Granville County has selected Siri Emereje as its new tourism director. He is scheduled to begin the position on Oct. 26, 2026, according to a press release from the county.
Emereje brings more than eight years of experience in destination marketing, tourism development, public sector tourism funding, and community engagement. In his new role, he will lead efforts to promote the county as a destination, strengthen partnerships with tourism and hospitality stakeholders, and support the local visitor economy.
Most recently, Emereje worked as a destination strategist. From 2022 to 2026, he served as marketing communications manager for Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau in Atlanta, where he managed a $1.2 million annual advertising budget and over 110 destination promotion campaigns. He also developed the East Side Hops Trail, which received a TravelBlazer Award in 2024.
Mallory Richard, chair of the Granville County Tourism Development Authority, welcomed Emereje, saying his experience and perspective will be a valuable addition. Charla Duncan, the county's Economic Development director, noted that Emereje's experience will be key as tourism transitions under the Economic Development Department umbrella.
The tourism director position is funded through county occupancy tax revenues from hotel stays. Until Emereje begins, tourism-related communication should be directed to the Granville County Economic Development office.
