About Us

Roche & Associates is a consulting firm offering marketing and promotions in the tourism/hospitality arena and beyond. Services include website development, digital and visual marketing campaigns, strategic communications, tourism and community development. We specialize in assisting non-profits, communities, and small businesses find their competitive edge. After launching the public-private partnership and start-up of Visit Harford, Inc. Roche & Associates served as consultant to the Maryland Tourism Coalition (MTC) September 2015 to February 2018. For MTC, Roche & Associates managed the annual industry conference, restructured the membership program, and managed all government relations and strategic communications for the statewide association. Under Wini’s leadership, the organization raised the profile of Maryland’s tourism industry, grew membership by more than 25%, and increased the Maryland tourism budget by 1 million dollars. At the end of the MTC contract, the business was put on pause in 2018 while Wini made a vigorous run for Harford County Council. Since then Roche & Associates has supported a variety of clients including a team of volunteers to launch The Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival (UCBPRIDE). UCBPRIDE not only brought more than 5,000 visitors to the City of Havre de Grace in it’s inaugural year, but joyously celebrated love in all its forms at a time when our local and national community so desperately needs it. Now in the 2nd year of planning Wini is a proud member of the board. Additionally, Wini has been busy developing a website for lifestyle & travel and writing a book. Soon everyone will know the answer to the question Where’s Wini?

Roche & Associates is a proud sponsor of PRIDE
Celebrate the LGBTQIA+ Community at the Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival
Learn More

Bio

Meet Wini

With more than 25 years of experience as an award-winning destination marketing professional and grass roots tourism advocate, Wini brings a passion for tourism/travel and a love for all things Maryland! Originally from Cambridge, Maryland, Wini served as the tourism director of Dorchester County from 1994-2001 and was instrumental in the revitalization of her Chesapeake home town. She was a founder of Sailwinds Park and worked with local and state lawmakers to bring the waterfront development project to fruition, including the multi-million dollar visitor center, the public park, and event space. She also helped galvanize the Dorchester County community around the concept of heritage tourism and began the planning process that has led to the county’s designation as a Certified Heritage Area and resulted in the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom scenic by-way and Harriet Tubman State Park. Wini later moved to the northern part of the Bay where she created a tourism program for the City of Havre de Grace with events like First Fridays and established the town as a destination for weddings and leisure travel. In 2006, she became the tourism and marketing manager for Harford County Government where she successfully advocated for a County lodging tax- a fee generating more than 3 million dollars a year paid by visitors to underwrite tourism programs and expand tourism economic development opportunities in the county.  When the Glassman administration eliminated the Office of Tourism, Wini started her own consulting firm Roche & Associates offering marketing and promotions in the tourism/hospitality arena and beyond. Services include website development, digital and visual marketing campaigns, strategic communications, tourism and community development. After launching the public-private partnership and start-up of Visit Harford, Inc. (the replacement organization for the Office of Tourism), Roche & Associates served as consultant to the Maryland Tourism Coalition (MTC) from 2015 to 2018. For MTC, Roche & Associates managed the annual industry conference, restructured the membership program, and managed all government relations and strategic communications for the statewide association. Under Wini’s leadership, the organization raised the profile of Maryland’s tourism industry, grew membership by more than 25%, and increased the state tourism budget by 1 million dollars. After running for County Council in 2018, Wini has supported a variety of clients while developing a website for lifestyle and travel Where’s Wini? Wini lives in Havre de Grace with her husband, 3 kids and dog Bailey. She a board member of Tidewater Players community theater, and serves on the HdG Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board. read more