Jennifer Vela Named Texas State Aquarium’s Director of Marketing, Sales, and Communications
November 14, 2018
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX -- The Texas State Aquarium announced today that longtime employee and Corpus Christi local Jennifer Vela is their new Director of Marketing, Sales, and Communications.
Vela will oversee the sales, marketing, media, brand and communications strategies for the largest aquarium in Texas as it moves into 2019 and expands its role as a leader in STEM education, conservation and wildlife rescue. Vela will also provide valuable insight on the Texas State Aquarium’s plan to grow its partnerships with government and non-governmental conservation groups.
Vela joined the Aquarium in 2010 as an Event Coordinator and has since been promoted to Sales Manager and Director of Sales. Prior to her time at the Aquarium, Vela was a Production Editor at KIII- TV 3 and a Brand Ambassador at Mosaic Marketing. Vela earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi and has earned numerous honors in the hospitality and tourism industry, including the 2018 Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau HOSPIS Face of the House Employee of the Year, the 2017 Greater CC Hospitality Association’s Jim Jones Spirit of Hospitality Award, the 2017 American Advertising Federation’s Big Wigs “Best Event Planner” and as a 2015 Corpus Christi Under 40 Honoree. Vela is also the current president of the Young Business Professionals of the Coastal Bend, a Board Member of the Greater Corpus Christi Hospitality Association and a Member of Leadership Corpus Christi Class XLVII.
“During her eight years with us, Jennifer has continually impressed us with her remarkable ability to conceive and coordinate large-scale events, establish meaningful connections within the community and bring out the very best in the people she works with,” said Texas State Aquarium President & CEO Tom Schmid. “We know Jennifer will do wonders in helping us continue to welcome our guests to the Aquarium for both regular attendance and private events while also telling our story of animal care, conservation and education to a wider audience.”
