Mark Jeanneret, Ben Huggler Take On Interim Roles in Erie, Pennsylvania

Mark Jeanneret has taken over as interim president and CEO of VisitErie, the official destination marketing organization of Erie County, Pennsylvania, following the retirement of John Oliver, who had led the organization since its inception in 2001.

For the past eight years, Jeanneret served as the executive director of the Erie Sports Commission, a division of VisitErie. Ben Huggler has assumed the interim executive director role.

Both men will hold those positions for 90 days, after which VisitErie will evaluate the appointments.

During Jeanneret’s tenure as executive director, the Erie Sports Commission hosted or supported 675 events and generated $120 million in estimated economic impact for the region. From 2013-2018 Jeanneret served as the Commission’s events director, growing its portfolio from 19 events in 2013 to 59 in 2017 and securing competitions such as the 2021 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four. He has also spent eight years as a member of PA Sports, the group of 15 organizations dedicated to promoting sports tourism across Pennsylvania.

“I am honored to step into the role of interim president and CEO at VisitErie,” Jeanneret said. “Tourism plays a vital role in Erie County’s economy, and I look forward to working closely with our dedicated staff, partners, and community stakeholders and continuing to promote the region as a welcoming and dynamic destination.”

“Mark has demonstrated strong leadership, deep industry knowledge, and a clear commitment to Erie County’s tourism economy,” said Terry Cascioli, VisitErie board chair. “His familiarity with VisitErie and its mission, combined with his success leading the Erie Sports Commission, makes him well-positioned to guide the organization during this transition.”

Huggler, meanwhile, has been the event services director of the Erie Sports Commission since 2018, during which time it grew to host 86 events in 2025.

“I’m incredibly thankful for Mark’s steady leadership and the foundation he’s built for our team and our community.” Huggler said. “I look forward to building on that momentum and advancing sports tourism as a key driver of Erie’s continued economic success.”

“Ben has long been a valuable member of the Erie Sports Commission and has shown over the years that he is more than ready for the challenge of this new role,” Jeanneret said. “He’s a consummate professional with outstanding communication and organizational skills and has a proven ability to create/foster relationships that lead to impactful events.”

Prior to joining Erie, Huggler had stints at Live Nation, Feld Entertainment and as the Director of Events at VertMarkets. Jeanneret has a background in public relations, having served as the Director of Communications for the Portland Pirates, a former AHL team, and as the Director of Media Relations for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.