The Smokies Life Board of Directors is made up of business and community leaders who either live and work in Tennessee and North Carolina, or are closely linked to the Great Smoky Mountains region. Their love of Great Smoky Mountains National Park compels these dedicated volunteers to share their time and expertise, providing guidance and oversight of the organization.
Jill is a lifelong resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, and the executive director of the Greater Knoxville Hospitality Association, a nonprofit organization serving lodging facilities, restaurants, venues, attractions, and service and suppliers to the hospitality and tourism industries. She has been a Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association board member for several years. She serves on the advisory board for the University of Tennessee Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management. She is on the executive board of Knox County Schools Partners in Education Foundation, working to connect businesses with schools. “My passion for connecting people and places began during my work in hotels, and hearing about our guests’ experiences after they visited the Smokies always lifted my spirits,” Jill said. “It is an honor to serve on a board with the same passion for sharing our beloved mountains.”
Brian is a professor of English at Western Carolina University (WCU), where he has served as department head, faculty chair, and founding dean of the Brinson Honors College. He teaches creative writing and literature, specializing in environmental, American, and contemporary works. He has published numerous essays and three books. At WCU, he received the University Scholar Award and the Paul A. Reid Distinguished Service Award. He was a fiction participant at the 2022 Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference and, in 2023, named the Steve Kemp Writer in Residence. “I believe Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most important bioreserve in the eastern United States,” said Brian. “It is a great pleasure to work with so many people at Smokies Life, the National Park Service, and other park partner organizations all committed to making this precious resource thrive for all human visitors and resident species.”
Lisa is senior vice president and chief financial officer of growth and ancillary businesses for Ascension, one of the nation’s leading nonprofit and Catholic health systems. She has served in various roles at Ascension since 1998, including CFO of Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville and most recently as SVP of strategic finance analytics. Lisa began her career at Ernst & Young in Nashville, Tennessee. An East Tennessee native, Lisa received a bachelor of science degree in business administration and master of accountancy from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She served as a board member for Alive Hospice in Nashville and as a member of the finance board and credit committee of the Nashville Diocese. Lisa was named to Nashville Medical News Women to Watch in 2019 and was previously a Nashville Business Journal CFO Awards finalist. “Having grown up in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in Blount County, I have fond memories of spending my childhood hiking, picnicking, and enjoying the majestic scenery with my family,” said Lisa. “I am honored to serve in a role that gives me the opportunity to support and preserve this special place.”
Royce is a resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, and an audit and risk professional with over fifteen years’ experience in the finance, business process, IT audit, and risk management field. He is currently the head of internal audit at Smith & Wesson based in Maryville, Tennessee and has previously worked for Carrier Corporation, United Technologies, and ACT. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and finance at the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business and a master’s at Mount Mercy University. An avid outdoorsman who loves spending time in nature, Royce said, “I have enjoyed my time in the park and look forward to advocating for the Great Smoky Mountains to ensure others have the opportunity to get outside and have an adventure.”
Carol is an Alabama native who moved to the mountains of East Tennessee in 1981. She has had a 39-year career in the hospitality and tourism industry in Sevier Country, beginning at the Edgewater Hotel and then the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce. For the past 32 years, Carol has worked for the Dollywood Company focusing on consumer marketing, strategic alliances, and community relations. She has been blessed to be a part of the core marketing team, which has delivered on Dolly Parton’s vision of creating a family entertainment destination in the Smokies. She is involved in her community serving on several non-profit boards and tries to live by Luke 12:48, which says that to whom much is given, much is expected. “It is an honor to serve on the board for Smokies Life with those who are like-minded as we work together to preserve and protect our most precious asset, Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” Carol said.
Jenny is a seasoned communications leader, storyteller, and outdoor enthusiast based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She currently serves as vice president of communications and engagement at Community Veterinary Partners, where she helps shape and share the organization’s mission across its growing community while also snuggling cute puppies, kittens, and the occasional hedgehog. A lifelong lover of wild spaces, Jenny said, “One of my greatest joys is teaching my kids how to explore and honor the wild and powerful beauty of the Smokies. I hope more people will step out of their cars and venture into the heart of the Smoky Mountains to find meaning and truths about themselves, others, and the earth. And laugh. . . because a great outdoor adventure should always involve laughter!" Beyond her corporate work, Jenny is the founder of SheVentures, an outdoor adventure company for women, and co-director of the Georgia Jewel Ultra Trail Race, which she operates with her husband. She and her family live on 530 acres of Tennessee wilderness, embracing a lifestyle rooted in exploration, stewardship, and joy. Passionate about conservation and community, Jenny is honored to support Smokies Life's enduring mission.
Lori is the owner/operator of L Hines Consulting in Nashville, Tennessee, and an owner/partner of Welcome to 1979, a business specializing in recording and manufacturing vinyl records. She is currently semi-retired with over 30 years of experience in the manufacturing industry, having held a variety of senior management and business development positions with Schneider Electric, Cummins, Carlex, and Vista Pro Automotive. Beyond her professional career, Lori is currently board chair of Ancora TN (formerly End Slavery Tennessee) and serves on the boards of the Asheville Arts Council and the Nell B Foundation, of which she is a founder. Lori is an alumna of Eastern Kentucky University, where she earned bachelor’s degrees in marketing and accounting. “I have an affinity for the mountains,” said Lori. “My family vacations were taken in the Great Smoky Mountains for many years, and I now have a home in the area. I enjoy giving back to the community.”
