Caroline Bean/Sevier County High School/University of Alabama
Taylor Laymon/Northview Academy/ETSU
Liv Whaley/Sevier County High School/Carson Newman
Kasadi Hallberg/Northview Academy/Lincoln Memorial University
HospitalityTN, the statewide association representing Tennessee’s hospitality and tourism industry, is pleased to announce that Sarah Beth Urban has been selected as the new President/CEO of the organization. She will begin her new duties on April 18.
“Our search committee, working through Searchwide Global, had a number of candidates to consider,” said 2022 HTN Chair Jackie Leatherwood. “After careful review and interviews with a number of qualified individuals, the committee unanimously chose Sara Beth. We believe her background and experience will be a tremendous asset to the association and are excited about her leading HTN to new heights going forward.”
Sara Beth has ten years of experience in marketing and management in the tourism industry in Tennessee. She began her career at Historic Rock Castle, a nonprofit house museum in Hendersonville where she served as the Executive Director. From there, she took a position with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development to serve as the Middle Tennessee Division Manager. In this role, she assisted the forty counties in her division with the marketing and development of their tourism assets.
Since October 2019, she has been the Executive Director of the Tennessee Distillers Guild working with distilleries statewide to manage and grow the industry as well as to promote the Tennessee Whiskey Trail.
Sara Beth is a Nashville native and proud graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, from which she earned her master’s degree in public history and where she serves as an adjunct professor in the Tourism & Hospitality Management program.
She lives in Nashville with her husband, J.P., a deputy attorney general for the state, and their two sons: James, 5, and Dominick, 2.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the HospitalityTN team after being a member of this organization throughout my career,” said Ms. Urban. “I’m looking forward to working with the team and our partners across the state to reconnect the industry and offer more opportunities for our members to gain value from this organization.”
2021 Recipient of the Sevierville hospitality Association scholarship, Jacob Bradley, son of Eric and Sara Bradley. His plans include a career in the Computer Science field.
From left to right: Jim Davis with Sevier County Food Ministry, Amy Harper with United Way, April Gillispie Taylor Faith Ministries, Ashley Burnette with Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic, Dick Wellons with Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministry, and Ethel Hollenbaugh, President of the Sevierville Hospitality Association.
Sevierville Hospitality Association (SHA) recently awarded the following local non-profits with a gift of $500 each:
Sevier County Food Ministry
United Way
Taylor Faith Ministries
Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic
Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministry
SHA is proud to support these local non-profits and we look forward to the work they will do in our community in 2019!
The SHA recently awarded Kathy Vasquez and Luke Frangella with scholarships of $1500 each to help them continue their studies at college. Kathy is an employee of the Holiday Inn Express and Suites on NASCAR Drive and is currently attending Walters State Community College, pursuing a degree in nursing. Luke is an employee of the Apple Valley Creamery and is a Junior at East Tennessee State University, pursuing a degree in Digital Media and a minor in Japanese.
We wish Kathy and Luke the best of luck in pursuing their degrees!
We are happy to announce the following 2018 Stars of the Industry:
SCHA Attraction of the Year
Anakeesta
SCHA Preferred Associate
Phil Campbell - Leconte Center Pigeon Forge
SCHA Vendor of the Year
April Gillispie - The Thomas Group
SCHA Hospitality & Tourism Educator of the Year
Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce
Women In Tourism and Hospitality Leader of the Year
Elise Collier Massey - Collier Restaurant Group
TN under 30 Emerging Leader of the Year
Jordan Ogle - Rocky Top Sports World
Lodging Employee of the Year
Pigeon Forge: Carol Warford - Holiday Inn Express & Suites Pigeon Forge
Gatlinburg: Barbara Moore - The Greystone Lodge on the River
Sevierville: Beverly Bledsoe - Hampton Inn Sevierville
Lodging Manager of the Year
Pigeon Forge: Barbie Parillo - Inn on the River - Pigeon Forge
Gatlinburg: Bob Davis - Fairfield Inn & Suites Gatlinburg
Sevierville: Jennifer McFalls - Hampton Inn Sevierville
Lodging General Manager of the Year
Sevierville: Erek Burkhart - Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sevierville
Pigeon Forge: Billie Walker - Hampton Inn Pigeon Forge Teaster Lane
Restaurant Employee of the Year
Gatlinburg: Elisabeth Tovmasyan - Calhoun's Gatlinburg
Restaurant Manager of the Year
Sevierville: Tina New - Golden Corral Sevierville
Restaurant General Manager of the Year
Pigeon Forge: Annie Wagner - Flap Jack's Pigeon Forge
Gatlinburg: Patty Coffey-McFall - Calhoun's Banquet's Gatlinburg
Community Service Award
Kahla Williams - Home 2 Suites/Tru by Hilton
On-Going Special Event Award
Red Roof Inn & Suites - Pigeon Forge
Guest Relations Award
Dean Townsend - The Inn at Christmas Place
Friend of Sevier County Award
Dee Lundy - Lundy Thomas Advertising
Sande Weiss Star Hospitality Award
Kelly DeBord- City of Sevierville
The SHA is happy to announce that our second scholarship winner is Taylor Reagan! Taylor is currently attending Furman University and is studying Marketing and Communications. Taylor's father works at Citizens National Bank.
We are happy to announce that Trinity Hall has been awarded one of our 2018 scholarships! Trinity attends Gatlinburg Pittman High School and plans to attend the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga in the Fall as a part of their athletic training program. Trinity's mother works for SHA member Ober Gatlinburg.
