The Missouri Tourism Commission announced Tuesday that Dan Lennon was offered and has accepted the full-time director’s position at the Missouri Division of Tourism, effective immediately.

Lennon briefly served as the division’s interim director and previously was its deputy director for strategic communications. He has a strong tourism background and more than 20 years of marketing and public relations experience, making him uniquely qualified to serve as the division’s director.

Lennon replaces Katie Steele Danner who was appointed director of the Division of Professional Registration.

After moving to Missouri from California in the early 1990s, Lennon spent eight years as the director of marketing for the Welk Resort in Branson, where he also was a featured vocalist and producer of the popular Lennon Brothers Swing Music Show.

He then spent 10 years as the vice president of marketing and public relations for the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau, where he was responsible for developing and managing strategic marketing and advertising campaigns, brand development, print publication and website development, communications and media relations, and tourism research.

Since joining the Division of Tourism in 2013, Lennon has played an integral role in marketing and communications campaigns and worked extensively to streamline the division’s cooperative marketing program, now known as the Promote Missouri Fund.

As director, Lennon will oversee the day-to-day operations of the division. He will continue to focus on Missouri’s marketing and outreach efforts to reinforce the Missouri brand and showcase the state as a leading tourism destination.