SCTTA-Con 2025 Celebrates Collaboration, Vision, and Industry Wins

On Friday, December 19th, we were thrilled to host our third annual SCTTA Mini Conference in beautiful Pulaski, Tennessee. Nearly 40 tourism, development, and industry professionals from across South Central Tennessee came together to hear our vision for 2026 and learn more about the programming and initiatives shaping what’s next for our region.

Silas Stoddart, provided an update on TDTD’s Rural Tourism Department, highlighting several programs our community partners can take advantage of. Silas also touched on many of the successes the rural efforts including website development, branding, and upcoming hotel feasibility study grants.

Ashley DeRossett, TDTD also shared an update from the state, focusing on media opportunities and emphasizing the importance of strong local partnerships to continue telling the incredible story of Tennessee. She all touched on the new state website, and some of the shifts to the departments marketing strategy, adding several additional state-wide marketing targets. 

Jimmy Wheeler, with Tennessee Entertainment Commission highlighted an exciting partnership between his office, SCTTA, and the Tennessee’s Upper Cumberland Tourism Association, and Sound Diplomacy to conduct a landmark music study in 2026 across the two regions. This study will help shape a more comprehensive vision of the region’s music ecosystem supporting venues, artists, and long term growth while better capturing the true impact music has on our region. 

Kristin Luna, with DMA-events spoke about how the organization was started and many of the impactful projects DMA has led across Tennessee, including dozens of murals statewide and the renowned Walls for Women program celebrating Tennessee’s role in the 19th Amendment. She also highlighted a recent partnership between TDTD, the Tennessee Whiskey Trail, and SCTTA which resulted in three murals celebrating the history and process of making Tennessee Whiskey right here in the birthplace of Tennessee Whiskey.

Kristin also announced a new 2026 program partnership between SCTTA, the Tennessee Tourism Investment Project, and DMA Events. This initiative will provide access to funding while removing many of the traditional barriers associated with grant writing and administration ultimately encouraging more murals, public art, and creative placemaking opportunities across the region.

Our team closed the programming by providing an overview of wins in 2025, and our plans for 2026. 

To close the day, we proudly announced a new tradition with the creation of the Captain’s Award honoring individuals who make a lasting impact on tourism and more importantly on the people within the industry.

We were honored to name Captain Rodney Simmons as the very first recipient. This award, in his name sake, celebrates not only the impact that individuals have on the industry but specifically celebrates those who focus more on the ripple they create than the splash.