Nick Breedlove Completes STS Marketing College, Earns ‘Travel Marketing Professional’ Certification
Nick Breedlove Completes STS Marketing College, Earns ‘Travel Marketing Professional’ Certification
Sylva, NC (March 2019) – Nick Breedlove, Executive Director at Jackson County Tourism Development Authority has completed the three-year program of the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College and earned certification as a Travel Marketing Professional (TMP).
As Executive Director, Breedlove oversees all digital and print marketing, social media, public relations, visitor center operations, research and strategic planning for Jackson County Tourism Development Authority. He has previously been recognized as A Rising Star by the Travel and Tourism Research Association and this year received the Southeast Tourism Society’s Shining Star Award for Tourism Office of the Year. He serves on the board of the Blue Ridge Parkway Association and was recently elected as one of two board members from North Carolina to the Southeast Tourism Society Board of Directors. He also serves as State Chair for the Washington, D.C. Congressional Summit on Tourism.
“I am honored to receive my TMP certification and have enjoyed learning from the faculty at Southeast Tourism, which furthers the work we do in Jackson County to make it a great place to live, work, and visit,” Breedlove said.
Breedlove was among 62 STS Marketing College graduates in the Class of 2018. The graduates were announced at the STS Connections conference in Daytona Beach, Fla., earlier this month. The Class of 2018 had members from all 12 states in Southeast Tourism Society. The program began in 1992 and has produced 1,154 TMPs.
STS Marketing College uses facilities at the University of North Georgia at Dahlonega for three one-week sessions each spring. Tourism industry professionals from a variety of tourism sectors volunteer their time to teach all classes. They include convention and visitors bureau executives, public relations practitioners, sales and marketing consultants, and research experts.
“STS absolutely is enhancing the professional skills of people throughout the Southeast and elevates the tourism industry,” said Monica Smith, president and CEO of STS. “Earning TMP certification is a challenging combination of classroom work and special projects in the students’ workplaces. Becoming a TMP takes dedication.”
Study topics include tourism advertising, vacation research, crisis management, special events marketing, media relations, heritage tourism, tourism sales and community/rural tourism. In addition to classroom work, students must complete projects that relate to their employment.
Breedlove elected to board of Southeast Tourism Society
Nick Breedlove, director of the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority, has been elected to a two-year term on the board of the Southeast Tourism Society. Breedlove, who has been at the Jackson County TDA since 2016, will serve through 2021.
“I’m honored to be one of two board members from the state of North Carolina on the Southeast Tourism Society Board of Directors,” said Breedlove. “I’ve been heavily involved with STS for several years now, and I look forward to serving on the board of this excellent organization.”
“The STS Board of Directors are leaders within the travel and tourism industry, who we look to as the visionaries for our organization,” said Monica Smith, president and CEO of Southeast Tourism Society.
Breedlove recently completed STS’s three-year Marketing College program and earned his certification as a Travel Marketing Professional. In his role at the Jackson County TDA, Breedlove oversees all digital and print marketing, social media, public relations, visitor center operations, research and strategic planning for the TDA.
He has previously been recognized as A Rising Star by the Travel and Tourism Research Association and this year received the STS Shining Star Award for Tourism Office of the Year. He also serves on the board of the Blue Ridge Parkway Association and serves as state co-chair for the Washington, D.C. Congressional Summit on Tourism.