Engum selected as Great Falls' first tourism director

A top Great Falls economic development official is switching roles and organizations.

Rebecca Engum has been selected to lead the new Great Falls Tourism Alliance as the city's first tourism director in early October. She will leave her role as manufacturing partnership director for the Great Falls Development Authority at the end of September, GFDA President Brett Doney announced Thursday.

"This is exciting news to have such a strong leader taking charge of growing our tourism industry, and at the same time a big loss for our manufacturing recruitment efforts," Doney said. "We're not losing Engum from the Great Falls team, but we'll certainly miss her amongst our GFDA staff. She has done an outstanding job for us."

The Tourism Alliance is a new partnership of the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, Great Falls Tourism Improvement District and Great Falls Convention and Visitor Bureau.

Engum has worked nine years for GFDA, including heading up its Small Business Development Center before being promoted to manufacturing partnership director.

The GFDA is seeking applications for a new manufacturing partnership director with demonstrated excellence in business development, business coaching, finance, advanced manufacturing, agricultural processing or economic development and five years of relevant experience. The anticipated salary range is $50,000 to $65,000.