Mitch Stevenson

Sales Manager, Rochester Convention and Visitors Bureau

interviewed by Ellie M. Bayrd

Mitch Stevenson has always been an unofficial cheerleader of sorts for the city. Before joining the hospitality business, Stevenson worked for movie theaters across the Midwest for more than two decades. His leadership position at Chateau 14 Theatres, as director of entertainment and marketing, made Stevenson appreciate Rochester. There, he helped promote the theater with the popular Chester the Dragon mascot. During the city’s “Rah, Rah Rochester” campaign, Stevenson’s spirit caught the eye of the Rochester Convention and Visitors Bureau. In March, Stevenson accepted a job there and changed the course of his career. Today, between encouraging groups to visit Rochester, serving on the board of many local organizations (March of Dimes, Family Y and Rochester Civic Theatre) and playing in his band, Stevenson has found time to consider running for a state representative position in 2010 and give back to the community. Stevenson won the NAACP George Gibbs Meritorious Community Service Award in 2007.

“One of the things that people remember most about Chateau Theatres is our mascot Chester the Dragon. I can remember pleading my case to spend two grand for that dragon, because I thought that there were some neat ways that we could use him to establish ourselves and really take control of the market. It was the best $2,000 we ever spent, because we came up with endless ways to use it—that dragon has been in and out of schools and all over the town. You’d never think about a mascot for a movie theater. But it was my plan; we wanted to be considered part of the community. That’s probably what I am most proud about, some of the neat things that we have done in the community to help establish ourselves and help the community.

I am learning so much about the hospitality industry. It’s been interesting to think that I work every day making plans up to five years from now. It’s easy for me to sell the city of Rochester, because I think it’s a great product and I love it. So that has been fun for me. If you look at what the CVB does, it’s amazing. I think CVBs of many towns are the unsung hero, because most people don’t realize what their influence is on the economy of that town. I am happy to be a part of keeping the economy strong in Rochester.”