Speaker Bios

General Session Speakers & Special Guests

  • Governor Bill Lee

    Governor Bill Lee

    Governor of Tennessee

    Special Guest

  • Mark Ezell

    Mark Ezell

    Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

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    (615)741-9016

    General Session Speaker - Thursday Lunch

  • Sara Beth Urban

    Sara Beth Urban

    President & CEO, Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association

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    (615)385-9970

    General Session Speaker - Opening Session

  • Fred Dixon

    Fred Dixon

    President & CEO, Brand USA

    General Session Speaker - Opening Session

  • Barry White

    Barry White

    President & CEO, Chattanooga Tourism Co.

    General Session Speaker - Opening Session

  • Hugh Anderson

    Hugh Anderson

    Loews Vanderbilt Hotel

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    (615)320-1700

    General Session Speaker - Opening Session

  • Bishoy Mikhail

    Bishoy Mikhail

    Vice President of Research, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

    General Session Speaker - Thursday Breakfast

  • Timberley Russell

    Timberley Russell

    Director of Training & Employer Engagement, Martha O'Bryan Center

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    (931)633-9405

    General Session Speaker - Thursday Breakfast

  • Briana Garza

    Briana Garza

    Owner - Chatt Taste Food Tour

    General Session Speaker - Friday Breakfast

  • Ashley Hollis

    Ashley Hollis

    Sales Director - Defoor Hospitality

    General Session Speaker - Friday Breakfast

  • Erin Meeker

    Erin Meeker

    Executive Chef/F&B Director - Hotel Indigo

    General Session Speaker - Friday Breakfast

  • Wanda Lee

    Wanda Lee

    Co-Owner/Distiller - Gate 11 Micro Brewery

    General Session Speaker - Friday Breakfast

  • Papae Litchfield

    Papae Litchfield

    Public Relations & Advocacy Director, Chattanooga Tourism Co.

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    (423)424-4430

    General Session Speaker - Friday Breakfast

10:00am Breakout Session Speakers

  • Darius McDonald

    Darius McDonald

    Chief Operating Officer, The Nashville Black Market

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    (000)000-0000

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Greg Bradley

    Greg Bradley

    Managing Principal, GB Collective

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Brian Yamada

    Brian Yamada

    Chief Innovation Officer, VML

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Jackie Reau

    Jackie Reau

    CEO, Game Day Communications

    Breakout Session Speaker

11:00am Breakout Session Speakers

  • Junehee Kwon

    Junehee Kwon

    RHTM Department Head, The University of Tennessee - Hotel & Tourism Management

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    (865)974-2141

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Brooks Shaw

    Brooks Shaw

    President, Old Country Store in Casey Jones Village

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    (731)668-1223

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Shawn Danko

    Shawn Danko

    Owner/Chief Manager, Kooky Canuck - Memphis

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    (901)292-5838

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Michael Sanders

    Michael Sanders

    Vice President of Operations, Chartwell Hospitality, LLC

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    (615)261-6101

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Kristin Luna

    Kristin Luna

    Co-Founder, Odinn Media, Odinn Media

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    (931)808-9165

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Matthew Maxey

    Matthew Maxey

    Senior Director of Public Relations, Visit Franklin

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    (615)550-8696

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Sabra Bledsoe

    Sabra Bledsoe

    Business & Workforce Director, Northwest , Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development

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    (901)440-7743

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Rebecca Manley

    Rebecca Manley

    Human Resources Director , Dollywood Entertainment Park

    Breakout Session Speaker

1:50pm Breakout Session Speakers

  • Renee Hoggay

    Renee Hoggay

    Regional Manager, ServSafe/NRA

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    (724)272-7429

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Scott Caufield

    Scott Caufield

    Senior Principal Client Partner, TripAdvisor

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    (972)489-4543

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Agustin Sobrino

    Agustin Sobrino

    Manager, Partner and Subscription Services, ServSafe Benefits, ServSafe/NRA

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Katie Stadius

    Katie Stadius

    Director of Product Experience , Zartico

    Breakout Session Speaker

2:50pm Breakout Session Speakers

  • Charity Toombs

    Charity Toombs

    Tennessee Distillers Guild

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Emily Parli

    Emily Parli

    Senior Digital Media Manager, Orange142

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    (808)223-5840

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Jim Evans

    Jim Evans

    Vice-President, Marketing & Air Service, Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority

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    (865)342-3012

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Maria De Varenne

    Maria De Varenne

    Senior Partner - FINN Partners

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Josh Powell

    Josh Powell

    Assistant Vice President, Airline & Government, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Kristen Behm

    Kristen Behm

    VP of Public Relations & Air Service Development, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Glen Thomas

    Glen Thomas

    Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications/PIO, Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority

    Breakout Session Speaker

  • Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Team Leaders

    Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Team Leaders

    Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

    Breakout Session