About Us
Meet the Staff
Rebecca is the Executive Director and official spokesperson for the Albany Visitors Association (AVA). Since joining the AVA in 1996, she has advanced through the ranks holding every position at some point during her tenure. She's most widely known for her work with Albany's historic resources, assisting with organization, project management, marketing, event planning and volunteer coordination. She is now actively involved in leading AVA's marketing and operational planning. She also serves as a liaison to many partners including the Historic Carousel & Museum, Albany Downtown Association, Transient Lodging Tax (TLT) shareholder committee, Linn County Cultural Coalition and the Willamette Valley Visitors Association. Rebecca's experience in tourism marketing is well-known, and she has boundless enthusiasm and love for the community in which she lives and works.
Email: rebecca@albanyvisitors.com
As the Marketing Manager, Alicen manages the AVA website by writing blogs, creating new content, and maintaining existing pages. She publicizes Albany on social media, schedules itineraries for visiting travel writers, and serves on the public relations committee for the Willamette Valley Visitors Association, promoting Albany and Linn County regionally and statewide. Alicen also designs digital and print ads and occasionally writes for local publications. She enjoys creating the monthly Albany Travel News email newsletter, highlighting local events for visitors and residents.
A graduate of Linn-Benton Community College with an Associate of Arts in Visual Communication, Alicen previously spent years as a stay-at-home mom, homeschooling her children. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, painting, and hiking. Alicen and her husband, Joe, have been married for over 20 years and have two adult children.
Email: alicen@albanyvisitors.com
Lonna Capaci serves as the AVA's Visitor Services Manager, warmly welcoming visitors and locals alike as the first point of contact. Whether she's answering calls, curating the event calendar, stocking up on brochures, or ensuring the Visitor Center radiates friendliness, Lonna works hard to make every visit memorable.
Having lived in the Albany area for over 40 years (on and off), Lonna knows the area well. She and her husband, Rollie, have raised six children and now have four grandchildren and 3 dogs. An extrovert at heart, Lonna thrives on connecting with people and attending social gatherings. When she’s not busy “hosting Albany,” you might find her reading, journaling, and singing jazz; watch the calendar for her next appearance!
Drop by the Visitor Center and say hi—Lonna can't wait to share Albany’s charm with you!
Email: info@albanyvisitors.com
Meet the Staff and Board of Directors
Rebecca Bond, Executive Director
Rebecca is the Executive Director and official spokesperson for the Albany Visitors Association (AVA). Since joining the AVA in 1996, she has advanced through the ranks holding every position at some point during her tenure. She's most widely known for her work with Albany's historic resources, assisting with organization, project management, marketing, event planning and volunteer coordination. She is now actively involved in leading AVA's marketing and operational planning. She also serves as a liaison to many partners including the Historic Carousel & Museum, Albany Downtown Association, Transient Lodging Tax (TLT) shareholder committee, Linn County Cultural Coalition and the Willamette Valley Visitors Association. Rebecca's experience in tourism marketing is well-known, and she has boundless enthusiasm and love for the community in which she lives and works.
Email: rebecca@albanyvisitors.com
Alicen Arsenault, Marketing Manager
As the Marketing Manager, Alicen manages the AVA website by writing blogs, creating new content, and maintaining existing pages. She publicizes Albany on social media, schedules itineraries for visiting travel writers, and serves on the public relations committee for the Willamette Valley Visitors Association, promoting Albany and Linn County at the regional and state levels. Alicen also designs digital and print advertisements and occasionally contributes articles to local publications.
Her favorite project is creating the monthly Albany Travel News email newsletter, which highlights local events for both visitors and residents.
A graduate of Linn-Benton Community College with an Associate of Arts in Visual Communication, Alicen previously spent several years as a stay-at-home mom, homeschooling her children. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, painting, and hiking. Alicen and her husband, Joe, have been married for over 20 years and have two adult children.
Email: alicen@albanyvisitors.com
Lonna Capaci, Visitor Services Manager
Lonna Capaci, the AVA's Visitor Services Manager, is the public's first point of contact with the AVA. She answers the phones, adds events to the event calendar, orders and stocks brochures, and works diligently to keep the Visitor Center a friendly and welcoming place for locals and visitors alike.
Email: info@albanyvisitors.com
Don Vance, Volunteer Coordinator
Don has been with AVA for 25 years. He's one of the friendly smiling faces you'll see when you walk through our front doors and gladly dispenses maps or directions to anywhere you'd like to go in Linn County. Don also coordinates the volunteer staff and training at our "Little Blue House" visitor information center at the southbound I-5 Santiam Rest Area. These volunteers serve free coffee and hot chocolate and help guide travelers towards the best sights in Albany.
Email: info@albanyvisitors.com
AVA Board of Directors
Board President
Treasurer
Past President
Liaison for City Council, Ward III
Historic Community Representative
At Large Representative
Our Mission
To grow the economic impact of tourism by fostering local experiences.
The Albany Visitors Association carries out our mission by...
- Encouraging over night stays and visitor expenditures
- Seeking new tourism opportunities (including local, regional and state-wide partnerships)
- Promoting Albany and the surrounding area
- Assisting visitors in discovering enriching experiences
- Supporting events, attractions, and facilities
...while honoring our history, celebrating culture, building community identity and involvement, maintaining a positive quality of life and developing and strengthening partnerships.
