Kady Fleckenstein Heads Santa Ynez Visitor’s Association

Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association Board President John Kochis announced that Kady Fleckenstein has been named Executive Director effective December 15, 2010. Kady will be responsible for providing professional administration in marketing, events and fund-raising for the 120+ member not-for-profit organization that promotes year-round sustainable tourism in the Santa Ynez Valley communities of Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, and Solvang.

According to Kochis, “We are sorry to see current executive director Mary Harris depart to become Executive Director of the Santa Ynez Valley Hotel Association, Inc. Mary has provided SYVVA with tremendous leadership since her appointment in April 2007. We welcome Kady’s energy and enthusiasm as our new executive director for our rapidly growing marketing organization.”

Fleckenstein was most recently Executive Director of the Santa Maria Valley Wine Country Association for three years as well as founder of Kadydid, her own consulting firm. Prior to that, she served as a Program Specialist at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. Kady was also the Director of Catering & Special Events at the Santa Ynez Inn. She has studied Viticulture & Enology at Allan Hancock College, attended New York University and received a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University.

A native of Arlington, Virginia, Kady currently resides in Buellton with her son Killian. In her limited free time, she enjoys singing and playing guitar.