Photo: Mike enjoying a refreshing blueberry drink at Front Porch Distillery after attending the Texas Blueberry Festival. (photo provided by Mike!)

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Creating events that transform a town

“A Toast to Tourism and Great Events in 2022” presented by City of Tomball director of marketing & tourism

Groups, organizations and businesses are gearing up for next year’s events that will make life fun for residents and draw thousands of tourists to Nacogdoches, along with their pocketbooks.

Mike Baxter, director of marketing and tourism, City of Tomball, is the guest speaker at the upcoming Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce Eggs & Issues breakfast meeting. Baxter will present “A Toast to Tourism and Great Events in 2022,” and he will bring real life examples of his team’s success that resulted in benefits for their local businesses.

“The City’s continuing festival and marketing programs have brought a new vibrancy and excitement to Tomball,” Baxter said. “That has resulted in booming residential and retail development, a revitalization of the downtown area, and an awareness that Tomball Is Texan For Fun!® ”

Nacogdoches County Chamber President/CEO C. Wayne Mitchell invites all from the East Texas area to attend. “We would like to have chambers of commerce, destination marketing organizations and any other entities that host large public gatherings attend. All would benefit from Mike’s message,” Mitchell said.

Baxter will also address points of concern for event planners that include:

• • expectations of rising event insurance cost due to recent tragedies;
  • possible restrictions implemented due to health concerns;
  • providing live, recorded and broadcasted music entertainment at public venues and businesses.

Eggs and Issues sponsored by Excel ER begins at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9 at The Fredonia Hotel and Convention Center in historic downtown Nacogdoches. Reservations are requested and breakfast is $20 for chamber members and $24 for non-members. Call 936-560-5533 to RSVP.

About Mike Baxter, Certified Festival and Event Executive (CFEE)

A graduate of Georgia State University with degrees in journalism and marketing, Mike Baxter has spent more than 40-years promoting tourist destinations and attractions, and developing award-winning festivals and special events.

From Six Flags AstroWorld, SplashTown Waterpark and Traders Village Marketplace, Mike continues to implement marketing and public relations programs designed to increase awareness of these and other major destinations across the south.

Currently Director of Marketing & Tourism for the City of Tomball, Mike created the City’s first-ever marketing and festival program in 2011 involving more than a dozen high profile, award-winning festivals that bring thousands of visitors to Tomball each year. He was also responsible for developing Tomball’s highly successful traditional and social media programs, as well as a photo vault of more than 3,000 promotional images.

Working with small to mid-sized destinations and events, Mike is also the owner of Houston-based Texas Festival & Tourism Consulting. 

Mike is a Certified Festival & Event Executive (CFEE), former Chairman of the Texas Festivals & Events Association, and was named Chief Marketing Officer of the Year by the Houston Business Journal in 2016.

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