John Groh is a lifelong Rockfordian and the president and chief executive office of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, a position he’s held since July 2009. Prior to joining the RACVB, he was the executive vice president of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

John began his career in the destination marketing industry in 1999 when he joined the RACVB as communications manager. He has also served as its international sales manager, director of public affairs and executive vice president prior to his time at the Rockford Chamber. 

Within the visitor industry, John is the Chair of the Illinois Council of Convention & Visitors Bureau and on the executive board of the Destinations International Foundation. He has also served on the boards of the Upper Midwest Association of CVBs and Destinations International.

John believes that ideas are the seeds of transformation. Personally and professionally, he seeks out experiences that generate and incubate new ideas, believing that an idea implemented is an opportunity but an idea that is shutdown can be a missed opportunity. It’s been said that John has never met a bad, good idea...and it’s from that vantage point that he leads RACVB and the region’s tourism industry.

John received his B.A. from Bethel University, St. Paul, Minnesota and then earned a Masters in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University. He is a Certified Destination Marketing Executive. Born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, John and his wife, Kaylene, have three sons – Coleman, Miles and Lucas.