The Sevierville Hospitality Association is very pleased to honor the following talented recipients of our $1,200 Scholarships:
KAYLE BEASLEY
Walters State Community College
Major - Business
Connection -has worked at the Hampton Inn Sevierville as does her mother
KATHY VASQUEZ
Walters State Community College
Majors - Nursing
Connection - works at the Holiday Inn Express in Sevierville as does her mother.
SHELBY MCCROSKEY (not pictured)
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Major - Marketing & Hospitality
Connection - works at Landmark Inn, which is owned by her parents.
Congratulations to the three winners of SHA’s 2017 Scholarships. Each student graduated from Sevier County High School. Included below are the names of the colleges they are attending, their field of study, and their relationship to the tourism industry.
Kathy Vasquez
Kathy Vasquez, the recipient of the 2018 SHA Employee Scholarship. This scholarship will enable Kathy to continue her studies in nursing at Walters State Community College. Kathy is currently a valued employee at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Pigeon Forge - Sevierville. The scholarship is given to the school in the student’s name to be used for tuition, book, or other expenses related to their education.
CONGRATULATIONS KATHY! WE WISH YOU MUCH SUCCESS AS YOU EMBARK ON YOUR CHOSEN CAREER PATH.
SCHA Attraction of the Year
Ober Gatlinburg
SCHA Preferred Associate
Christy Lewis, Tennessee Express Tours
SCHA Vendor of the Year
Jessica Byrd Ratcliff, The Thomas Group
Women In Tourism and Hospitality Leader of the Year
Melanie Clifford, M Gibson Hotels
TN under 30 Emerging Leader of the Year
Micah Bolden, Pigeon Forge Chamber
Lodging Employee of the Year
PF: Bob Valentine, Inn at Christmas Place
G: JoAnn Ramsey, Park Vista Resort
Lodging Manageer of the Year
PF: Curt Balog, Bluff Mtn Reality & Rentals
G: Kent Nelson, Hospitality Solutions
Lodging General Manager of the Year
Eric Treadway, Courtyard Marriott Gatlinburg
Restaurant Employee of the Year
PF: Chelsea Dischiavi, GSM Murder Mystery
G: Magdalena Sobon, Calhoun’s Restaurant
S: Donna Phillips, Flapjacks Sevierville
Restaurant Manager of the Year
PF: Heather Hall, TGI Fridays Pigeon Forge
G: Tim Fulton, Collier Convention & Catering
Chef of the Year
Brian Keith Scruggs, Inn at Christmas Place
Restaurant General Manager of the Year
G: Jeff Christian, Calhoun’s Restaurant
S: Casey DeCoursey, Applewood Farmhouse
Community Service Award
Dollywood Resort
One-Time Special Event Award
Ole Smoky Moonshine
Guest Relations Award
Diane Townsend, Rocky Top Sports World
Sande Weiss Star Hospitality Award
Jackie Leatherwood, Greystone Lodge
The 14th Annual SHA Mini-Golf Tournament took place September 13 at Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini-Golf Course. 36 Teams had fun competing and we raised $9,500 for SHA’s Scholarship, community donations, and TPAC. THANK YOU ALL FOR A GREAT TURNOUT AND ALSO A SUPER $$$ TOTAL!
Thanks to everyone who helped make our fundraiser such a great success, including players, sponsors, donors, and volunteers! It was a great turnout, and a lot of fun for a great cause!
VENUE SPONSOR
Ripley's Old MacDonald Mini-Golf
GOLD SPONSORS - $1000
Dollywood
Rafting in the Smokies
SILVER SPONSORS - $500
Brochure Distribution Services
Citizens National Bank
Knoxville TVA Credit Union
Sevierville Chamber of Commerce
FOOD SPONSORS
Apple Barn Creamery
Collier Restaurant Group/Flapjacks
The DINER
HOLE SPONSORS - $100
Buddy’s BBQ
Bush’s Beans
Carl Hatcher Furniture
Comfort Inn Apple Valley
Country Tonite
Farrell Calhoun Painting
Food City
Greystone Lodge
Hampton Inn Kodak
Laundry Systems
MagiQuest
Message on Hold
New Direction Real Estate
Ninja Mystery Shopping
PF Hospitality Association
Rainforest Adventures
Rocky Top Wine Trail
Sevier County Bank
The DINER
The Old Mill
Titantic Museum PF (2)
What to Do Magazine
Wilderness Resort at the Smokies
WonderWorks
XPlorie
THE TEAMS
Alcatrez East Apple Barn Creamery
Boys & Girls Club
Brochure Distribution Services
Cici’s Pizza
Citizens National Bank
Dixie Stampede/SM Adventures
Dollywood
Hampton Inn Gatlinburg
Hampton Inn Sevierville
Holiday Inn Express PF-Sevierville
Knoxville TVA Credit Union
MagiQuest
Mirror Sales/Sign Master
Rafting in the Smokies
Ripley’s Entertainment
SCEDC/United Way
Sevier Air
Sevier County
Sevier Distilling Company
Sevierville Chamber of Commerce
Sevierville Convention Center
Sevierville Golf Course
Shular Hospitality
Sky High Tours
SmartBank
Smokies Baseball (2)
Smoky Mountain Navigator
Tanger Outlet Mall
Tennessee State Bank
Texas Roadhouse Sevierville
The DINER
The Island
The Thomas Group
Walters State CC Foundation
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DONATED DOORPRIZES!
AND MANY THANKS TO THE
SHA MINI-GOLF COMMITTEE
Amanada Barnes - Chair
Baron Mayes
Dottie Clabough
Eric Bradley
Lauren Chesney
Monica Jones
Shirl Emmert
Hopefully, we've included everyone. (If we have inadvertently left someone out, please let us know and we'll be happy to add you.) Thank You Everyone!
© Sevierville Hospitality Association. All Rights Reserved.
