Program/Schedule
All events will be held at the Embassy Suites Nashville Airport.
All times are Central Daylight Time.
Best Practices 2020!
This year's Blizzard features outstanding and successful Tennessee destination management and marketing industry experts in an exciting peer-to-peer format!

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
Best Practices in Tourism Planning
Simple Steps to Develop Effective Strategic, Business, and Marketing Plans for Destinations
Pam Caskie, A Bryte Idea
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Best Practices in
Destination Digital Marketing
Websites, Social Network Marketing and More
Courtney Wanamaker, VisitFranklin
Jarod Goenner, Local IQ

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Best Practices in
Amateur Sports Marketing
Sponsored and Presented by Play Tennessee
Frank Lett, Visit Kingsport
Tammy Kinser, Greene County Partnership
Brant Donlon, Chattanooga Sports
Kelli Ryman, Visit Knoxville

4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Best Practices in
Festivals and Events
Successful Planning, Marketing, and Operations
Melissa Woody, Cleveland/Bradley Co. Chamber (Cowpea Festival)
Brad Thompson, Martin (Soybean Festival)
Lucy Flemming, Visit Kingsport (FunFest)

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Networking Reception
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Dine-Around/Dinner on Your Own
Thursday, February 20

6:30 AM - 8:00 AM
Informal Peer-to-Peer
Networking Breakfast
COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST FOR GUESTS
STAYING AT THE EMBASSY SUITES
(Blizzard Attendees not staying at the Embassy may purchase breakfast vouchers for $16.00 per person at the front desk if they wish.)
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Best Practices in
Building Group Tour Business
Preparing For, Marketing To, and Selling Group Travel
Frances Manzitto, Visit Clarksville
Shelda Rees, Chattanooga CVB
Donna Klempnow, Rutherford County CVB
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Best Practices in
Tourism Communications
Newsletters, Influencers/Bloggers, Travel Writers
Jessy Yancey, Journal Communications (Moderator)
Abbie Wheeler, Rutherford County CVB
Jill Kilgore, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
Michelle Dickerson, Visit Clarksville

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Best Practices in Partnering
With Department of Tourism Resources
Working with the TDTD Outreach Team
Melanie Beauchamp, Marty Marbry, Dave Jones,
Ashley DeRossett, Abbie Gristy, Zach Ledbetter
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Lunch & Update on Tennessee
Dept. of Tourism Programs & Activities
Keynote by Tourism Commissioner Mark Ezell
Wednesday, February 19

1:00 PM - 1:15 PM
Welcome/Opening Comments
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM Break
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM Break
1:00 PM Conference Adjourns