Visit Wichita has promoted two of the organization’s existing team members to fulfill roles on the sales and sports teams, which work together to attract events, meetings and conferences to the city.
Jessica Viramontez has been a member of the sales team for the past three years as a convention sales manager and is transitioning into the role of sports sales manager. Marisa Pechanec, who has been the organization’s convention sales coordinator since January 2020, is moving into Viramontez’s former role of convention sales manager. Filling the sales coordinator role is recently hired Jamie Seipel.
Viramontez replaces Josh Howell, who was promoted to vice president of sports development earlier this year, on Visit Wichita’s sports team. In her new role of sports sales manager, Viramontez will be responsible for attracting sporting events to the city.
“I am very excited to begin my role as sports sales manager at Visit Wichita and I welcome the challenge of working to bring the biggest and best sporting events to the city,” said Viramontez. “My passion for sports combined with my years of experience with the organization and in the hospitality industry has given me the opportunity to develop relationships and skills necessary to propel Wichita as a major player for hosting sporting events in the Midwest.”
Viramontez was born and raised in Wichita and received her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Wichita State University. Prior to joining Visit Wichita, she worked as a consultant for Cerner Corporation in Kansas City.
As one of Visit Wichita’s convention sales managers, Pechanec will build relationships with meeting planners and help them identify and select facilities, hotels and vendors to ensure a successful meeting. To assist in creating memorable experiences for attendees, she will also highlight Wichita’s unique museums, attractions, live shows, local shops and dining. Her focus areas include agriculture, health & medical, trade, business, commercial, government/military (non-reunion), environmental, engineering and scientific, legal, finance and energy.
“I love Wichita and am thrilled to grow my skill set as a member of Visit Wichita’s sales team, promoting the heart of the country as a tremendous destination for meetings and conventions,” said Pechanec. “I’m eager to start making even more connections in the community and building upon the relationships I have built over the years with meeting planners from across the country.”
Prior to Visit Wichita, Pechanec held various sales roles, including event sales at Kansas Star Casino and as catering sales manager at DoubleTree by Hilton Wichita Airport. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication from The College of New Jersey.
Jamie Seipel has joined the team to fill the sales coordinator role, in which she will provide support to the Convention Sales and Services team to promote Wichita as a destination for meetings and conventions. She will also provide assistance to recurring groups and meeting planners by helping them utilize the resources made available to them by Visit Wichita.
“I am excited to assist the sales team in showcasing all of the unique and exciting aspects Wichita has to offer meeting planners and visitors,” said Seipel. “I am incredibly proud to be a part of such a strong and talented team of professionals.”
Prior to Visit Wichita, Seipel held various sales roles, including dispatcher II at Sedgwick County Emergency Communications and volunteer coordinator at Pheonix Home Care and Hospice. She received a Bachelor degree in Business Administration Management from Fort Hays State University.
For more information on hosting a convention or meeting in Wichita, go to www.visitwichita.com/meeting-planners. See how you can bring your next sporting event to Wichita at www.visitwichita.com/sports.
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About Visit Wichita
Visit Wichita markets the greater Wichita area as a major convention and tourism destination, thereby enhancing the economic development of the city, county, region and state. Visit Wichita is led by president and CEO Susie Santo, and in 2019 travel and tourism contributed more than $1.1 billion in economic impact to the greater Wichita area.
