Laura Whitehouse, president and CEO of the Fresno City and County Convention and Visitors Bureau, has resigned her position effective Jan. 31, officials said today.

Whitehouse, who was hired a year ago, is credited with helping the bureau create a three-year strategic plan, revamping the organization's record keeping and developing new marketing efforts.

"During her tenure with the CVB, Laura has united all 15 cities in Fresno County around a strategic plan to increase tourism," said Brian Glover, chairman of the bureau's board of directors. "She built a dynamic team of professionals, mended relations at all levels of government with regard to the CVB and dramatically increased convention sales."

Whitehouse has decided to pursue other opportunities that initially will include serving as a public relations and development consultant.

"I have enjoyed my time at CVB," Whitehouse said. "And now I am looking forward to handing over the reins and pursuing some other professional opportunities."

The Fresno City Council almost stripped its funding from the bureau in 2007 after a former bookkeeper was convicted of embezzling nearly $50,000 from the nonprofit agency, and council members later questioned the bureau board's apparent conflict of interest in its decision to hire a board member's business to print its brochures.

Wayne Bennett, the bureau's former executive director, resigned in July 2007 after 21 months on the job, citing family reasons.