Former Tourism Association executive director hands clean

TA in good shape for 2015

By Adam Broderick

Soon after the former executive director of Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association (TA) resigned on December 31 last year, TA staff members noticed the organization’s numbers weren’t quite adding up. Pamela Loughman was suspected of accessing the TA’s QuickBooks accounting program from her personal computer on multiple occasions after leaving her position and making an unauthorized $50,000 advertising deal with a prior client.

Loughman argued that she had handled the “outstanding projects” out of “courtesy,” but the TA requested a financial audit from an independent party. In February, county commissioners, acting as the Gunnison Valley Local Marketing District (LMD), approved up to $10,000 to fund the audit by the Avon-based accounting firm McMahon and Associates.

Results of the audit were shared with commissioners at a board meeting in late June. It turns out there was no foul play on Loughman’s part. In fact, the audit proved the TA to be in good shape for 2015. According to the audit report given to commissioners, “Our most recent evaluation of finances shows a strong financial position.”