Debra Smith

Debra Smith joined the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development in December 2022 as the Assistant Commissioner of Marketing. She oversees the state’s global communications, sales and marketing strategy, with the goal of raising brand awareness and increasing tourism throughout the state’s 95 counties. Smith is a 32-year veteran of the hospitality industry, having held leadership roles in both sales and marketing. She has worked in multiple facets across the industry including retail, accommodations, attractions and a top-tier destination marketing organization. Previously, she served as Sr. Vice President of Visitor Experience for the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. During her 20-year tenure with the organization, Smith’s roles evolved as the city’s tourism footprint skyrocketed. She led strategy for digital media and marketing, leisure sales and promotions, retail sales and services and the customer-facing visitor experience team where her leadership played a significant role in helping Nashville become the sought-after destination it is today. Debra is a native Tennessean and holds a BA in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Marketing from the University of Alabama.