Jonathan Walker Elevated to Executive Director of RI Sports Commission
For Immediate Release
June 9, 2025
Contact: Alana O’Hare
aohare@goprovidence.com
(401) 486-3582
Providence, RI – The Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau (PWCVB) proudly announces the promotion of Jonathan Walker to Executive Director of the Rhode Island Sports Commission (RISC), a division of the PWCVB. A driving force behind the state’s sports tourism success since 2019, Walker steps into this expanded leadership role after serving as Senior Director of Sports Sales — a position in which he helped promote Rhode Island as a premier destination for sporting events.
“Jonathan has been a tremendous asset to both our team and the state,” said Kristen Adamo, president and CEO of the PWCVB. “He’s a natural leader who has enhanced Rhode Island’s sports tourism profile, built strong industry relationships, and delivered real economic impact. No one is more deserving of this role.”
Since 2019, Walker has booked over 150 sporting events using facilities throughout Rhode Island, resulting in more than 160,000 hotel room bookings and attracting nearly half a million attendees, which has led to over $115 million in direct spending. These events are estimated to have supported close to 51,000 jobs.
In his expanded role, Walker will oversee the sales, marketing, and service efforts related to sports groups using Rhode Island as a base for competitions and sports-related meetings. He will continue to collaborate closely with clients nationwide to bring sporting events to Rhode Island and enhance the state’s reputation as a premier sports destination.
“I take great pride in representing the Ocean State nationally as a premier place to play,” said Walker. “I’m honored to continue building on Rhode Island’s reputation as a small but mighty state — affordable, attractive, and welcoming for year-round sporting events and meetings.”
Walker was named to Destinations International’s 2022 30 Under 30 class and honored as Johnson & Wales University’s 2024 SEEM Professional of the Year. He holds a B.S. in Sports, Entertainment, and Event Management, an MBA with a concentration in Hospitality, and is a certified Sports Tourism Strategist. Jonathan began his career in 2014 with the Rhode Island-based PSE Agency, where he worked with the Pawtucket Red Sox, and later joined the PWCVB.
Jonathan and the RISC continue to have a growing impact on the Rhode Island economy, booking 65 events in fiscal year 2025, which generated nearly 60,000 hotel room nights with an estimated direct spend of over $40 million.
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The Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization whose mission is to create vibrant growth for the local hospitality economy by promoting, developing, and expanding a united visitor industry. For more information, contact (401) 456-0200 or visit www.GoProvidence.com.
