(Editorial - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

During last week’s legislative interim meetings, lawmakers got a glimpse at the drive — and success — of Chelsea Ruby, who was reappointed as cabinet secretary for the Department of Tourism by Gov. Patrick Morrisey after having already served in that capacity for eight years under Gov. Jim Justice.

During those years, Ruby has guided the department through changes in the tourism industry and state government’s approach to it as a priority.

“I will say that the mission of the Department of Tourism has changed over the years,” Ruby said. “You’ve seen over the last eight years that we’ve really grown into an organization that looks at the tourism industry as a whole, looks at the workforce, the tax credits, and is now starting to look at some of the community development.”

In 2015, the department had nearly 67 employees. Now it has 47 positions, with 39 of them filled. Given that staffing, some bureaucrats might be surprised to learn that visitor spending in West Virginia has grown 23% since 2019. Visitors spend approximately $17 million per day here — generating what Ruby says is $8.7 billion in economic impact.

The vision she and her team have for what tourism can do for West Virginia and what state government can do for tourism has earned the trust of lawmakers who understood it was necessary to increase investment in the department by increasing its budget. That investment, too, has paid dividends.

Now Ruby is responsible for the former Department of Arts, Culture and History, too. Given the winning formula she and her team have been able to apply so far, those who cherish the work of Arts, Culture and History should be confident it is in good hands.

She told lawmakers upcoming goals include finding new efficiencies launching a trademark licensing program, expansion of tourism workforce development programs, continuing to be innovative in advertising approaches and continuing upgrades for online reservations for state parks.

While the idea of “finding new efficiencies” might make some wary, it is important to remember Ruby is among the very few in Charleston who has both taken seriously the mission to root out fraud, waste and abuse AND continued to improve her agency’s ability to do its job for the rest of us. Here’s hoping she is able to continue doing so for a long time to come.