Stephen Koranda has spent his first month as executive director of the Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau meeting Norman leaders, learning the city's ordinances and the NCVB history.

"I have been so busy meeting people and not tripping the alarm," he said.

The 40-year-old Koranda said one of his first priorities is getting all Norman's tourism stakeholders together to come up with a strategic plan.

"What do we want Norman to look like as a tourism community in five years?" he said. "It's a smart thing to do for any business or corporation. ... It's a wonderful time for all of us to come together and map out a strategic plan together."

His first day on the job was Dec. 1. He will make $52,000 annually, with a benefits package.

Koranda said January and February will be busy months for the NCVB, with five trade shows and needing to fill a sales position. He's staying at the new Embassy Suites Hotel for the time being.

"A message I hope Norman hears loud and clear," he said. "That's a beautiful facility there."

And although he considers himself a Kansas Jayhawk fan, he has an idea about a great way for Sooner fans to fully enjoy the Jan. 8 national championship game in Miami. Stay home.

Koranda's idea is to book a room at Norman's Sooner Legends Inn and Suites, which is decorated in Sooner memorabilia. Watch the championship game on the seven big-screen televisions at the hotel's sports bar and then revel in Sooner atmosphere after a victory and being crowned No. 1.

"Stay and keep the feeling," he said.

He said in Norman, tourism is about an $114 million industry, although he hopes to do some further research to validate and maybe increase those numbers.

Koranda said in most markets, it's sometimes difficult to make residents, businesses and industry understand the importance of marketing the community.

"Unless you live in Vegas ... tourism is a hard thing to get your arms around," he said.

Koranda wrote in an e-mail while applying for the Norman job that he took pride in "23 quarters in a row of growth in the transient guest tax, the introduction of six new attractions and the implementation of a research-based marketing initiative" while at the Olathe, Kan., CVB.

"Moving forward, I think we have great opportunities," he said about Norman.