Visit Fergus Falls outlines transition plan after director's resignation

Visit Fergus Falls said it already has an interim transition plan in place after executive director Rolando Felizola resigned May 21, with Growth Forge Studio prepared to cover all facets of operations so tourism marketing, event coordination and partner communication do not stall.

That quick response matters in Fergus Falls, where the visitor bureau helps shape how the city is promoted to outsiders and how local events are packaged for residents, businesses and travelers. The organization lists its office at 119 N Union Ave. Unit B in Fergus Falls and can be reached at (218) 446-0002, underscoring that it remains an active front-line tourism office rather than a group in suspension.

The timing also lands at the start of the busiest stretch for local travel traffic. Explore Minnesota says Fergus Falls sits about 2 1/2 hours northwest of the Twin Cities on I-94 and points to the county’s 1,048 lakes, the Otter Trail Scenic Byway, Prairie Wetlands Learning Center, Otter Tail County museum and Red Horse Ranch Arena as key draws. With lodging, festivals, outdoor recreation and road-trip visitors set to intensify through summer, any pause in marketing could ripple quickly into restaurants, retailers and hotels downtown.

Growth Forge Studio’s role suggests Visit Fergus Falls is leaning on an outside marketing partner to maintain continuity while the organization sorts out longer-term staffing and structure. The studio launched in November 2024 as a brand of 4t Creative and says it focuses on AI-powered digital marketing services, including strategy, team training, website development, video, photography and copywriting. That background fits the kind of day-to-day promotion work a visitor bureau needs when events, lodging leads and attraction updates do not stop for a personnel change.

The resignation also arrives against a wider policy backdrop that has kept tourism funding and governance in focus. In October 2025, the Fergus Falls City Council voted to end its 2021 agreement with Visit Fergus Falls effective Dec. 31, 2025, and directed staff to negotiate a new contract for 2026 amid budget pressure and debate over hotel-tax revenue. That makes the speed and credibility of the transition plan especially important for downtown businesses and lodging operators watching for stability in how Fergus Falls markets itself through the rest of the year.