Jay Tusa
Jay Tusa has been selected as the new Assistant Airport Director for Strategy and Development for the City of Pensacola, bringing 23 years of travel industry experience to the position. His experience includes staff management, policymaking, public-sector tourism development, operational leadership, marketing and relationship-building. In his role as the Assistant Airport Director for Strategy and Development, Tusa will be responsible for assisting with strategic planning, day-to-day air service development, and airport marketing.
Tusa recently served as Director of Marketing for Explore Asheville, where he was responsible for leading an internal marketing team and agency partners, overseeing data-driven creative storytelling leading rebranding efforts. Prior to his tenure in Ashville, Tusa spent six years serving as Executive Director for Visit South Walton and Corporate Director of Hospitality Marketing for the St. Joe Company. He has also served as a board member of the Panama City – Bay County Airport and Industrial District.
Tusa earned his Bachelor of Arts in communications from Loyola University New Orleans and has the following certifications: Certified Destination Management Executive, Travel Marketing Professional, and Certified Travel Industry Specialist.
As the Assistant Airport Director for Strategy and Development, Tusa will lead in identifying opportunities for air service expansion, evaluating and crafting the customer service experience strategy, defining and implementing an integrated marketing strategy, and leveraging existing relationships to identify funding opportunities and partnerships that support airport growth.