By Anne Levin

Jamie Volkert

Since starting her new job last week as director of Mercer County’s new Division of Travel and Tourism, Jamie Volkert has been busy in meeting after meeting devoted to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

But Volkert, familiar to Princetonians from her 11 years working for the Nassau Inn, Terra Momo, and most recently as marketing director for Palmer Square Management, has more than the milestone anniversary on her plate.

“We also have the FIFA World Cup coming up in July 2026,” Volkert said. “They’ll be in different stadiums in this area, and it will bring travelers to Mercer County. The timing is perfect.”

Elected this past January, Mercer County Executive Dan Benson created the Division of Travel and Tourism as part of the county’s Office of Economic Development. Known for her work in Princeton as well numerous volunteering opportunities in Hamilton Township, where she sits on the Zoning Board of Adjustment, Volkert was approached once the new division was formed.

“We are really excited for Jamie Volkert to join our team as we launch our new Division of Travel & Tourism,” Benson said in an email. “There is so much to see and to do here in Mercer, and as we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation we have an opportunity to expand Mercer as a premier travel destination.”

In addition to history and soccer, Volkert is focusing on what the county has to offer in terms of tourist-friendly activities. “We’re putting together trails for hiking and spending time outdoors and in our open space,” she said. “I just met with the person who runs the Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT), which I wasn’t familiar with even though it was right in my backyard.”

Volkert said that the majority of visitors to the LHT website came from Philadelphia and New York. “So that’s proof that people in our own area are not aware of all the assets we have,” she said. “Creating awareness for the whole county is part of what I’m doing.”

Starting by collecting information from the 12 towns in the county, Volkert is busy setting up an infrastructure. “The great thing is that I still get to work with Princeton,” she said. “I kind of always felt Princeton was my work home. I got to work with so many people on committees, and in the former Princeton Merchants Association, and the Chamber. It’s really nice now to offer support from a higher level of government. The ties are still there.”

Born in Trenton, Volkert grew up in Hamilton Township, where she lives with her family. “I volunteer for everything under the sun,” she said, mentioning her children’s school cheerleading program, the football teams, and the Parent Teacher Association. “If I see there is something missing, I step in.”

One of the things that made her a good candidate for the county position was her experience in more than one town. “I know the key players in Princeton, and have close ties to Hamilton,” she said. “I need to meet some people in other towns. But I do have a diverse background.”

Volkert said that her role as marketing director for Palmer Square was about much more than just marketing. And it prepared her for bigger things.

“A lot of what we went through with the pandemic, helping the businesses get through it, helped shape me for this role,” she said. “It was about learning how to adapt and change, and to listen and support everybody. I’m hoping I can do that on a larger scale. I’m honored to work with this administration. They have big plans, and they’re going to do good.”