Tom Perlozzo

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City officials tapped a household name and face this week to fill the recently created post of director of tourism and business development, a kind of quarterback who oversees the city’s sales and marketing strategy.

Earlier this year, the mayor and council signed the creation of the new director of tourism and business development and directed city administrator Doug Miller to define a job description and initiate the hiring process. With an emphasis on business development and sales to attract more family-friendly events, sports teams, and groups to Ocean City to fill the city’s hotel rooms and accommodations, Miller was looking for a single person, or perhaps a small team of individuals in the future to do that Resort and all it has to offer really for sale.

After an extensive application and interview process, Miller nominated Tom Perlozzo for the new position of department head on Monday. After some debate about where Perlozzo should fit into the formula for classifying city workers, the city council unanimously approved Perlozzo as the new director of tourism and business development.

Perlozzo brings a familiar name and face to the new position. Perlozzo has been the Director of Recreation and Parks since 2018 and was named Director of Recreation and Parks and Tourism and Economic Development in Worcester County in 2019.

He was the director of recreation and parks for the city of Ocean City for two decades. He brings 30 years of experience in leisure, parks and sports marketing to the new position which will serve the city well as it seeks to rename its image as a youth sports destination.

Prior to joining Worcester County in 2018, Perlozzo was a successful entrepreneur and independent sales representative for Golf Magazine, Golf.com and Sports Illustrated, specializing in resort travel and marketing plan development. He was recognized as one of the country’s top-selling travel producers.

Perlozza was Ocean City’s Director of Recreation and Parks from 1985 to 1998, and played an important role in the growth and development of the resort’s vast network of parks and its seemingly endless recreational programs for residents and visitors. During his tenure in Ocean City, Perlozzo was in control of all of the resort’s recreational programs and parks, including the growth and development of the 58-acre Northside Park complex. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, including two years as President.

Miller said Monday there were 100 applicants for the job and that he and a panel gathered to go through the interview and hiring process reduced the list to eight. From there, four were used for personal interviews.

“We have put together a group of trusted staff and members from the private sector,” he said. “The panel has forwarded a list of four people to be used for face-to-face interviews. Everyone could have done the job, but two really excelled. “

Of these two finalists, Perlozzo was nominated and approved by the Council on Monday. The intention is for the new employee to take to the streets and sell everything the resort has to offer with the aim of bringing more economic development to the resort, such as: B. Congresses, large groups, sports tournaments and the like.

While everyone agreed that Perlozzo was the right person to fill the position, there has been considerable debate among councilors about exactly where the new position fits into the city’s rating system. In previous conversations, it was agreed that the new position as Head of Department would come to the top of the city’s hierarchy.

Miller said it was his understanding that the new position would be in a Class 128 with a salary range of $ 90,000 to $ 141,000. In fact, Miller said Perlozzo was offered and accepted the 128 grade. However, when Council Secretary Tony DeLuca applied for Perlozzo’s approval as the new Director of Tourism and Business Development, his application included accepting the new position at Grade 129 ($ 94,000 to $ 148,000).

The issue sparked a debate, not so much about the salary range for different grades, but where the position was in the city’s pecking order. Perlozzo’s accepted annual salary is $ 131,000.

Alderman John Gehrig said it was his understanding that the new position would take place in Class 129.

“We talked about it for five years,” he said. “I think we agreed that this position would be just below the city administrator. The grade that is consistent with what we discussed is 129. It’s a new position. There is no level that corresponds to what we have already discussed. “

Miller explained how the grades were determined.

“We rate positions according to a formula,” he said. “We can come in and show you how the evaluation formula works.”

Gehrig said he did not want to delay the vote to approve Perlozzo to hold another working session on grading.

“I don’t want to waste any more time on this,” he said. “It’s been a long process and I don’t want to stop it.”

Alderman Lloyd Martin said Miller had been tasked with recruiting and hiring the new position.

“We micromanage the city administrator,” he said. “We gave him a job and he did it. He brought us the right person at the right price. “

The council eventually approved Perlozzo for the new position from the 129th grade. Perlozzo will begin his new role at Ocean City on June 1st.




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