Marisa Reeder comes from a sporting family where she has years of experience attending her brother’s wrestling matches and football games, sister’s soccer tournaments and personal experience with softball, basketball tournaments along with track and field meets. These experiences will help her to plan and execute various sporting events with the Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission. She has over 15 years of experience working for non-profits so she understands the high paced atmosphere of planning special events along with being knowledgeable about marketing, social media, development and managing volunteers. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. She is a certified Travel Marketing Professional (TMP), Festival & Event Planner (FEP), Road Runners Club of America Race Director and USA Triathlon Certified Race Director. Jacksonville has become her home away from home so she is passionate about attracting more people to visit and explore the area through sporting events. Email

• Grew up on farm in Pennsylvania and dedicated 10 years to volunteering in 4-H. She also spent three years as part of the Pennsylvania Dairy Princess Program.

• She used to despise running in high school but since 2010 she has been participating in various 5k runs and just completed her second half marathon. She also has competed in MCCS Grand Prix series for three years. In December 2018, she finished her first Spartan Race Trifecta and in October 2023 she completed her third Marine Corps Marathon.

• Photography is her favorite hobby and travels whenever she can so that she can capture the magnificent beauty God has created.