Joann Wade

BA 1979 Communication

President and CEO, Lafayette-West Lafayette Convention and Visitors Bureau

Jo has been with the Bureau for 30 years and CEO 26 years this December. The Convention & Visitors Bureau is the destination marketing organization for Tippecanoe County. As the voice of the Lafayette – West Lafayette tourism industry, the LWLCVB promotes the area as a preferred conference, business & leisure travel destination within the community and globally. By increasing tourism revenues we improve the economy and the quality of life for citizens and visitors.

Jo provides leadership and direction to a great CVB Team, which most often doesn’t need direction.  Jo’s main responsibilities are: explaining the economic importance of visitor spending to Lafayette – West Lafayette; working with the attractions, facilities and organizations locally and statewide to help market, promote and develop tourism spending; and staying within the budget. Much of her time is spent on community relations; being involved with committees and organizations to help spread the word about Tippecanoe Tourism.

Jo is one of the very few Fellow Certified Destination Management Executives (FCDME) in the world; as given by the International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus now called Destination Marketing Association International. She helped organize the Association of Indiana Convention & Visitors Bureaus (AICVB), has served as their president in past years and is currently treasurer on the board.

She is a native of West Lafayette, is married to Dan Wade, and has two children, a daughter, Courtney (a Purdue HTM student and full time employee) and a son, Tyler (an Ivy Tech student and a part time Purdue employee). 

• The first HSSE Alumni President from 1983 to 1984.
• Wilson Graphic’s (Family Ad Agency) in Madison, WI was first job out of college
• Audio Visual / Photography Dept. @ Purdue & Bartending @ The Pub in Lafayette were both my main jobs during college.