PERRY, Ga. (WGXA) -- The Perry Convention and Visitors Bureau has named Nastasha "Anya" Edgley-Turpin as its finalist for the President and CEO after the Perry CVB and The Chason Group, a search firm specializing in senior-level executive searches, conducted a three-phase process of stakeholder input, identifying candidates, and interviews.

“The Search Committee spent a tremendous amount of time vetting candidates, their visions for Perry, and their long-term commitment to being a part of a CVB,” Chair Perry Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Mike Baker stated. “Tourism requires creativity in many aspects, including a keen sense of what works for special events and the general tourist looking for attractions in the area. The president should understand how to identify and promote the relevancy of tourism; have a desire to learn new trends in the industry; have experience in building a brand and re-branding as necessary; and possess communication skills that lend themselves to cultivating teams and partnerships. The Search Committee voted unanimously to select Anya because we believe she has all of these traits and more.”

After a state-required 14 day waiting period, the Perry CVB will hold a vote on whether to approve Edgley-Turpin to begin her first day in the position on March 1st.

“The opportunity to serve and represent the Perry community in the tourism industry is extremely exciting for me,” according to Edgley-Turpin. “I look forward to building meaningful relationships with the hoteliers in our area and continue my current rapport with venues and businesses. Perry has a fantastic infrastructure already in place for tourism that has so many possibilities for the future.”

Edgley-Turpin was the Executive Director of Grayson County Tourism in Kentucky, prior to moving to Perry, giving her the type of experience the CVB is looking for.

“Anya and her family have been a part of the City of Perry for the past four years,” Baker said. “She brings a wealth of information and experience to the CVB position. She has served in tourism leadership roles in other states, which was a factor in our selection process.”

Edgley-Turpin currently serves as Special Events Administrator for the City of Perry and has been part of the planning and execution of an average of 40 events every year, as well as managing media relations, website development, and social media content.