CHARLOTTE HARBOR & THE GULF ISLANDS, Fla. (January 07, 2013) – Mr. Chip Futch has joined the Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau as the organization’s Marketing Coordinator. Mr. Futch’s primary responsibility will be positioning Charlotte County as a tourism destination through marketing initiatives. Prior to joining the Charlotte Harbor VCB, Mr. Futch worked as Chief Technology Officer and Marketing Director for H.B.N.C. S. de R.L. de C.V. in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and has an extensive background in visual design and commercial broadcast.
 
“I’m thrilled to join the excellent team at the Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau and look forward to a strong future for Charlotte County,” Mr. Futch said, “After having lived in Mexico for the past seven years, I returned to my native Florida with my family and immediately relocated to the Charlotte Harbor area. I’m excited to serve an area near and dear to my heart.”
 
About Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands 
Located halfway between Tampa and Naples on the Southwest Florida Gulf coast, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands is a charming collection of nine coastal communities surrounding the state’s second largest harbor. Florida’s premier year-round eco-tourism destination, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands offers a pristine unspoiled beauty that has served as the backdrop for seven major feature films as well as countless memorable vacations.  A haven for outdoor enthusiasts, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands has been named to SAIL magazine’s “10 Greatest Places to Sail in the United States,” ranked by Golf Digest as “Third Best Place to Live and Play Golf in America,” and rated by MONEY magazine as one of the “Best Places to Live in the South.” The city of Punta Gorda was named in one of “Top Ten Places to Retire Healthy” by U.S. News & World Report. Englewood was named as #2 of the Top Ten emerging travel destinations in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.com.   
 
For information about area events, activities and attractions, contact the Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau, 18500 Murdock Circle, Suite B104, Port Charlotte, FL 33948; 941-743-1900, or call toll free at 1-800-652-6090 for a free Visitor’s Guide; or visit the Web site at www.CharlotteHarborTravel.com.