Discover Newport announced six new members to its board of directors on Monday.
The new appointees are Joanna Arrighie, director of sales and marketing at Newport Marriott Hotel & Spa; Rebecca Bertrand, executive director of the Newport Historical Society; Kajsa Kempenaar, vice president of Kempenaar Real Estate Inc.; Kevin O’Leary, director of marketing at the Preservation Society of Newport County; Molly McGlew, strategy director at Code and Theory; and Andrew Ross, Managing Director, The Brenton Hotel.
“These appointees bring significant leadership and industry expertise that will strengthen our board and advance our mission,” said Discover Newport President and CEO Victoria Cimino.
Matthew Gray, owner of Gray Matter Marketing and Ragged Island Brewing Company, was elected chair on November 18. He has represented Portsmouth on the board since 2019 and previously chaired the finance committee as treasurer. He also served on the organization’s recent CEO search committee.
A Newport native who grew up in the Fifth Ward and graduated from Newport Public Schools, Gray founded Gray Matter Marketing in 2012. The agency produces events including the Amica Newport Marathon and the Citizens Pell Bridge Run.
“As a local kid, it is truly an honor to represent my fellow small business owners and the residents of our nine incredible coastal communities,” Gray said when his appointment was announced. “My focus will be to support the staff and leadership of Discover Newport in their mission to strengthen our destination.”
Gray said he wants to increase visitation during the off-season and on weekdays while maintaining quality of life for residents. Cimino said the organization is working on a new strategic plan.
Among the new appointees, Arrighie brings two decades of hospitality experience and will serve as chairwoman of the Tourism Improvement District Committee. Bertrand is active in cultural preservation efforts statewide. Kempenaar has spent 25 years managing her family’s hotel portfolio in Newport and Middletown.
McGlew has experience across global media brands. O’Leary brings marketing and business development expertise from nonprofit and national agency roles. Ross, a seasoned luxury hospitality leader, oversees The Brenton Hotel.
The board includes 18 members representing nine municipalities in Newport and Bristol counties, along with five industry-specific appointments. Discover Newport is the destination management organization for Newport, Barrington, Bristol, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton and Warren.