Who

We

Are

Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Aberdeen CVB’s purpose is to enhance the community’s economic success and enhance the quality of life through tourism. We work hand-in-hand with the Aberdeen Development Corporation, the Downtown Association, and the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce to showcase why Aberdeen is an exceptional place to live, work, visit, and invest.

Our Unique Mission for Aberdeen

While we partner with other city organizations on a number of initiatives for the betterment of the community, the Aberdeen Area CVB is the only agency responsible for:

Executing digital and traditional marketing, targeting travels more than 100 miles from Aberdeen, with an emphasis on overnight stays
Enhancing promotional efforts through free airtime and article space made possible through strategic relationships with media, outdoor writers, and film crews
Assisting planners of regional and national conventions, meetings, and special events
Coordinating and staffing hospitality rooms and volunteers during SDHSAA-sanctioned events
Promoting the Aberdeen area at travel, camping, and sportsman shows.
Staffing and maintaining the main visitor center for Aberdeen.

CVB Staff

Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Casey Weismantel

Executive Director & Outdoor Media Rep

Casey implements strategies and tactics of the Aberdeen CVB to promote the Aberdeen area as a destination for conventions, exhibitions, sporting events, and group tours in a manner which maximizes the economic impact on the area and increasing hotel occupancy and media exposure. Casey is also an avid hunter managing all facets of our outdoor marketing relations, including the Sportsman Coop and HuntFishSD.com. Casey brings more than 29 years of sales and customer service experience; and has been with the CVB for over 18 years. Casey can be reached at caseyw@visitaberdeensd.com.

Katherine Grandstrand

Convention Sales & Media Marketing

We’d like to welcome Katherine Grandstrand to the Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. She’s the new convention sales and marketing director. A Minnesota native, Katherine comes to us from the Aberdeen American News, where she was an education, features and food reporter since April 2014. Before that, she was a reporter at The Dickinson Press in Dickinson, N.D. Katherine likes to spend her free time in the kitchen, making new recipes that might not turn out like the picture, but sure do taste good. A graduate of Bemidji State University in Minnesota and of Columbia College Chicago, Katherine has degrees in mass communications and journalism. Katherine can be reached at katherineg@visitaberdeensd.com.

Phillip Jourdan

Convention Sales & Media Marketing

Phillip Jourdan is responsible for the promotion, development and facilitation of conventions, events and tours in Aberdeen and the surrounding area. A Nebraska native, Phillip joins the team from the Northern State Athletic communication department where he covered numerous sports for NSU as a graduate assistant. Phillip has earned a bachelor’s degree in Sports and Event Management from Presentation College and a master’s degree in Sports Leadership from Northern State. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends while also staying active, playing in the men’s softball league in Aberdeen. You can reach Phillip at phillipj@visitaberdeensd.com.

Cindy Tople

Finance and Visitor Relations Manager

Cindy is responsible for all the accounting and monitors the human resources for the office. She coordinates volunteer recruitment and assists with special events planning and scheduling.

Cindy is from the Pierpont area and attended Northern State University. She graduated with an accounting degree and has worked in this field for many years. Cindy enjoys working in her yard and tending flowers and tomato plants. She’s active in her church and sings in the choir. Baking and golfing are two of her leisure activities. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and is busy planning a huge Tople Reunion. She can be reached at finance@visitaberdeensd.com.

Amy Lake-Harmon

Administrative Assistant

Amy manages all administrative duties for the Aberdeen Area CVB including all phone and email information requests for Aberdeen and surrounding area. She also assists staff with events, conventions, and community projects.

Amy has lived in Aberdeen for 30 years. She graduated from Northern State University with a degree in psychology. Following graduation, she worked for the Brown County Sheriff for 22 years in the youth corrections division.

When not at work, Amy enjoys baking and shopping. Her greatest joy is spending time with family and friends. Amy can be reached at info@visitaberdeensd.com.

About Our Organization

The Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is a 501 (c) 6 organization incorporated September 4, 1992, in the State of South Dakota. The Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau consists of a volunteer Board of Directors, City Council Liaisons, and Aberdeen Area CVB Staff. The Aberdeen Area CVB’s annual budget, marketing plan, and work direction are reviewed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Funds for the Aberdeen Area CVB are allocated by the Aberdeen City Council from the City’s promotion tax collections (BBB), HuntFishSD the Sportsman Coop, and the Aberdeen Area Hotel Alliance BID II for operational and administrative services. View our Public Disclosure Form.