Lisa Smith

Lisa is a native Georgian, actually born in Atlanta. She currently leads Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism, where she has been employed since 1997. 

Smith was the past president of the Georgia Association of Convention Visitor Bureau for 14 years. She serves on the We Care Veterans Fair Board of Directors, Georgia Grown Highway 27 Trail Board as Treasurer, and is Chairman of Rome’s Empty Bowls event. Smith is also a founder of the Hospitality Association of Rome/Floyd County, Myrtle Hill-Oak Hill Memorial Association, and creating member of the Community Criminal Justice Foundation. She is a graduate of Leadership Rome and Leadership Georgia. 

Acting as a full-service Tourism Office, Rome was one of the first “Camera-Ready” offices in the state. Recently, Rome elevated their Camera-Ready presence into a 501c3 organization, Georgia’s Rome Film and Entertainment Alliance. The Alliance is charged with creating a marketing strategy for the community, raising awareness of locations, and showcasing the ease of doing business in Rome, Cave Spring, and Floyd County. Under Smith’s leadership in 2003, she welcomed the Dahlonega International Film Festival to Rome, where it was rebranded as the Rome International Film Festival, and it continues to thrive today. 

Besides serving her community, Smith is also passionate about scuba diving, is a wicked mixologist, sings in a cover band, and attends Rome First. A dedicated farmer, she has been the owner/operator of Yoke Farn, a farmstead outside of Cave Spring, where she resides with her wide menagerie of farm animals.