Carrying the Torch Through Memphis: Welcome to Memphis

1.Tell us about Welcome to Memphis.  

I love to use this analogy when describing our work: Memphis Tourism’s job is to market our city and get folks to visit for leisure travel, business, and everything in-between. Our job at Welcome to Memphis is  to ensure that when guests do visit our city, they are met with the best in what we call "authentic Memphis hospitality."  We focus on making sure Memphians love their city as much as the guests that visit us. No one knows our city better than we do, which makes us the best possible representatives.

2. How can Memphians get involved with your organization or volunteer?

Visit welcometomemphis.org to see what we offer, who we represent, and see where you can plug in. We also want those within the hospitality and tourism industry to utilize our organization as a resource. We were created to make your jobs easier! We offer a free online jobs board for job-seekers and business owners to post their hospitality and tourism jobs. We hope you’ll use it and recommend it to those who would thrive in our industry.

3. What are some big events or fundraisers that Welcome to Memphis has annually, and how can people contribute?

We offer monthly programs and events for industry workers, supervisors, and owners, from sessions dedicated to Human Resource professionals and hiring managers to Memphis familiarization tours so that those working within the industry can offer recommendations and build memorable experiences for all of our guests.

4. Tell us about your organization’s dreams and goals for the short-term and long-term? What does success look like for Welcome to Memphis? 

Our primary goal at Welcome to Memphis is to be a living and working resource that listens and adapts to the needs of the hospitality and tourism industry. Through partnership and hands-on leadership, we are working to develop an industry that evokes confidence and excitement into all those that visit Memphis. I want anyone looking to open a restaurant, hotel, or attraction in our city to know that their first visit should be to Welcome to Memphis. Let us be a part of the conversation to help you build the best workforce, made up of people who are the most excited about Memphis. 

5. Tell us a little about you: How did you personally get involved with this organization?

I started my career in hospitality while I was still in high school and college, working for The Children's Museum of Memphis. I loved it. It never felt like work. It is one of my favorite jobs to this day. After college, I became a professional actor and was blessed to work around the country on stage, film, and TV. In between gigs, I always picked up a serving or catering shift while living in Atlanta.

When my life changed due to my wife's illness, I shifted to working in restaurants full time. This led to me opening restaurants as a corporate trainer and managing restaurants as well. After ten years in the restaurant industry, I was recruited for Welcome to Memphis by our former Executive Director, Mary Schmitz. I got very excited for the opportunity to give back to an industry that has always supported me.