Jan is a native of Alcoa, Tennessee, most recently retired as a regional director for Delta Global Services after a 25-year career in the aviation industry. She now spends her free time with church activities, gardening, traveling, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends. She graduated from Alcoa High School in 1968 and attended the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, receiving a BS degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. Her community leadership and volunteer experiences are numerous and include serving as president of the Knoxville Chapter of the Links, coordinating the Delta Airlines Adopt a School Program, and serving as a contributing member of many other community organizations. “I’m thrilled to join the Smokies Life board,” said Jan. “As a child, my family had trips—picnic, swimming, and rafting—planned every weekend to the Great Smoky Mountains. It is my understanding that some people of color have not experienced the joy that my family did, and it is my hope that, with some work and investigation, our board will be able to learn how and why this perception has taken hold. My background in the airline industry may also help me contribute to the day-to-day operations of the visitor centers and other Smokies Life commitments.”
Laura lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, and currently works in sales for various brands within the outdoor industry. She has worked in the outdoor industry for the past 18 years in sales and retail management. Laura serves on the Switchback Advisory Board, composed of outdoor industry leaders who represent brands and retailers. The group helps guide decisions for upcoming events, show, and networking opportunities within the outdoor industry. She has also served on the 360 AC board and volunteers for various groups including Catalyst Sports and Keep Knoxville Beautiful putting on annual events with outdoor professionals. She has a passion for the outdoors and, when not working, you will find her hiking, running, biking, or paddling with friends. “I was fortunate to live close to the Smokies as a child, and both my parents were avid hikers who wanted to give us the joy of the mountains as kids,” said Laura. “I look forward to serving on the board and giving back to the place that has given me so much.”
Leah is the managing director of operations for awards and Membership & Industry Relations at the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs), serving music creators through professional development, member engagement, advocacy, and recognition of musical excellence. A resident of Townsend, Tennessee, she is an avid hiker, guide, and volunteer with Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Through the Volunteers-In-Parks program, Leah has been involved with phenology plot monitoring, bird banding, and Adopt a Trail projects in the Smokies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music business and, in 2019, completed the Southern Appalachian Naturalist Certification Program through Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. “Traveling to national parks, historic sites, and public lands has instilled in me a deep appreciation for the protection of these spaces as recreation areas for people and sanctuaries for flora and fauna,” Leah said. “Even though my career path led to music, a love for nature and the outdoors shaped the trajectory of my life.”
Laurie holds master’s degrees in supply chain and business analytics and brings her expertise as an academic, management consultant, and corporate executive to the board of directors. She taught business statistics and logistics at the University of Tennessee and worked as a management consultant with dozens of manufacturing and consumer goods organizations before spending nine years at Radio Systems Corporation/PetSafe. Laurie has most recently returned to the consulting world as a leadership and development coach for individuals and teams. She has served on several nonprofit boards including Girls Inc. of the Tennessee Valley, STAR, Boys and Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley, Akima, Knoxville Symphony League, and Zoo Knoxville Circle of Friends. Laurie is also a certified forest therapy guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. She and her husband live in Knoxville, Tennessee, and have two children, two grandchildren, and three greyhounds.
Christopher is a resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, and senior counsel at Smith & Wesson in Maryville, Tennessee. A lawyer with broad expertise in intellectual property, marketing and advertising, and regulatory compliance, he previously practiced at a large international firm representing businesses of all sizes and later at a boutique intellectual property law firm specializing in assisting sellers on Amazon.com. Chris earned his law degree from the University of Georgia and holds a degree in civil engineering from Clemson University. He grew up with an annual family tradition of visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park in addition to regularly camping in the park with the Boy Scouts, experiences that instilled a deep appreciation for its natural beauty. “I was fortunate to have regular access to this extraordinary park throughout my childhood,” Christopher said. “I am honored to serve on the Smokies Life board and advance its mission of perpetual preservation through education, interpretation, and research—ensuring that families of all backgrounds can continue to experience the Smokies and make visiting their own family tradition.”
Janet is a writer, researcher, and avid hiker. She coauthored with Paul Bonesteel George Masa: A Life Reimagined (2024), the first comprehensive biography of the talented Japanese photographer who devoted the last decade of his life to the Smokies and the Appalachian Trail. In 2019, she and coauthor George Ellison were honored with the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award for Back of Beyond: A Horace Kephart Biography. Both books were published by Smokies Life. Her interest in nature began with backpacking trips in the Smokies in the 1970s and continues today in her home in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. For three decades she was a librarian at Cornell University where she specialized in library administration and digital library development. She’s a firm believer in George Masa’s motto, “More walk, less talk.”
The Great Smokies Welcome Center is located on U.S. 321 in Townsend, TN, 2 miles from the west entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can get information about things to see and do in and around the national park and shop from a wide selection of books, gifts, and other Smokies merchandise. Daily, weekly, and annual parking tags for the national park are also available.
