Annie Williams

Email: awilli18@uoregon.edu
Title: Destination Development Coordinator
Organization: Travel Southern Oregon Coast (TSOC)
Community: Southern Oregon Coast
Population: 87,412
Counties Served: Coos & Curry

Meet Annie Williams (she/her/hers):

Annie was born and raised in La Grande, Oregon and grew up hiking, swimming, and skiing in the Blue Mountains of Northeastern Oregon. She completed her Bachelor’s of Landscape Architecture with a minor in Environmental Studies at the University of Oregon in 2021. For her capstone project, she worked with locals from her hometown community to design a farm school for at-risk youth incorporating concepts of trauma informed care and agricultural education. She enjoys creating accessible and equitable outdoor spaces and is excited to see how her background in landscape can be applied towards sustainable tourism in one of her favorite regions in Oregon.

Community and Organization:

Travel Southern Oregon Coast (TSOC) is a regional destination management organization focused on developing the South Coast of Oregon into a sustainable and vibrant visitor destination. TSOC receives funds from Coos County by way of an overnight lodging assessment at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

Their territory ranges from Reedsport to Brookings on the coast and inland to Powers and Agness. The region has been undergoing a transition due to the decline of extractive industries, including timber and commercial fishing, and looking towards tourism as a new economic driver. The abundant natural wonders, from sandstone cliff-lined beaches to lush clear waterfalls, sell themselves. Local organizations like TSOC are working to protect both the environmental assets and economic interests of the area by building a culture of sustainable and mutually beneficial tourism.

Project:

As a destination development coordinator, Annie will be working with TSOC to implement various projects related to enhancing sustainable tourism on the Southern Coast. She will be engaged closely with the outdoor recreational destinations of the region, specifically its kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking assets. She will be working on projects to bolster and improve the visitor infrastructure including supporting the implementation of several ADA kayak launches and a trail needs assessment. She will also help market the region to potential visitors by supporting TSOC’s social media platforms and campaigns as well as helping to develop graphics and maps. All the while, she will be exploring the region’s communities for landscape improvement opportunities and intends to work closely with locals wherever possible to develop professional conceptual designs that align with their community’s culture and needs.