Destination Spotlight

Justin Polizzi, Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism/TEAM Maryland – 

Volume 5, Issue 6

1. What circumstances led you to begin working at Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism?

My wife and I relocated to the Eastern Shore in 2023.  She was named the Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation at Salisbury University.  

I started as the Senior Tourism Specialist (Assistant Tourism Manager) on October 5th, 2023. The primary part of the job was overseeing our Sports Tourism events. Prior to moving into the Tourism space, I spent 17 years coaching college, high school, and some professional football. So, it was a natural fit with my sports background to move into a sports tourism-heavy role. 

Two months after I started, my boss took another job, and I was named the Tourism Manager in February 2024.  

2. What was the first thing you did when you learned you got the job?

I hit the ground running as fast as possible.  We had a couple of open positions in the office and were about to get into our “busy” season.  I posted our jobs immediately and started building the rest of our team. After that, we reached out to our partners to let them know and reassure them that we have a solid plan for the future.

3. Tell us about the “bread and butter” sports that Wicomico County caters to? Are these due to specific state-of-the-art facilities?

We excel at a high level in a couple of sports! Henry Parker Athletic Complex is our 8-field baseball/softball complex. This complex is sold out from March through November each year, hosting local recreation events as well as national baseball and softball events.   

The first event we host is USSSA Eastern Nationals softball, which is held for three weeks in the summer. During that time, we bring in over 340 teams and use 5+ facilities across the region.  

Next, in baseball, we host several national baseball organizers, such as Prep Baseball, Athletx, and Perfect Game. Each of these organizers hosts events on multiple weekends, ranging from three-day events to week-long tournaments.

Additionally, we host a collegiate softball tournament each season in March. The tournament has expanded from 4 teams a year ago to 9 this past year and will have over 12 teams next year.  

Our other big facility is the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center. It is an arena with over 7,000 seats that we can configure in multiple layouts.  We host the Governor's Challenge, the country's largest high school basketball Holiday tournament. From December 26 to 30, we host over 140 teams, ranging from local to national top-5 teams. 

We also host large wrestling events with 1,200+ wrestlers competing over 2-3 days each tournament.  

We are expanding this year to include the USA Flag Eastern Nationals in June, a qualifier for Worlds in Tampa, Florida.  

In April 2027, we are hosting our first NCAA national championship in Men’s Volleyball.  

4. How does seasonality affect your annual book of business?

Our “busy” season is typically March through October, with only the Governor's Challenge in December. We are actively looking to change that, and we are adding events that will take place during our “slow” time.  

We will soon announce a large-scale collegiate event taking place in November. Our goal is to build our book of business and stay consistently busy all year round.   

5. Describe why Wicomico County events are so meaningful to you.

We are making a positive impact on Wicomico County, benefiting our local economy and making a significant economic impact on the community! 

One of my core beliefs is to make something better than you found it. We have the opportunity to do that by hosting events and showcasing our community.  

6. Justin, you are known among your peers in the industry as someone who brings enthusiasm and energy to your everyday work life, projects, and events. In what ways has your passion led to increasing the overall book of business within the Wicomico County sports tourism effort?  

I think enthusiasm is contagious.  I wake up every day intending to win the day!  I look at us as partners with our organizers.  We are invested in the events as much as they are.  Once they see that, that is when the real synergy happens.  We plan and enhance events for our participants that make them unforgettable.  Organizers want to continue returning to us; some are waiting for openings to get into our facilities.    

A fresh perspective has also given us the ability to see things differently, capitalize on opportunities, and evaluate our potential.    

7. As the Tourism Manager for the Destination Marketing Organization and the sports tourism lead, how do you juggle the workload for these events and the intense travel demands of your position?

First, it is because of our team in the Tourism office.. They are second to none! They really make it happen. They are organized, have built relationships with our organizers and throughout the department, and know what needs to happen and how to make it happen!

Second, I stay organized and communicate with my team. As you know, there is a lot of travel required! We share our calendars and communicate what we have going on and what we need as a team to get it done.  

8. What was the most significant moment you experienced thus far as the Wicomico County overall tourism leader?

Well, when I was the acting Tourism Manager, our Sports Marketing Representative and Events coordinator took new jobs in other jurisdictions across Maryland. I was the only one left in the office to manage our upcoming events and our Welcome Center.  

My first few days on the job involved hiring a new team, which was a pretty significant moment for me. It is not every day that you get a new job and build a new team. I think a lot of people would have been discouraged, but I saw it as an opportunity to build a new team and put my stamp on our department.  

9. In what way, or ways, are you a different person today because of your experience working in Maryland for the past 18 months?? 

I think the 1.5 years+ have really helped me develop not just as a leader but as a person. I am better because this role really requires you to listen and think outside the box. At times, you need to get creative to make things happen. This job challenges you in different ways. I have really enjoyed the new challenges and finding ways to work through them.  

I have also enjoyed building a team and everything that goes into it. I get to mentor some of our younger employees and build our internship program.    

10. What advice would you give to others in a situation like yours?

Keep pushing!  You never know what you are capable of until you try. Attack each day and keep piling up wins! 

Rely on your colleagues and ask questions.  There are plenty of people who are willing to help.  Do not be afraid to ask!  

11. What would “today Justin” share with “first day on the job Justin?” 

Enjoy the ride! There will be good days and bad. Don’t lose sight of your goals, and keep pushing forward! 

12. What goals do you have personally and for Wicomico County in 2025?

My goals for Wicomico in 2025 are to continue pushing sports tourism forward in Wicomico County. I want to be at the top of the list when you think of sports tourism and Maryland. When it comes to sports, we do it bigger and better, and our participants have an unforgettable experience. 

I also want to move into sports genres we are not currently in (Flag football).  I want to continue growing our portfolio and filling in gaps in our schedule where we can accommodate events.  

I want to keep growing and learning more about our industry.  We must keep reaching and networking to put our best foot forward.