State tourism department appoints new director

The Missouri Division of Tourism has a new director, and she's no stranger to running a statewide department.

The Missouri Tourism Commission on Tuesday named Katie Steele Danner to run the tourism department effective immediately. She replaces Bob Smith III, who had been serving as interim director.

Danner previously served as deputy director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development and served as interim director of that department Sept. 14-Nov. 8 after former Director Linda Martinez abruptly resigned the post.

The state Division of Tourism is a division of the Department of Economic Development.

Danner is a former state representative, having served three terms representing the second legislative district in northeast Missouri from 1988 to 1994.

Before joining DED, she served as president of Athena Consulting LLC, a public relations firm representing several companies in the Branson area including Branson Airport LLC and Branson Creek Development. Her résumé also includes service as regional director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region VII, in Kansas City, and as director of intergovernmental affairs for the entire department.

"We are very confident in her capabilities, her abilities and her work within the industry," Missouri Tourism Commission Chairwoman Marci Bennett said in a news release. "She will be a great asset to our marketing effort to promote the entire state of Missouri."