Emily Coleman Dibella has been named the new Estate Associate Director and Director of Public Affairs at Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens. She will lead the Public Affairs team responsible for marketing, media relations, advertising, special events, and group sales development at Historic Mount Vernon.
Formerly Mount Vernon's Director of Media Relations, she replaces Stephanie Brown who resigned to become President and CEO of the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association. Dibella has been a member of Mount Vernon's media and marketing staff since June 2002.
She led the award-winning team that garnered $8 million of earned media for the 2006 grand opening of Mount Vernon's Ford Orientation Center and Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center. Dibella and her team's efforts resulted in a national Public Relations Society of America Bronze Anvil award for the top media relations campaign in the travel and tourism/hospitality category.
"We interviewed a number of qualified candidates for this important position. Emily's proven track record, her great knowledge of Mount Vernon, and her creative approach to public relations and media challenges made her the best choice for the job," said James C. Rees, executive director, Mount Vernon Estate.
Prior to joining Mount Vernon's staff, Dibella served as Communications Manager at Gunston Hall Plantation. Her experience also includes serving as public information specialist and assistant to the director, Office of Historic Alexandria; staff assistant, Rules Committee, U.S.House of Representatives; and staff assistant, Fleishman-Hillard public relation agency, Washington, DC.
A 1996 graduate of Duke University, Dibella has a Bachelor of Arts in History. She was a member of Rotary Foundation's Group Study Exchange to Scotland in 2003 and Chair of ACVA's 2006 Fun Side Form Steering Committee.
"I am very excited about my appointment. I have always loved working at Mount Vernon and I'm looking forward to taking us through this new era," Dibella said.
"I WANT TO DO MORE on-line strategies to make sure that George Washington and Mount Vernon have real relevance to young people. More and more marketing strategies are being implemented on-line. We will also be developing ways to convince visitors to spend more time here since we have the new museum and education center," she said.