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Confirm Appointment of Mr. Ryan Neal Duncan to serve as the Director of the Tourism and Sports Marketing Division.
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The Polk County Charter specifies that the County Manager's appointment of Executive Service employees is subject to confirmation by the Board of County Commissioners.
The County Manager has appointed Mr. Ryan Neal Duncan as the next Director of the Polk County Tourism & Sports Marketing Division, effective August 17, 2026.
With more than 26 years of experience in tourism, sports marketing, destination development, and community engagement, Mr. Duncan has the leadership experience in promoting Polk County as a premier destination for leisure travel and sporting events.
Mr. Duncan began his career with the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce in 2000 as the Director of Membership & Special Events. In this role, he led membership development, managed community events, strengthened partnerships with local governments, businesses and civic organizations, and supported tourism and economic development initiatives throughout the Bartow community.
In 2006, Mr. Duncan joined the Polk County Tourism & Sports Marketing Division as the Senior Business Development Manager, where he led the Division's corporate sponsorship program, cultivated strategic partnerships, and supported destination marketing initiatives that contributed to Polk County's tourism and economic development efforts.
Since 2019, Mr. Duncan has served as the division's Senior Sales & Events Manager. In this role, he has led the County's sports tourism program, managed major event recruitment efforts, coordinated partnerships with national governing bodies and local stakeholders, and helped position Polk County as a nationally recognized destination for sports tourism. His leadership has contributed to hundreds of sporting events generating significant economic impact to the community.
Mr. Duncan earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation & Sports Managemen...
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