Meet Katie Barthlow, Communications Specialist (left), and Nikki Terlesky, Director of Operations, (right) for the Route 66 Association of Arizona. While Nikki oversees the day-to-day operations, Katie’s role focuses on sharing all the local stories that make Route 66 so special. Katie’s journey to this role is as unique as Route 66 itself. From technical theater to art galleries to tourism offices, she’s carved a path fueled by a passion for connection and storytelling.
The Road from Stage to Screen: Discovering Destination Marketing
“I sort of just fell into this line of work,” Katie says. From managing stage productions to promoting art, she eventually found her calling in destination marketing. “I was offered a job at the City of Kingman Office of Tourism. This job is where I was introduced to CrowdRiff! After about three years working for the city, I was offered a job with the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, and luckily, I still get to work with CrowdRiff. I even have the same rep. (Hi, Wayne!!!)”
Katie relies on CrowdRiff to manage Route 66’s digital presence across various channels. “I utilize CrowdRiff all the time to request rights to UGC, and more than ever before, I’m creating different galleries for various pages on our website,” she explains. “I also regularly use CrowdRiff’s Social Publisher to schedule our posts.”
Sharing Stories From Across Communities
One of Katie’s favorite aspects of her job is sharing the stories of the people and communities that make Route 66 so incredible. “That’s one major thing I’ve learned in this line of work, and especially at the SEE Conference—social media is all about storytelling,” she emphasizes. “For me, it’s a privilege to share the stories of the individuals and communities who are the threads of the tapestry that is the legacy of Route 66.”
CrowdRiff plays a crucial role in this, allowing her to curate and showcase authentic experiences from across Northern Arizona. “Seeing all the UGC on it and everybody’s amazing, unique ways that they’re capturing their experiences along Route 66 in Arizona,” she says, “is a constant source of inspiration.”
More Than Just a Platform
Katie’s appreciation for CrowdRiff goes beyond its functionality. “It’s so user-friendly and comprehensive,” she says. She also praises the responsive and helpful CrowdRiff team, always ready to assist with any questions or issues.
It’s also been helpful in terms of efficiency. “CrowdRiff definitely improves efficiency for me in that I’m not going to all of the different locations to capture content,” Katie points out. While she enjoys exploring the route herself, she understands the importance of showcasing authentic traveler experiences. “It’s so important to showcase different people’s authentic experiences at a destination.”
The Power of Connection
When Katie was presented with the option of switching to a competitor platform, she ultimately decided to stick with CrowdRiff. “I feel like CrowdRiff offers so much more beyond just the functions of the platform itself,” Katie explains. “CrowdRiff nurtures connections in so many ways, from CrowdRiff Creators to the SEE Conference. Additionally, you can feel the care, love, and connection with every CrowdRiff team member any time you talk to them.”
The Route 66 team’s work demonstrates how powerful storytelling, authentic connections, and the right tools can have a positive impact on destination marketing. Thank you, Katie for taking time to share your story with us!
Have a great story to share? Tell us about it!
