CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. – Chesterfield County, Va., has hired J.C. Poma as its first-ever executive director of sports, visitation and entertainment effective May 1.
Poma comes to Chesterfield from Richmond Region Tourism, where he has worked for seven years. He currently serves as vice president of community relations for the region’s official destination marketing and tourism organization. As a member of its senior leadership team, Poma developed connections within the U.S. tourism industry and built working relationships with a variety of stakeholders across the Richmond region.
“I could not be more thankful to the board of supervisors and county administration for choosing me to execute their strategic vision and maximize the benefit of sports, visitation, and entertainment to Chesterfield residents,” Poma says in a news release. “While the county has experienced steady growth in its sports tourism portfolio over the past decade, it has the potential to reach far greater heights. I’m excited to be part of that endeavor and can’t wait to get started.”
Poma, who holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Georgetown University, began working for Richmond Region Tourism in 2016 as a sports development manager. He was promoted to director of sports relations in 2019, then assumed his current position in 2021.
Honored in Style Weekly’s Top 40 Under 40 last year, Poma currently is an advisory board member for the United States Sports Congress and serves on the board of directors for the Sportable Paralympic Sports Club.
“We are grateful for J.C.’s leadership and passion over the last seven years at Richmond Region Tourism and look forward to working closely with him in his new role,” says Katherine O’Donnell, executive vice president of Richmond Region Tourism. “As the region’s localities continue to invest in sports tourism facilities, it enables us to partner to bring in more tournaments, athletes, families, and fans who support local businesses. The entire region benefits. I look forward to a continued bright future for sports tourism and regional collaboration with J.C.’s leadership in Chesterfield County.”
During 2022, Chesterfield hosted 63 sports-related events–an increase of 24 percent over the previous 12 months—that included 253,111 attendees and generated $34.4 million in direct economic impact, as well as $1.28 million in direct local tax revenue. Participants booked 26,000-plus room nights at hotels in the county.
