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Earlier this year, long-time Winchester-Clark County Tourism Commission Executive Director Nancy Turner stepped down after over 20 years in the position. 

On Tuesday, August 20 morning, her recently named replacement – Jill Hamlin – introduced herself to the community. 

Speaking afterward, Hamlin had much enthusiasm. 

“It has been so exciting. I have met so many people with some amazing thoughts and ideas about what they want to see happen with Winchester and with Clark County,” she said. “I’ve been able to…feel very included and very welcomed, literally since my first five minutes of walking through the door!” 

Hamlin, a graduate of Morehead State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and a minor in traditional music, also earned a Master’s Degree in social anthropology with an emphasis in ethnomusicology while studying overseas in Ireland. 

The latter field is concerned with understanding how music operates in social and cultural contexts. 

Though living in Belfast for some time, Kentucky and the southern states have never seemed too far away. 

“[I] did my research, my thesis on the spiritual funprint of music in Appalachia, where I focused on how…music, arts, and culture are very much part of our DNA,” she stated. 

When asked what appealed to her most about the position, Hamlin responded. 

“The enjoyable part of a tourism job is really getting to know the people,” she said, noting that connecting with people of different personalities and from different walks of life is worthwhile. “Tourism is about making people feel valued, heard, and safe…[and] also making the outside communities feel that when they come to our community, they are valued, heard, and safe.” 

Hamlin quickly acknowledged that her predecessor did “amazing” work, which she hopes to continue while showcasing and enticing others’ interest in Winchester. 

“When people come to Winchester, they will eat at our restaurants. They’re going to be shopping in our downtown district. They’re going to be staying at our hotels,” she said. “All of that helps our community…in so many different ways!”

Hamlin also added that – looking toward the next year and onward – she had additional goals. 

“Also, letting me be able to get out within the community and letting the community get to know me [so that] we can start planning more events, more outings, [and] more excursions within the next year, Hamlin said. [I’m] “Looking to identify grants and looking to identify other stakeholders to help bring projects.” 

Hamlin hopes that her efforts and more will make Winchester a place others will find memorable. 

“It’s all about getting people to come and stay and fall in love with Winchester, and then they take that love..back to their friends and family, and they talk about [how] there were so many fun and exciting things happening in this town,” she said. “We all are part of tourism…anybody that you see at any particular place within the community [is] somebody that can help spread the word about Winchester, Clark County, and what we have to offer.”