LA GRANGE, Ky. (February 2004) – Diana Polsgrove is determined to learn as much about Oldham County as she can within the next six months to one year. Her intense enthusiasm for her job and the county has propelled her to become Oldham County’s first tourism director.
Polsgrove, 54, has lived in Oldham County for the past five years. Her move from Louisville to Pewee Valley was “well worth” any extra drive time to and from work, she said.

Diana Polsgrove

After having interviewed with the Oldham County Tourist and Convention Commission, Polsgrove believes she was chosen primarily because of her credentials. Kathy Jacobs, community relations director for the Oldham County Chamber of Commerce, said, “She has a vision. Passion and drive combine with lots of energy to make her think “outside of the lines.”
For the last nine years Polsgrove has operated an event planning business, Eventualities. From this home-based business, she coordinates talent and decorates for conventions and corporate and private parties.
She looks upon her 20-plus years of experience in this field as a “good marriage” for her job as tourism director. Polsgrove believes she has the right connections to foster Oldham County as a tourist destination.
Polsgrove described herself as a social person who loves diversity. She graduated from Sullivan College with an associate degree in accounting. But Polsgrove said she is not the type of person to sit behind a desk all day, which is why she loves her job as an event planner.
“Each job is highly different,” she said. Polsgrove recently hired a few employees and assumed the role of manager in order to concentrate more on her tourism position.
On Jan. 1 she began her part-time duties as tourism director, working temporarily from her home. The position has the potential to develop into a full-time job in the future, and she may someday share an office with the Oldham County Chamber of Commerce.
Until Polsgrove was hired, all tourism duties fell to Jacobs. But the time Jacobs could devote to tourism issues was limited because the chamber already employed Jacobs full-time.
Due to chamber personnel cutbacks, Jacobs’ workload increased. The time was right “to grow tourism,” she said. Based upon the county’s growth, Jacobs said tourism is “where everything is headed.”
While Polsgrove’s job is still in the initial stages, she is gathering all of the information she can to promote the county. She said her primary goal now is “getting the word out” about Oldham County. She is comprising information on what the county offers and how to best market it.
Polsgrove said she intends to educate not only tourists but Oldham County residents as well. She wants citizens to be familiar with their county and invite out-of-town friends to spend the entire weekend in the county shopping, dining in unique restaurants, and visiting historic sites.
With 25 applicants for the job, it was a position well sought after, said commission chairman Steve Salemi. Polsgrove will be a great representative of the county, Salemi said, due to her experience with statewide functions and marketing expertise.
Polsgrove said she plans to work closely with the chamber and city officials. She will rely on the tourism commission and use them as “an advisory board, to see how I can develop the role” as tourism director.
Polsgrove defined tourism as not just spending the night in Oldham County, but also “a drive in the country.” The county’s assets include hotels, scenic drives, different shopping opportunities and a close proximity to I-71.
“I am very interested in listening to residents, as to what they perceive tourism to be,” Polsgrove said. She encourages suggestions, pointing out that she needs the support of the entire community, not just the chamber or tourism commission.
Polsgrove is a member of the Oldham County Chamber of Commerce. She was also a member of the “moist vote” committee, which promoted passage of last November’s referendum to allow alcohol sales by the glass in restaurants that seat 100 or more.

• Contact Polsgrove at octourism@insightbb.com or by calling (502) 222-0056.