The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) has made staffing and leadership promotions to the organization’s marketing team. Rachel Riley is being promoted to Vice President of Marketing and Communications, and Samantha Cole is being promoted to Senior Director of Marketing and Media Relations.

This award-winning, all-female group will oversee the organization’s strategic communications, marketing, and public relations efforts.

“We are thrilled to announce these promotions,” said Mike Bowman, President and CEO of the VFTCB. “Rachel and Samantha are strategic thinkers who have helped solidify Visit Valley Forge as the state’s premier Tourism Board. I cannot wait to see how Samantha’s creativity, combined with Rachel’s proven leadership, and support from an already stellar team will help our organization continue to raise the bar.” 

Currently AVP of Communications and Visitor Experience, Riley is being promoted to Vice President of Marketing and Communications to assume all responsibility over the marketing team, including media buys, creative, and web. She will continue to supervise communications, public relations, social media, arts and culture, government relations, and visitor services, including the VFTCB’s visitor experience space at Valley Forge National Historical Park.

In addition to overseeing social media and supporting PR, Cole is being promoted from Director of Public Relations to Senior Director of Marketing and Media Relations to take on overseeing the website, as well as assist with marketing projects.  

A former award-winning multimedia journalist with more than 20 years of experience in the news and tourism industries, Riley has been with the VFTCB since 2017. In her almost seven years, she has been promoted from Manager to Director to Senior Director to Associate Vice President. An instrumental member of the senior leadership team through COVID, Riley helped launch many firsts for the VFTCB including Crave, and arts and jazz initiatives.

Riley’s direction over PR has supported 7,000 editorial mentions for a reach of 5 billion for the VFTCB over the years. And, she leads the charge for the organization’s Freedom from Hunger Food Drive, which has collected the equivalent of more than 300,000 pounds of food to date. In 2022, Riley was named one of Metro Philadelphia’s Power Women. She was also one of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s 2021 40 Under 40, and a PR News’ Top Women in PR in 2019. A graduate of Holy Family University, she also serves on the Montco Anti-Hunger Network Board.

A graduate of Bloomsburg University, Cole has been with the VFTCB since 2018. Over her time with the group, she’s been promoted to Social Media Manager, Associate Director of Public Relations, and Director of Public Relations. Recognized as an award-winning Social Media Marketer, she has grown the VFTCB’s social media following by more than 85,000 followers and generated more than 15 million video views. Cole is also an integral part of making the VFTCB’s annual Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run a successful event, generating virtual and worldwide/international participation. In 2019, she was named a 2019 Rising Star in social media marketing by PR News.

Learn more at Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board. The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board is a private, non-profit membership sales and marketing organization that actively promotes the Valley Forge area and Montgomery County as a convention site and leisure visitor destination by promoting patronage of its member hotels, restaurants, attractions, and services.