Kelsey Rush, president and CEO of Visit Tuscaloosa, has been named Alabama Tourism Executive of the Year, one of the state's highest honors for tourism leadership. The award was presented during the 2026 Alabama Governor's Conference on Tourism last week. Rush brings more than 15 years of experience in destination marketing and event development. Before becoming CEO, she served as Visit Tuscaloosa's Vice President of Marketing and Communications. She holds a master's degree in marketing communication management from the University of Alabama, serves as president of the Alabama Association of Destination Marketing Organizations and was appointed by Governor Kay Ivey to the Alabama Tourism Advisory Board.