New Energy Joins The Visit Cook County Team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Energy Joins the Visit Cook County team  
Meet the new faces of Visit Cook County

Grand Marais, Minn. (2/9/2026) - Visit Cook County is pleased to announce the hiring of two new team members to support its growing efforts to promote the region, strengthen the local tourism economy and enhance visitor and community engagement. 

These new hires join a small but mighty team of five full-time and three part-time employees who enthusiastically serve Visit Cook County and the Cook County Chamber of Commerce.  

“As we look to the future and continued growth in tourism and local business, we recognized the need to expand our internal capacity,” said Linda Jurek, Executive Director of Visit Cook County and the Cook County Chamber of Commerce. “These new roles will help us continue telling the great stories that make up this community and supporting the events that benefit both residents and visitors.”

“These roles are an important investment in our mission,” said Kjersti Vick, Marketing & PR Director for Visit Cook County. “By strengthening our marketing and events capacity, we’re better positioned to support local businesses, enhance the visitor experience, and serve our community in thoughtful, impactful ways.”

About the New Team Members 

Audrey Mays-Trimble, Events Coordinator comes to Visit Cook County by way of Lutsen Mountains. Audrey and her husband, Zak Trimble, moved to Cook County just over two years ago and recently purchased a home in Tofte. 
“Audrey brings a deep passion for this community and years of event planning experience to this role,” said Jurek. “Her enthusiasm is contagious, and we are absolutely thrilled to have her as part of the team.”   

Jordan Woods, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, brings a strong background in marketing and creative production from his work with several Duluth-area agencies, as well as experience as an entrepreneur and videographer.
“We are excited to welcome Jordan on board to help take our marketing and creative energy to the next level,” said Vick. “Our immediate impression was that he is exceptionally talented, organized, and sharp. It’s an added bonus that he’s an avid skier, too.”

Both positions reflect Visit Cook County’s commitment to fostering a strong tourism economy while celebrating the people and places that make the region special. To learn more about Visit Cook County and it’s work, visit www.visitcookcounty.com. 

Visit Cook County, Minnesota 
Visit Cook County encompasses the northeastern Minnesota communities of Lutsen, Tofte, Schroeder, Grand Marais, the Gunflint Trail and Grand Portage, commonly referred to as “the Arrowhead” and the “North Shore of Lake Superior.”  Grand Marais, Minn., has earned several national accolades — most recently, it was named America's Best Small Lake Town by Travel & Leisure Magazine, USA Today’s Best Midwestern Small Town, and Outside Magazine’s The 16 Best Places to Live in the U.S. 2016. Rekindle your sense of adventure by exploring the Superior National Forest or paddling through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Discover what makes the communities of Cook County, Minn. “Naturally Unforgettable.” Connect on social media using #donorthmn, Twitter @CookCoVisitors, Facebook, or Instagram @donorthmn. Learn more at VisitCookCounty.com.

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