Martha Mitchell Memorial Book

Note: front cover

Martha left a lasting impact on Beloit Martha served as executive director of Visit Beloit for 10 years, retiring in 2009. During her tenure Martha made such an amazing impact on the Beloit community.

At her retirement celebration at Vision Beloit, which was attended by many who loved her, a proclamation was read by Beloit City Council President Jim Van de Bogart naming Dec. 10 “Martha Mitchell Recognition Day” in the community.

She really was Queen of Beloit!

Spearheading Beloit’s New Branding Martha oversaw the rebranding of the Beloit Convention & Visitors Bureau to “Visit Beloit”, bringing a fun, fresh new look to signage, marketing materials and even the city’s water tower!

Let the Fun Begin in Beloit!

Visit Beloit’s First Home Martha and her Visit Beloit staff welcomed visitors in its first home in the historic Pump House until 2008 when it was moved to the new Vision Center.

Martha was also instrumental in supporting a visitor center at Cornellier’s Superstore when the state closed the Wisconsin Travel Center on IͲ90.

Vision Beloit How do you take a run down historic building, renovate it into a spectacular showcase for Beloit, then bring four community organizations together under one roof?

No problem for Martha, who was an important part of this innovative plan conceived by Beloit 2020.

When Vision Beloit opened in 2008, Visit Beloit, the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Beloit Association and the Greater Beloit Economic Development Corporation occupied the first floor of the historic Wisconsin Power and Light building.

Vision Beloit quickly became the center of everything in the community.

Beloit International Film Festival Box Office, Plein Air, Holidazzle, ArtWalk are just a few regular happenings in this new gathering place.

Be In It!

We all became “Friends” on the Riverfront. Gathering for art, music, dancing, movies and nonͲstop fun on the Rock River!

Martha served on the Board of Friends of RiverFront 2009Ͳ2012.

Dancin’ At Harry’s Place Music At Harry’s Place Edge of the Rock Plein Air Bloom!

Rise & Shine Bloomin’ Bunch Turtles For The Park

Martha received the Patricia M. Jones “Silver Trowel Award” in 2013 in recognition of her long service to Friends Of Riverfront.

Whether at Rise ’n Shine or Sud’s O’Hanahan’s you could often find Casey’s Fancy entertaining the crowds!

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Martha spearheaded Beloit’s bid for the “America In Bloom” competition. The whole city became involved in the beautification effort. Judges came to town in the summer of 2007 and the city absolutely bloomed with beauty!

Martha was Beloit’s best ambassador and made sure the judges saw all the wonderful places, events and people when they visited.

We won!!

Martha joined the Roy Chapman Andrews Society’s Board of Directors soon after the Society first formed. She became the second president of the society’s Board of Directors.

Martha also was very involved in supporting The Angel Museum.

Martha was highly respected by her peers in the tourism industry.

She worked diligently to obtain grants to help fund new events and to build partnerships throughout the state.

So Many Events Were Supported By Martha

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Tub Run made a stop at Riverside Park.

Each summer thousands of people flocked to Beloit Riverfest for great music and fun at Riverside Park!

It’s All About The Art! Native American Dancers performed a ceremonial dance when the Artrain USA train made a whistle stop in Beloit in 2007.

Beloit College and Visit Beloit coordinated the efforts to bring the traveling exhibit of Native American art to Beloit.

Downtown Beloit Association’s ArtWalk was a highlight of Spring and Martha loved it!

The Beloit International Film Festival was a favorite event of Martha’s and she was very supportive of the event. Who wouldn’t want to work with fun guys like these?!

Supporting The Community The Stateline Community Foundation was one of many organizations that were greatly supported by Martha, even after she retired.

“Martha was a very important cog in the wheel that made Beloit great. She really cared about the community. Even after she retired, she stayed involved.”

Tara Tinder, Stateline Community Foundation

Here are just a few of the organizations that Martha supported.

That time when Beloit became famous around the world.

In 2006, volunteers recreated Georges Seurat's famous painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" along Beloit's riverfront. Martha was in this photo version, but it was a different version that later was shared around the world.

Martha Memories Martha’s infectious smile could light up a room!

She had a great sense of fun.

Was a very humble person who didn’t like the spotlight on her.

Had a flair for fashion!

She helped build great partnerships.

Was a wonderful boss and colleague.

The people of Beloit are so grateful for the contributions Martha made to her adopted city. So many of us can look back at these events, organizations and places and see Martha’s fingerprints on them. She will forever be part of the renaissance of Beloit and forever in the heart of those who worked with her and knew her.

Note: Back cover

We are grateful for the photography talents of Mark Preuschl. Without Mark’s photos that captured all the wonderful highlights of Beloit we would not have most of these photos to share.