Experience Fayetteville hires cycling coordinator, new sports sales manager

Brannon Pack / Courtesy photo

Experience Fayetteville on Tuesday announced the hiring of two new employees at the city’s convention and visitors bureau.

Brannon Pack has been named the new cycling coordinator, and Luke Charpentier is the new sports sales manager.

The newly formed position of cycling coordinator was made possible through a matching grant awarded by the Walton Family Foundation.

“As the infrastructure for cycling grows in Northwest Arkansas, and Fayetteville in particular, so does our need to bolster those investments with resources for tourists, professionally promoted events and a knowledgeable staff person to ensure that Fayetteville is maximizing the potential of cycling as an economic driver,” said Molly Rawn, executive director of Experience Fayetteville.

In the new position, Pack will lead cycling-related events, marketing and promotional activities, and will serve as a local facilitator for cycling advocacy groups and educating tourists for both on and off-road amenities in Fayetteville.

Pack previously served as executive director of Ozark Off-Road Cyclists. In that role, he spearheaded new soft-surface trail construction at Kessler Mountain Regional Park in Fayetteville and its capital campaign, as well as the Playing in the Dirt Gala, which honored the men and women who built the path for Arkansas to become a regional destination for mountain biking.

He also facilitated new and existing trail projects throughout the region, including Gregory Park in Fayetteville, the Runway Bike Park in Springdale, City Lake in Siloam Springs, Mitchusson Skills Park in Huntsville and The Grove in Pea Ridge.

Pack’s position is being co-funded for a 3-year period as part of the Walton grant, which was awarded through the foundation’s Home Region Program.


Luke Charpentier / Courtesy photo

Charpentier is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he played football. He brings with him three years of experience in the convention and visitors bureau industry.

“Luke is a great addition to our team, because he knows all that Fayetteville offers and has a passion for promoting the city as a destination for sports events,” said Hazel Hernandez, vice president of sales and marketing for Experience Fayetteville. “We are excited that he will be seeking new opportunities for growth in the market and industry.”

Charpentier’s responsibilities will include recruiting sports organizers to host sporting events in Fayetteville, such as tournaments and races, as well as stewarding those organizers upon their arrival.

The position also includes promoting and marketing sports facilities, lodging, meeting spaces and dining accommodations to help contribute to the city’s hotel, motel and restaurant (HMR) tax collection.