Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2018 - 57

businesses in the Blowing Rock area
wish Tom the very best in his retirement. We look forward to keeping a
few parking spots open for his motorhome when he has time for a visit.
-Tracy Brown TMP, Executive Director, Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority

forts. He's also a very personable
and approachable guy. While I
haven't worked with Tom very long,
I appreciate him being a part of my
first year and a half in the Bedford
tourism position. He has been an asset to the industry and will be greatly
missed! -Nicole Johnson, Director
of Tourism, Bedford County

As the BRPA board chair for two
years, I always found Tom to be
very responsive to my questions and
suggestions. He always responded
in a timely and professional manner. Tom's leadership and passion
at the BRPA has fostered tourism
partnerships and continued growth
for us over the years. Perhaps his
greatest strength is in the relationships he has built and fostered over
the years. I would like to wish Tom
a very happy retirement and thank
him for his passion and service to
the tourism industry in North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. In his
retirement, I'd like to remind him
to stay off ladders around his house
and leave that to the professionals!
-Wright Tilley, Executive Director,
Boone & Watauga County TDAs

I have worked closely with Tom
for all 16 years as the director of a
Chamber of Commerce and two
TDAs. Tom is one of my favorite
people! His friendliness and positive
attitude have always brought a smile
to my face when I think of him and
the Blue Ridge Parkway region. Tom
has always been one of my greatest supporters, personally as well as
professionally, during my career in
tourism. My staff and I wish Tom all
the best as he moves into his wellearned retirement. He will be sorely
missed and it will take a special person to replace him as BRPA Executive Director. Tom will always have
family at the Hendersonville Visitor
Center! -Beth Carden, Henderson
County TDA Executive Director

I think Tom really looks out for
his members' best interests as well
as what his audience wants to read
and know about. It all goes handin-hand. He's good at helping promote the entire Blue Ridge region.
He looks out for his members -he
thinks of opportunities that will benefit and enhance their outreach ef-

There is no doubt in my mind that
Tom loves Wytheville. We have been
a partner with him throughout all of
my years with the CVB and he has
gone out of his way to help promote
our destination. Tom has been especially kind to us by helping to promote the Claw of the Dragon Motorcycle Trail and always reminding me

Tom Hardy and Tom Vick
(right), of Luray Caverns,
pause at Emerald Village,
North Carolina.
of marketing opportunities associated with the Blue Ridge Parkway. In
the travel and tourism industry, you
cannot say the name "Tom Hardy"
and not associate it with the parkway. He has been a dedicated leader in promoting the parkway and, in
my mind, is associated with it. May
Tom have as much enjoyment in his
retirement as he has brought to all
those whom he has helped to have
a wonderful experience on the Blue
Ridge Parkway and its surrounding
communities. -Rosa Lee Jude, Director, Wytheville Convention &
Visitors Bureau

"He will be sorely missed and it will take a special person to replace him as BRPA Executive Director."
-Beth Carden
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Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2018

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