H.B. Visitors Bureau has new chief

The Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau announced Monday that Kelly Miller will be its new president and chief executive officer.

Steve Bone will retire by the end of summer after five years in the posts. He was one of the founding members of the bureau, created in 1988.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege for the board of directors to allow me to take the bureau to a new plateau these last five years and welcome [Miller] into the community and look forward to new programs and a new plateau,” Bone said.

Miller was recently the president and CEO of Tampa Bay and Co., the tourism organization for Tampa Bay, Fla., and previously was the executive director of the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau in North Carolina.

One of Miller’s most notable accomplishments was working as the marketing manager for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.

“I’ve been really fortunate to work in some great destinations and to help high-performing teams, as well as more recognizable destination brands and building the whole brand awareness of destinations,” Miller said.

Bone and other current members began the Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau 25 years ago after realizing the city didn’t have external marketing.

He first retired in 2008 but temporarily returned after another member left the organization.

Since then, Bone helped established a dining guide for the city and set up the information kiosk at the pier, he said.

Miller said that he’d like to develop Huntington Beach into a convention destination but will first chat with key officials to get a feel for the city.

“I just want to get my feet on the ground and really listen and take my skills and expertise and try and gather as much input from key players in the community and the region to see how we can build on the wonderful success that Steve Bone and his team have built,” he said.