TDTD New Hires: Debra Smith Joins as Assistant Commissioner of Marketing and Jessica Hollingsworth as Tourism Initiatives Coordinator

Debra Smith joins TDTD as the new Assistant Commissioner of Marketing. She will be essential in leading all aspects of marketing for TDTD. This includes working closely with the Commissioner and executive leadership team, managing the marketing, communications and sales staff, and overseeing the advertising agency of record. The ACM collaborates with members of the Tennessee Tourism Committee and other tourism industry leaders at DMOs and attractions on an ongoing basis to inform the strategy for marketing initiatives designed to inspire travel to Tennessee domestically and internationally.

Debra comes to us from Nashville CVC, where she has been a considerable part of Nashville's success for 20 years. Most recently, she was the Senior VP of Visitor Experience. Before that, Debra served in various roles with visitor services, digital marketing, retail services and leisure sales. Prior to the NCVC, she held sales and marketing leadership positions with Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery, Drury Hotels and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group. Many of us have worked with Debra over the years and know her as an outstanding, knowledgeable leader whose passion for service shines through in how she serves her team, her partners and the tourism industry.

Jessica Hollingsworth joins TDTD as the new Tourism Initiatives Coordinator where her primary role will be to manage various tourism initiatives including Retire Tennessee, Discover Trails and Byways, Tennessee Music Pathways and Civil War Trail.

Jessica has over ten years of marketing and management experience across various industries. Her most recent experience comes from the Dickson County Chamber as the Marketing and Tourism Manager. She was the lead on numerous projects and events for both the Chamber and Dickson County. One of her favorite events was the annual Farm to Table fundraising dinner, where she highlighted local agriculture to the community while raising funds to provide scholarships to AG students in Dickson County.

Before her employment at the Chamber, Jessica worked in the local radio industry as both the Creative Director and the Traffic and Billing Coordinator. During this time, she decided to obtain her undergraduate degree in Graphic Design from Southern New Hampshire University. Jessica is currently working on her graduate degree in Strategic Leadership and Organizational Management from Austin Peay State University.

Jessica and her husband, David, have two children, Dalton and Harper, and two golden doodles, Hattie and Lily. They live on a property that has been with her family for over 200 years. Jessica is proud to call Tennessee her home.