VISIT TUSCALOOSA HIRES CHELSEA BARTON-KELLY AS MARKETING CONTENT MANAGER

Visit Tuscaloosa has named Chelsea Barton-Kelly the new marketing content manager, effective August 30, 2023.

Many Tuscaloosans will recognize Barton-Kelly from her 12 years of service to WVUA 23, where she served as lead reporter and anchor. As part of her role at WVUA, she mentored dozens of students who went on to careers in media and communications.

Barton-Kelly has been an active member of the Tuscaloosa community since moving to the area in 2011. She currently serves on the board at United Cerebral Palsy of West Alabama and the Tuscaloosa Police Athletic League. She is an active member of Junior League of Tuscaloosa and was named to the Tuscaloosa News’ 40 Under 40.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chelsea to our Visit Tuscaloosa team,” said Kelsey Rush, Visit Tuscaloosa president and CEO. “The time and effort she invested in Tuscaloosa during her tenure at WVUA has her well positioned to promote our community and the unique stories of the people who make it special.”

During her time as a broadcast journalist, Barton-Kelly delivered coverage of major events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and response, and the April 27, 2011 tornado that caused extensive damage and tragic loss of life. Along with demonstrating poise and integrity as a journalist, she engaged thousands of viewers and found enjoyment sharing uplifting stories from the community.

“My favorite stories to tell involved people overcoming challenges and lifting each other up,” she said. “This is a special place because of the people those stories featured. I’m really looking forward to sharing that warmth with a new audience in this role.”

As marketing content manager for Visit Tuscaloosa, the community’s destination marketing organization, Barton-Kelly will contribute to the organization’s advertising, media relations, content creation and digital presence. These efforts will focus on strengthening Tuscaloosa’s tourism brand to enhance quality of life, increase overnight visitation, tourism expenditures and tax revenue.

Born in Marion, Ala., Barton-Kelly attended Judson College and received a bachelor of arts, with honors, in English and journalism in 2010. She has been married to her husband, Hayden Kelly, for almost two years.