Greg Edwards, the president and CEO of Catch Des Moines, will retire later this year after 25 years, the organization announced today.

According to the announcement, Edwards, a Peoria, Ill., native, will step down this summer but stay involved to help with the leadership transition. No exact date was given for when his retirement would take effect.

Edwards, who joined Catch Des Moines in 2000, said serving the organization and the community has been “one of the greatest honors of my life.”

“Seeing the region evolve into this vibrant and thriving destination and working alongside everyone who has been a part of this journey has been truly remarkable and humbling,” he said in a news release making the announcement. “I believe the foundation that we’ve built here with the incredible team at Catch will ensure that the tourism industry here will continue to flourish and grow.”

Edwards, 69, began his career as a hotel restaurant bar manager in Peoria and then joined Marriott, working at hotels in Des Moines, where he met his wife, and in Overland Park, Kan. He made the transition to the convention and visitor’s bureau in Overland Park as director of marketing.

He later took the top job at the Peoria Convention and Visitors Bureau, where he worked before a headhunter reached out about the job at what was then the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Since joining Catch Des Moines, Edwards is credited with expanding Central Iowa’s national presence, leading efforts to bring high-profile events to the region, including the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the NCAA Wrestling Championships, AAU Junior Olympics and the National Speech and Debate Tournament.

During his tenure, Edwards also advocated for projects that changed the landscape of the region, including Wells Fargo Arena, the Downtown Hilton hotel, the MidAmerican Energy Co. Recplex, the Lauridsen Skatepark and ICON Water Trails.

He also served as chairman of the board of directors for Destinations International, and reorganized the Des Moines Area Sports & Tourism Commission, more than tripling convention, sports and events bookings since 2000.

Edwards also navigated Catch Des Moines through the COVID-19 pandemic and the sharp decline in air travel, both for recreation and business.

In a 2022 interview with the Business Record, Edwards said Des Moines fared well following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and even during the 2008-09 recession, but “we had never seen anything like this,” referring to the impact of the pandemic.

“Your hearts were broken when you saw the thousands of employees laid off, hotel employees, restaurant, retail, all the different travel-related jobs. So that was a challenge. How do we build this back up?” he said in 2022. “So I think everyone in our industry had to figure out how to continue to stay in front of the customer, the leisure traveler who someday will make the trip again, the meeting planners, the sports planners, and assure them when they’re ready, we’re ready.”

Catch Des Moines did a lot of social media at the time because advertising budgets were cut so low and Edwards said it worked.

“Once people were ready to travel again, they knew Iowa was a pretty open state,” he said in 2022. “They knew Des Moines was a safe, clean city. We already messaged all of that. It gave us a whole new look at how we market and advertise. I think it’s an important part of the future.”

Edwards also hinted at his upcoming retirement in the 2022 interview.

According to the announcement, a search committee put together by the Catch Des Moines executive committee will work alongside national industry search firm SearchWide Global to find Edwards’ successor.

Brian Mulcahy, assistant executive director of the Des Moines Airport Authority and Catch Des Moines board chair, called Edwards a “one-of-a-kind leader, whose infectious energy, passion, and drive leave an indelible mark on everyone he comes into contact with.”

“He’s Des Moines’ biggest cheerleader and his leadership has been transformational for the region,” Mulcahy said in the release.

Edwards at a glance

Age: 69
Family: Married, four children
Education: University of Northern Colorado, degree in speech and communication
Hometown: Grew up in Peoria, Ill., now lives in Greater Des Moines
Activities: Tinkering around the house, working in the yard, playing golf, spending time with family