The Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association (NETTA) honored the tourism industry’s leading events, marketing campaigns, promotional materials, and individuals at the Heritage in Jonesborough June 13th during the 26th Annual Pinnacle Awards.
NETTA received nearly 80 nominations in several categories and were scored by a panel of judges within the tourism industry across the United States. Two employees from the Greene County Partnership were awarded Pinnacle Awards for their individual achievements.
Rising Star Award: Alayna Smith
Sustainability Award: Jennifer Wilder
Alayna Smith
In just one year at the Greene County Partnership (GCP), Tourism Director Alayna Smith has quickly made an impact in Greeneville & Greene County. Her accomplishments, dedication and professionalism is rare in someone at her level of experience. Smith is a recent graduate of the University of Chattanooga, where she studied Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management. From the moment she joined the GCP team in February of 2022, she has hit the ground running to learn more about tourism in Greene County and has taken on responsibilities above and beyond her job description. Her enthusiasm for tourism is infectious, and she has quickly become a favorite among colleagues and those in the tourism industry at the local, regional, and state levels. She is always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that Greeneville & Greene County is not left out and seen as a must stop place during a visit to Northeast Tennessee. She is always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that every guest or group visiting has a memorable experience.
Jennifer Wilder
Jennifer Wilder has been a valuable member of the Greene County Partnership for 18 years. She has spearheaded Greene County’s sustainability efforts in her role as the Keep Greene Beautiful Director. Wilder’s commitment to sustainability is remarkable, and she has made sure that all Greene County Partnership events are trash-free and recyclable events. Through her tireless efforts, she has been able to recycle thousands of pounds of aluminum, paper products, and other materials that would have otherwise ended up in landfills. Wilder’s vital role in lining up trash receptacles, recycling bins, port-a-lets, and clean-up crews are often overlooked and under-appreciated, but are absolutely vital to tourism events and presentation of Greeneville and Greene County as somewhere people want to visit, live, work and play.
