City of Hays
The City of Hays has named Michelle “Nikki” Brown as the next director of the City of Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).
Brown brings extensive experience in communications, outreach, event planning, partnership development and public engagement through nearly two decades of work at Fort Hays State University.
Her professional background includes leadership roles in career development, academic advising, career exploration and admissions, where she was responsible for developing targeted communication strategies, planning and promoting large public-facing events, building partnerships with employers and community organizations, managing budgets and performance metrics, and aligning messaging and initiatives across teams.
City Manager Toby Dougherty said Brown’s background and community connections make her well-positioned to lead the CVB’s efforts to promote Hays.
“Nikki brings a strong record of leadership, management expertise, drive, and enthusiasm, to the position,” Dougherty said. “She will be a wonderful ambassador for Hays.”
Brown most recently served as assistant director of career development at Fort Hays State University, a position she began in August 2025.
She previously served as assistant director of the Academic Advising and Career Exploration Center from 2015 to 2025 and as coordinator of exploratory student advising and career exploration from 2010 to 2015.
She also has experience as an admissions counselor, where she carried out outreach and marketing efforts through events, publications, social media, presentations and personalized communication.
In her previous roles, Brown served as a primary liaison between internal teams, developed and implemented marketing and communication strategies, planned and executed large-scale events, evaluated program effectiveness through data and feedback, and led engagement and partnership efforts aligned with organizational priorities.
Brown said she looks forward to working with community partners to help highlight Hays as a destination in northwest Kansas.
“I am honored to join the City of Hays in this role and look forward to working with community partners to promote all that Hays has to offer,” Brown said. “Hays has a strong story to tell, from its culture and history to its events, attractions and hospitality. I am excited for the opportunity to help share that story, support our tourism partners and encourage more people to visit our community.”
Brown has been active in professional and university service throughout her career.
She has held leadership positions with the Kansas Academic Advising Network, including past chair, chair and vice chair, and has served in multiple conference and committee roles with NACADA, the global community for academic advising.
At Fort Hays State University, she has served numerous committees related to student success, assessment, advising and planning.
Brown holds a master’s degree in education with a concentration in health, physical education and recreation from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, a bachelor’s degree in communication from Slippery Rock University and an associate’s degree in arts from Kansas City Kansas Community College.
She will begin serving as director on June 15.
Dougherty said the CVB plays an important role in supporting tourism, local business activity and the broader profile of the community.
“The CVB helps tell the story of Hays to people across the region and beyond,” Dougherty said. “That work benefits hotels, restaurants, retailers, attractions and event venues, but it also supports the broader community. We are pleased to welcome Nikki to the City of Hays team and look forward to the leadership she will bring to the bureau.”
The CVB works to promote Hays as a destination for leisure travel, meetings, conferences, tournaments and special events that generate visitor activity and support the local economy and serves as a resource for visitors and event organizers by sharing information about local attractions, lodging, dining, shopping, recreation, cultural opportunities and community events.
For more information about CVB, visit VisitHays.com.