What’s Next?
By Henry Piarrot
“Our progress as a
nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. Our requirements for world leadership, our hopes for economic growth, and the demands of citizenship itself in an era such as this all require the maximum development of every young American's capacity.” - John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Judy Ann Dial is the director of destination marketing for
ReserveDirect.com, an online vacation planning service based in Branson Missouri, that through her efforts, has become very important to the promotion of
future tourism in Sevier County. After 27 years in the hotel
business, few people know more about how to put together a quality vacation.
Born and raised just southwest of Philadelphia, Pa., Dial came to Sevier County via Memphis just over 13 years ago. Having always lived in a big city, when she first saw the mountains before her eyes, she knew this was where she wanted to live. Third of her parents’ five children, upon entering Cardinal O‘Hara High School, young Judy Ann was determined to one day become a firefighter. A natural leader, there she distinguished herself at the large school as the president of the Community Service Corps until her graduation in 1977.
Upon entering college, she embraced the hospitality industry when she learned that the fire department required that she weigh 170 lbs. Dial began her job with
ReserveDirect.com in April of last year when John Johnson, owner of the company decided to expand his business into East Tennessee. She was recommended to him by a friend when her previous director of sales position at a local resort was eliminated three months before. After more than a dozen effective years promoting tourism in this market, Sevier County came dangerously close to losing one of it’s most valuable contributors.
Currently, in her present position, Dial is able to promote the entire area. She can now assist the smallest family business, as well as help the large franchise properties find innovative ways to attract new customers to our area.For example, Pigeon Forge’s overall tourism revenues grow every year. Nevertheless, that does not mean that every business is annually more successful. There are more elaborate shows and new lodging facilities that come along year after year and the existing businesses that are unable or unwilling to identify “
what’s next,” will not be here tomorrow. The evidence of this fact can be seen from one end of Parkway to the other.
Just as in life, those in business who do not keep up with change will cease to exist. Maybe it will be a slow death, but in time, they will die.Judy Ann is passionate about finding “
what’s next” for promoting future tourism. A devoted Rotarian, she is also convinced that the people who actually do the work should better share the fruit their efforts have produced for the economy. A good job is one that, if done well, will provide a higher standard of living for the employee. After all, it provides a greater harvest for the owner. Turnover is the greatest unnecessary expense a business endures and we as a business community will never control our turnover if we do not create an economy that allows the workers to succeed as well.
With the growing influence of WinterFest, very soon we will need trained professional employees for our businesses all year. Consequently, Dial sees better education for our young people in the hospitality industry as the most important “
what’s next” for the future of our area. A better education leads an employee to perform at a higher level. As a result, an enhanced performance should also lead to an improved life for the workers - not just the business owners.
"Only the educated are free." - First Century Greek teacher Epictetus
Henry Piarrot is a hotel manager for Smoky Mountain Resorts in Sevier County. Please send all story recommendations to hpiarrot@yaho.com.