Starkey retires after 28 years with Wayne CVB
Martha “Marty” Starkey, second from left, poses with Wayne County commissioners Sue Smail, left, Ron Amstutz and Becky Foster during her retirement celebration held recently at Troutman Vineyards and Winery.
It will be hard to imagine a world without Martha “Marty” Starkey as director of the Wayne County Convention and Visitors Bureau, but after 28 years at the helm, she has decided to retire.
Tourism was not on her radar when she graduated college with a degree in music education.
“I wanted to be a band director,” Starkey said. “But those jobs were scarce back then, and I needed to work. I saw an ad for a position at Atwood Lake Resort, and after interviewing, I was offered a sales position.”
That position jump-started Starkey’s love of the tourism industry.
“I started making contacts from all over Ohio, and eventually, I took a position with the Canton CVB,” she said. “That is where I gained the bulk of my experience.”
Starkey learned how to navigate an industry that faces tight deadlines in an ever-changing environment.
“One of the most challenging aspects of the job has been dealing with deadlines,” she said. “I have a deadline to get promotional material out, in many cases before the people I work with know when their event is going to take place.”
Starkey said over the years she developed strong working relationships with Wayne County businesses. Although there was little flexibility, they accomplished what needed to be done to promote an event, business or attraction.
“The client’s lead time is always back to back with my lead time,” Starkey said. “It is a tight balancing act.”
Enter a global pandemic.
“COVID-19 changed everything about tourism,” Starkey said. “Rather than planning for events a year in advance and printing a yearly calendar of events, everything is now promoted quarterly. We were at a standstill during COVID, and no one could commit to events. Now people aren’t planning that far in advance.”
To Starkey, her role has always been much more than a job.
As demanding of a position as it was, Starkey made time to serve on several boards and steering committees including The Western Reserve Tourism Council, Adventures in Northeast Ohio, Ohio Travel Association, The Ohio Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus, and the Ohio Lincoln Highway Historic Byway (founding member).
In addition, Starkey has been involved with People to People Ministries and the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce, and she has been a Rotarian for 25 years.
During her retirement celebration at Troutman Vineyard on Wednesday, State Rep. Scott Wiggam spoke about Starkey’s accomplishments over the years and how he enjoyed working with her. Wooster Mayor Bob Breneman recounted the many projects the two have collaborated on and how much she has meant to the city.
Wayne County commissioners Becky Foster, Sue Smail and Ron Amstutz read a proclamation in Starkey’s honor.
“Be it resolved by the board of Wayne County commissioners,” Amstutz said, reading from the proclamation. “We extend our sincere appreciation and recognition to Martha (Marty) Starkey for her dedicated service and offer our heartfelt wishes for a well-deserved retirement.”
Dan Starcher is a public communications specialist for the Wayne County government.