Blizzard Reimagined 2025

With nearly 25 years in tourism marketing and communications, Melanie Beauchamp currently serves as the Assistant Commissioner of Rural Tourism and Outreach for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. In the role, she oversees the industry facing division of the department with a goal of increasing economic impact in all 95 counties. Her division manages partner outreach, tourism initiatives, destination development, technical assistance, and grant, scholarship and educational resources. As a result of Governor Lee’s Executive Order on rural Tennessee, she has built programs with an added emphasis on growth in tourism development in Tennessee’s at-risk and distressed counties, including Google destination optimization, photo and video assets, and rural roadmap planning sessions. She represents the department on a number of boards, including Southeast Tourism Society and the Tennessee Wine and Grape Board. A native of Crossville, Melanie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of Tennessee and is a 2022 graduate of Tennessee Government Executive Institute. She and husband Eric reside in Nashville with three children.

Josh Gibson is the Research Director for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. In this role he helps to quantify and promote the value of travel and tourism as an economic driver. 

Over a 12-year career he has spent time managing digital marketing experiences across public, private, and non-profit sectors. He worked as a Product Manager and Business Insights & Performance Analyst with FedEx Services; helping launch the global capability to see a photo as proof of your package delivery. He spent six years managing social, web, and online booking experiences with Tennessee State Parks along with time at the Tennessee Housing Development Agency and the Williamson County Association of REALTORS®. 

Josh holds an undergraduate degree in Communication Studies from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master’s in Professional Studies from Tennessee State University. He resides in Hermitage, Tennessee, with his wife and three daughters.

As Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD), Mark Ezell is responsible for the growth strategy and overall branding of the state’s global tourism footprint. He is responsible for building national campaigns that reinforce Tennessee as a world-class destination while building better opportunities for citizens through revenue and job creation. Under Ezell’s leadership, the department has received numerous accolades including a prestigious Gold Cannes Lion, North American Effie, Ad Age A-List and Reggie Awards for “Kid Reviewed;” a Bronze Clio for “For the Love of Tennessee;” and a Yesawich Award for Marketing Excellence, to name a few. Additionally, Ezell was named HospitalityTN’ s Tourism Leader of the Year in 2021. Prior to joining Tourist Development, Ezell worked his way from entry-level to eventually serve in a range of senior roles at both his family-owned business Purity Dairies, Inc., as well as Dean Foods, a Fortune 500 Company where he focused on brand development and achieved record profitability. He received national recognition for his work on campaigns including the iconic “Milk Mustache – Got Milk?” campaign. Ezell is a seventh-generation Tennessean, born and raised in Middle Tennessee. He received his bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb University and completed his master’s degree at Tennessee Technological University. Ezell and his wife Martha have four children and five grandchildren and are active members of Ethos Church.