2007 TTR Awards
Congratulations to the following for receiving
the Tennessee Tourism Roundtable's highest awards for 2007.
(Awards were announced at the 2007 Tourism & Hospitality Awards Program
during the 2007 Tennessee Governor's Conference on Tourism.)
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| April Montgomery
2007 Knight of the Roundtable
April was the second Executive Director of the Tennessee Tourism Roundtable and served in that role from January 1999 to March 2004. During that time, she grew cash reserves which provided a solid financial foundation for the organization and increased membership by over 100%. She helped to increase the Tennessee Legislative Tourism Caucus from 40 to 128 members and was instrumental in the formation of the Tennessee Tourism Political Action Committee (PAC) which was formed to increase the industry's political leverage. In addition, the scope and attendance at the Governor's Conference grew under her leadership. After leaving TTR, April continued to serve our industry through her role with the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council. She continues today to be an active industry participant through the industry’s various organizations and activities.
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| John T. "Jack" Steiner
2007 Champion of Tourism
The late John T. "Jack" Steiner, owner of Ruby Falls in Chattanooga for many years, was chosen as the recipient of this year's Champion of Tourism award. Jack was a leader in Chattanooga's tourism community for decades and worked to bring people together to further tourism in Chattanooga and across the state. He contributed generously of his time and resources to grow tourism in Chattanooga as well as to preserve the area's natural resources. He was a mentor to many in the industry and served for a number of years on the TTR board. As a testament to the man who believed in hard work and education, a scholarship program has been created that reflects his "vision for the promotion and betterment of our community and the benevolent assistance to those in need." The award was presented to his wife, Mo Steiner.
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Dr. Steve Morse
2007 Gladiator for Tourism
In August 2005, Steve Morse, Ph.D., joined the University of Tennessee as the Director of the UT Tourism Institute and associate professor in the Department of Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Management. In the short time that Dr. Morse has been in Tennessee, he has contributed freely of his time, talent, experience, and expertise to the state's tourism industry. He has worked closely with destination marketing organizations, the hospitality and restaurant industries, and government leaders and has provided insightful and valuable tourism research that has expanded the understanding of the economic impact of tourism in Tennessee. He has also led in the redesign and administration of TTR's Certified Tennessee Tourism Professional program. His genuine interest in the welfare of his students, both at the University and in the state's tourism industry, combined with his easy-going friendly personality, have made him a much-respected and well-liked individual by all.
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