Visit Oxnard Appoints Brittney Hendricks as President & CEO

“Brittney’s passion for Oxnard, combined with her deep expertise in destination marketing, makes her the perfect leader to guide Visit Oxnard forward,” said Steve Buenger, Chair of the Visit Oxnard Board of Directors. “Her creativity, hard work ethic, and ability to engage with diverse audiences and make connections within the community and beyond, will help Oxnard thrive as a top destination for both leisure and business travelers.”

Hendricks, who has been with Visit Oxnard for over six years, previously serving as Vice President of Marketing & Communications for the organization, has been a key driver in promoting Oxnard as a premier California destination. Her leadership in strategic marketing, branding, content development, agency management and community outreach has helped elevate the city’s profile as a vibrant and diverse destination. As President and CEO, Hendricks will continue to champion Oxnard’s unique offerings, focusing on driving tourism, fostering economic development, and enhancing the visitor experience, as well as fostering the relationships between Visit Oxnard and local businesses, organizations and the City of Oxnard.

“I’m thrilled and honored to accept this new role with Visit Oxnard,” said Hendricks. “I have a deep rooted and genuine love for the destination, and I’m passionate about sharing with the world everything that Oxnard has to offer. I love the quality of life in Oxnard. It’s geographically a stunning location; people are warm, unpretentious and proud of their roots; and there’s so much culture interwoven in the fabric of the community that makes it unique. What we have here is truly something special, and I’m excited to lead Visit Oxnard forward as we continue to grow and fulfill our mission of highlighting Oxnard as the ultimate year-round destination.”

Hendricks brings a diverse background in marketing and destination management to her new role, and her impactful projects and extensive media presence have significantly contributed to the growth and recognition of Oxnard as a premier destination. While in her previous role, she oversaw all marketing and public relations for Visit Oxnard, including award-winning campaigns recognized by PRSA, MarCOM, AVA Digital, Telly, and American Advertising Awards. The critically-acclaimed and award-winning “A Taco Story” campaign she concepted and oversaw garnered multiple awards, received hundreds of thousands of impressions and drove overall awareness of Oxnard as a mecca for taco enthusiasts.

In addition to multiple successful marketing campaigns, Hendricks has played a key role in impactful PR initiatives. She conceptualized the Original Road Trip Pass program for the Central Coast Tourism Council, which provided press trip hard cost reimbursement as a partner program to the Visit CA Gold Pass and resulted in multiple pieces of press coverage on the destination. She also created Visit Oxnard’s Crisis Communications Plan.

Some of Hendricks’ most notable projects in destination management included securing funds to develop a wayfinding program for the City of Oxnard, and serving on former Mayor John C. Zaragoza’s Gateway Task Force, guiding the concept development for four landmark gateways into Oxnard. Additionally, Hendricks played a key role in establishing the Oxnard Tourism Management District and successfully assisted in its renewal, including an increase in the assessment percentage.

Hendricks has been the driving force behind Visit Oxnard’s signature event, Oxnard Fan Night, which features exciting performances and meet-and-greets with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, mascot Rowdy, and Cowboys alumni. The event serves as a thrilling kickoff to the annual Cowboys Summer Training Camp.

As a prominent spokesperson for Visit Oxnard, Hendricks frequently appears in the media to discuss key destination initiatives from Dallas Cowboys Summer Training Camp to the Oxnard Taco Trail, and has been featured on KTLA, Spectrum News, and KEYT Morning News, as well as various radio and online platforms.

In addition to her work with Visit Oxnard, Hendricks serves as PR Chair for the Central Coast Tourism Council, and is active on committees with Destinations International, Visit California, the California Travel Association, and the Ventura County Lodging Association. She was honored with the 2023 Rising Star Award from the California Travel Association and the 2024 Young Professional of the Year Award from the West Ventura County Business Alliance. Brittney holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a Marketing emphasis from Chapman University.

Beyond her work in tourism and marketing, Hendricks is a drummer in a metal band, a creative pursuit that fuels her enthusiasm for Oxnard’s vibrant music scene. One of her favorite things about Oxnard is its status as the global headquarters for DW Drums, as well as being home to other renowned instrument makers such as Larrivee Guitars, Era Drum Company, Cordoba Guitars, and the newly opened Fidelity Record Pressing. “It’s incredible that Oxnard hosts such a rich concentration of musical craftsmanship,” she shared. Hendricks looks forward to further spreading the word about this with a soon-to-be-revealed new campaign launching in early 2025.

For more information on Brittney Hendricks, please visit www.visitoxnard.com/about-us/visit-oxnard-staff/brittney-hendricks-author-page.