COOKEVILLE – Shan Stout has been named director of tourism for the Putnam County Visitors Bureau, a division of the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, effective Monday, March 21.
Stout comes to the Chamber team with a foundation of experience and expertise in non-profit, serving as the regional director of marketing for Ascension Saint Thomas Health along with managing their hospital volunteer program across five Ascension locations in Middle Tennessee. Along with her background in non-profit work, she also brings an extensive knowledge of educational media, public speaking and tourism efforts across the state.
“We are thrilled to add someone of Shan’s caliber to our team at the Chamber,” said Amy New, President and CEO of the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. “We know her knowledge, experience and overall collaborative and positive attitude towards all things tourism will be beneficial not only to regional tourism stakeholders but to our organization as a whole.”
In her new role, Stout will be responsible for the overall management of the Putnam County Visitors Bureau including partnerships with hospitality partners from hotels, attractions and restaurants; media relations management along with planning; and overall marketing, sales and public relations functions of the program.
“It is such an honor to be chosen for this role,” said Stout. “I have a long running passion for tourism, along with a deep love and understanding of what the Chamber does for our communities. My mother is the longtime Chamber Director for DeKalb County, and it has been my privilege to help support her efforts over the years. This type of work has become second nature to me. I look forward to supporting the vision of tourism across Putnam County in the coming months and am excited to join such a hardworking and innovative team.”