Born in Waterloo, Iowa, and raised in Norfolk, Nebraska, Brook Kaufman has classic Midwestern roots. Relying on her strong sense of community and work ethic, she transitioned from marketing into executive roles at tourism organizations, including Visit Casper, Wyoming, and Visit Rapid City, South Dakota, where she led major brand initiatives and strategic development efforts.
From the Great Plains, she came to the Coastal Bend of Texas, where in May 2025 she assumed her new role as CEO of Visit Corpus Christi. Kaufman shares the highlights of her career journey in this Q&A with Meetings Today Senior Contributor Jeff Heilman.
What were your early career goals and ambitions, and what influenced your full-time shift into destination marketing a decade ago?
In fifth grade, I wanted to be a chiropractor. That was until a high-energy marketing teacher in high school opened my eyes to business and branding. After nearly a decade in marketing across various sectors, I made the leap into destination marketing. It just made sense to shift from selling products to selling places that people could fall in love with…