Terrie Banish appointed new Deputy City Manager
Terrie Banish, a long-time advertising executive at The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, was recently hired as Atascadero’s deputy city manager of outreach, promotions and events. The news came in an announcement today from Atascadero City Manager Rachelle Rickard.
Terrie Banish. Photo from City of Atascadero.
“It’s a big change and an exciting opportunity,” says Banish, “I am ready to take on the challenge. I look forward to bringing fresh ideas to the table, helping to create new events, working on new marketing opportunities for tourism, and working with a fantastic team.”
During its strategic planning session earlier this year, the city council established outreach and promotions as one of its primary goals. The council decided consolidating all outreach, promotions and event activities under one well-qualified individual was the best way to achieve the results that the city is looking for, Rickard says. By reorganizing and consolidating a currently vacant position, all promotion, event and outreach activities will now be the responsibility of Banish’s new position.
The city conducted an extensive recruitment which included job postings on various professional websites as well as the city’s website and Facebook pages, Rickard says in the announcement. A review process of over 100 applications resulted in three-panel interview sessions with nine top finalists. Banish was ultimately selected by the city manager to fill the new position.
Banish, a resident of San Miguel, has over 25 years of experience relevant to the requirements of this position including a diverse management background in advertising, marketing, sales, media planning, event planning and tourism.
Most recently, Banish held the position of VP of advertising sales for The Tribune, where her duties included developing sponsorship programs and marketing plans for local businesses, organizations and events. Banish has previously worked for Six Flags Theme Parks. While there, she was accountable for growing and promoting tour and travel business for the parks, creating promotions programs and integrated marketing partnerships, as well as corporate and private event implementation for twelve Six Flags parks in eight major markets.
“I had a great career at The Tribune,” Banish says, “I was lucky to work with a great team, and we accomplished a lot together. I am very proud of where they are now and where they are headed.”
In addition to assisting the city with various economic development programs, Banish will be responsible for developing, planning, and coordinating all outreach and promotions efforts for the city’s events and activities. Banish will also take over management of all of the city’s recreation programs, which, since the retirement of the former community services director in 2012, have been overseen by the police department.
According to Rickard, this inter-departmental reorganization “just makes good sense both organizationally and operationally at this time, and will be a perfect fit for this position.”
Banish has been involved as a volunteer in numerous local organizations and events which include the chambers of commerce of both Atascadero and Paso Robles; YMCA San Luis Obispo, the Paso Robles Main Street Association, Atascadero’s Wine Festival Committee, Colony Days and the 2013 Centennial Celebration. She also is a graduate of San Luis Obispo Community Leadership Foundation’s Leadership Class XVI.
Rickard says, “I was extremely gratified with both the quality and the quantity of applications we received in response to this recruitment. Ultimately, a total of 110 applicants responded, many of whom were highly qualified candidates who were likely to be well suited to this role. The goal of this recruitment was to select from this candidate pool the individual who stood out from the rest as most closely meeting the widely varied requirements of the position. I strongly believe that we have located that individual and I look forward to having Terrie bring her experience in advertising, marketing, event planning and outreach to the City. I am particularly pleased to be able to appoint a very well qualified individual who comes to us with a great deal of local knowledge and also with a fresh perspective”.
Mayor Tom O’Malley says, “We are extremely pleased to have someone with such an extensive marketing background join our team at the City; we look forward to having her assistance with promoting our community and everything we have to offer to our local residents as well as to visitors coming to town”.
Banish is expected to begin her new role at the City of Atascadero beginning May 18.
