By Stephanie Faudoa

Contributing Writer

PLOVER – “Move over, here comes Plover!” stated Plover Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (PACVB) Secretary /Commissioner Ross Ballard when asked about future efforts for the newly-created organization.

The development of the PACVB came out of a departure from a partnership with the Stevens Point Area Convention and Business Bureau.

“It was a combined effort with the town of Plover; we had previously gone to the Stevens Point Area Convention and Business Bureau and wanted Plover to be a bigger voice in what is happening as we are providing more than one-third of their budget, and we thought that was reasonable and [Stevens Point Area Convention and Visitors Bureau] didn’t think so. Essentially, there is no one better to represent Plover than Plover,” Ballard explained.

Ballard said that many exciting things are happening right now.

“Plover is a little more reserved, and we let the people that are either the property owners or the ones that are going to put up the project to make their call when they are ready, they will make that announcement. There is something in the works, but we aren’t going to be the ones to burst anybody or burst anyone’s bubble. We want to wait, and if you are the owner of that business, why are we going to take the pleasure away from you announcing that we are building a new building,” he stated.

Board members of the Plover Area Convention Center and Visitors Bureau include Ballard;  Chris Brooks, commissioner and chair; Tom Davies, commissioner; Kathleen Langlois, commissioner; and Josh Patel, commissioner & vice chair.

The board held their second meeting on Feb. 15, where they discussed the process for hiring an executive director, their social media program, as well as other ogranizational developments.

“We are very excited about this, and I think that Plover has been kind of underrepresented for many years, but we have a lot of great things going for the entire plover area, and I cannot wait for some of these announcements that are coming up. Everybody is going to be amazed, and it is going to be a destination,” Ballard added.