination marketing and economic development while continuing to serve businesses, visitors and communities throughout the region.

That means the organization responsible for marketing destinations such as Put-in-Bay will operate under leadership that is also focused on broader regional business growth, investment and economic development.

Fletcher Transitioning After More Than 20 Years

Larry Fletcher will transition from his role as president and chief executive officer on September 1 after helping lead Shores & Islands Ohio and its predecessor organizations for more than two decades.

Fletcher will serve as director of strategic alignment through December 31, 2026, to help ensure a smooth leadership transition. He will then explore opportunities to elevate his role with the Lake Erie Foundation, where he has served as a board member for many years.

He will also continue serving as a board member of Greater Sandusky Partnership.

“It has been my great pleasure to represent the region’s tourism industry over the past 20-plus years,” Fletcher said.

Fletcher reflected on helping develop the Shores & Islands partnership alongside Joan Van Offeren, Dawn Weinhardt, staff members and the organizations’ boards.

“No matter what the future holds for me, I will always be an advocate for the incredible tourism assets we have here and the people who keep these places operating,” Fletcher said. “I am confident our organization’s and the region’s destination economy will be in good hands with the combined Shores & Islands Ohio and Greater Sandusky Partnership staff teams under Eric’s leadership.”

Wobser praised Fletcher’s influence on tourism throughout the region.

“Larry has had a tremendous impact on both this region and the destination marketing industry,” Wobser said. “He is one of the state’s most respected tourism leaders and has been an extraordinary champion for the Shores & Islands Ohio region.”

Wobser said Fletcher’s leadership created a strong foundation for the future and thanked him for continuing to support the organizations throughout the transition.

Ottawa County Leadership Responds

Ottawa County Visitors Bureau Board Chair Kim Kaufman credited Fletcher with helping build the regional destination brand during his two decades of leadership.

“He wove Erie and Ottawa together into the Shores and Islands brand, a destination marketing powerhouse known across the country, and became the region’s steady voice on everything from tourism advocacy to the health of Lake Erie,” Kaufman said.

She said the region is stronger because of Fletcher’s service and expressed confidence in its next chapter.

“As Larry steps into a well-earned retirement, I’m excited for what comes next: welcoming Eric Wobser and the Greater Sandusky Partnership as they take the reins,” Kaufman said. “I have every confidence they’ll build on the strong foundation Larry leaves behind, and I look forward to working closely with Eric and his team.”

Shores & Islands Ohio Board Chair David Dunn said Fletcher helped the Erie and Ottawa county bureaus promote the region as one destination while building Shores & Islands Ohio into a tourism brand recognized throughout the state.

Dunn also credited Fletcher’s work in tourism advocacy, workforce and economic development and issues affecting the health of Lake Erie.

“We are excited to partner with Greater Sandusky Partnership, their board leadership, and their professional staff as we transition, all in the name of keeping this region a great place to not only visit, but live, work and invest,” Dunn said.

What the Change Means for Put-in-Bay

Put-in-Bay is part of the Ottawa County destination promoted through Shores & Islands Ohio, making the organization’s leadership and management structure directly relevant to the island’s tourism economy.

The approved structure keeps the Ottawa County Visitors Bureau responsible for overseeing its county lodging-tax dollars while placing management of regional destination marketing with Greater Sandusky Partnership.

For visitors and businesses, the broader goal is to strengthen coordination between tourism promotion and regional economic development while continuing to market Erie and Ottawa counties as one destination.

Brian Pieffer of the Erie County Visitors and Convention Bureau said the structure preserves each bureau’s oversight responsibilities while positioning destination marketing for success through the regional partnership.

Greater Sandusky Partnership Board Chair Duff Milkie said the change builds upon years of regional collaboration.

“Our region is strongest when organizations work together toward shared goals,” Milkie said. “This next step builds on years of collaboration and creates a stronger foundation for promoting the region, supporting business growth and investing in our communities.”

The final agreement among Greater Sandusky Partnership, Shores & Islands Ohio and the two county visitors bureaus is expected to be approved by September 1.