Department Contacts
Explore Georgia, the tourism division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, is the state's official destination marketing organization. Through its home office in Atlanta, nine visitor information centers, and a network of representatives across the globe, Explore Georgia inspires travel to and within the state. The division works to advance Georgia’s $64.5 billion tourism industry that supports more than 422,600 jobs. Learn more at ExploreGeorgia.org.
The Explore Georgia team is led by Deputy Commissioner Mark Jaronski and is comprised of five groups: Administration, Tourism Research, Tourism Consumer Marketing, Tourism Partner Marketing, Tourism Planning & Budget.
Administration
Deputy Commissioner, Explore Georgia
Mark Jaronski - Read bio
Division Director
Meggan Hood
Planning & Budget Manager
Temeka Blackwell
Division Coordinator
Alphonso Murchison
Tourism Research
Director, Tourism Research
Dr. Ashley Barfield
Tourism Consumer Marketing
Director, Tourism Consumer Marketing
Regan Young
Consumer PR Manager
Cayla Shoup
Domestic Tourism Marketing Manager
Deja Preuitt
International Tourism Marketing Manager
OPEN
Group & Convention Tourism Marketing Manager
OPEN
Website Content Manager
Lindsay Isaacs
Social Media Manager
Parker Whidby
Digital Content Producer
Travis Brown
Tourism Partner Marketing
Director, Tourism Partner Marketing
OPEN
Regional Tourism Marketing Manager (1 - Northwest, 2 - Northeast, 5 - East Central)
Mandy Barnhart
Regional Tourism Marketing Manager (3 - Metro Atlanta, 4 - West Central, 6 - Middle)
Nija Torrence
Regional Tourism Marketing Manager (7 - East, 9 - South, 12 - Coastal)
Sarah Anne Rhodes
Regional Tourism Marketing Manager (8 - West, 10 - Southwest, 11 - Southeast)
Lori Hennesy
Augusta VIC Manager
Keri Ogletree
Columbus VIC Manager
LaTivia Rivers
Lavonia VIC Manager
Jeanne Boteler
Port Wentworth VIC Manager
Kellie Lord-Zieba
Ringgold VIC Manager
Ontaria Finch
St. Marys VIC Manager
Wesleigh Reaves
Tallapoosa VIC Manager
Melinda Marlow
Valdosta VIC Manager
Cathy Sasnett
West Point VIC Manager
Rebecca Clopp
Tourism Planning & Budget
Tourism Planning & Budget Manager
Temeka Blackwell