Join us as we talk with Amanda Lugenbell! Amanda is the Assistant Director at the Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority, a role she’s been adapting to since 2007. She's the go-to gal for communications and media relations, along with content strategy and website management. She graduated from Appstate’s Hospitality & Tourism Management program and started her hospitality career in local restaurants before taking on new challenges in the destination marketing realm. It’s a field she finds endlessly engaging because she believes in the transformative impact tourism has on small businesses and communities. On this episode we got to speak with her about itinerary building for both marketing and leisure travel! Be sure to explore the Blowing Rock website at https://blowingrock.com/ where you can see some of the itineraries that they have put together! Also stay updated on what UPLIFT is doing at https://www.uplifttourism.com/.

Join us this week as we talk to Lisa Rueh! Lisa serves as the Main Street Grants Administrator for the North Carolina Main Street Rural Planning Center at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, where she manages the Downtown Revitalization and Rural Community Capacity categories of the Rural Transformation Grant Fund. Prior to her current position, Lisa worked for Downtown Morehead City as Executive Director. She appreciates seeing transformational grant projects come to fruition, likes traveling the state, and enjoys exploring her hometown in the Southern Outer Banks. Please be sure to check out https://www.ncmainstreetandplanning.com/organization where you can find the link to the Resource & Funding Guide! Also, be sure to stay updated on what's happening at UPLIFT: https://www.uplifttourism.com/.

Join us as we talk with Emily Yeager! Emily currently works as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation Sciences and directs the Crisp Small Business Resource Center at East Carolina University with a research agenda focused on sustainable community development built upon a community's unique assets and cultural nuances. Be sure to check out the Tar-Pamlico Blue Economy Corridor Project: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/7b317fd4dd0445a7928b29a03d524857 and the ECU Crisp Small Business Resource Center: https://business.ecu.edu/msoe/crisp/. Also, stay updated on what UPLIFT is doing at https://www.uplifttourism.com/.

In this very special episode, join us as we dive into the vibrant atmosphere of the Visit NC Conference through exclusive interviews with attendees. The UPLIFT team members had the opportunity to engage in quick yet insightful conversations with conference guests and participants, capturing their unique perspectives, experiences, and key takeaways from the event. Tune in to discover what makes this conference a must-attend for tourism professionals!

Always striving to grow and learn, Jillian Medlin is excited to be a part of the close-knit business community in Caswell County. Having lived here nearly her whole life, she is enthusiastic about discovering creative ways to allow Caswell to continue to prosper while ensuring that our "small-town life" continues to flourish. Assisting small businesses, farms, solopreneurs/makers, and other rural entrepreneurs to create a digital presence and market their offerings successfully is one of their main goals at the Chamber. To learn more about the Caswell County Chamber visit: https://www.visitcaswell.com/ and be sure to stay updated on what UPLIFT is doing: https://www.uplifttourism.com/.

Join us as we speak to Tyler Wise! Tyler is the dedicated Lead Fellow for the Town of Roseboro and actively contributes to the community’s growth and development. The innovative NC Fellow program offered by the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government focuses on addressing capacity issues in rural areas by placing recent college graduates in impactful roles. In her role, Tyler has had the privilege of collaborating with key stakeholders, including the NC Commerce Main Street and Rural Planning Team, Downtown Directors in the Main Street Program, and various Sampson County departments. To learn more about what's going on in Roseboro visit: https://www.roseboronc.com/alive-boro-concert-series and https://www.roseboronc.com/bloomfest and be sure to stay updated on what UPLIFT is doing here: https://www.uplifttourism.com/phase2.

Join Hosanna Pennell as she shares her journey! As the Manager of the Piedmont Triad Visitor Center, she’s passionate about promoting tourism and community development in her region and even serves on the Caswell County Chamber of Commerce and as a board member for the Thomas Day House Museum. Learn about the upcoming Thomas Day Historical Site and the role that the Piedmont Triad Visitor Center plays as an ambassador for all 100 counties in North Carolina. To stay updated on the Thomas Day Historical Site opening visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/thomas-day-state-historic-site, for more information on the Piedmont Triad Visitor Center visit https://www.piedmonttriadvisitorcenter.org/, and be sure to stay updated on what UPLIFT is doing at https://www.uplifttourism.com/.

Join us as we get to talk with Bradley Spiegel and Amy Allison from Made by Mountains! Bradley is a newly accredited AICP professional and currently serving as the Building Outdoor Communities Specialist with the Made By Mountains Partnership. He is leading a regional planning effort across Western North Carolina to advance outdoor-driven community and economic development. Then, meet Amy, the Director of the Made by Mountains Partnership who brings experience in almost every part of the outdoor industry to this role, from traveling nationwide as a Leave No Trace trainer to leading the marketing of renowned outdoor gear brand ENO, and serving as a founding member of the Outdoor Gear Builders of WNC. Tune in for insights on the building outdoor communities program, and to stay up to date on the MADE X MTNS Partnership visit: https://madexmtns.com/about-us/. Also, be sure to stay updated on what UPLIFT is doing at https://www.uplifttourism.com/.

Join us as we talk to Ann Savage, a Tourism Extension Associate with NC State Extension. Savage is responsible for creating and supporting resource and program development that enables the growth of prosperous, sustainable tourism destinations across North Carolina. She collaborates with extension offices and specialists across the state to support tourism management and development, outdoor recreation, and economic development initiatives. Some of the work that Ann does includes an outdoor recreation leadership development program, supporting the growth of the North Carolina Oyster Trail, educating stakeholders on their role in tourism, and identifying resilience needs for coastal tourism-dependent communities.

To learn more about NC State Extension visit: https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/ and be sure to stay updated on what UPLIFT is doing at https://www.uplifttourism.com/.

Tune in for a conversation with Ashely Love, an experienced Financial Data Manager specializing in Human Resources, payroll, and benefits! She is currently serving as the Robeson County Grant Administrator at Robeson County Administration and is deeply committed to overseeing grant management and contributing to the county's development.

Ashely is particularly excited about the future prospects for Robeson County and is dedicated to contributing to its growth. Her enthusiasm for what Robeson County has in store is evident in her role as the Grant Administrator, where she plays a part in shaping the county's initiatives and fostering positive developments. Thanks for tuning in and be sure to stay updated on what UPLIFT is doing at https://www.uplifttourism.com/.