GRANVILLE – Wildwood Resort & Marina announces that Mrs. Karen Tillman has been appointed as the resort’s new General Manager as of Sept. 1. Tillman joined the staff at Wildwood in 2018 and was promoted to Guest Services and Hotel Manager in the spring of 2020.
When asked about her new role at Wildwood, Tillman said, “I started at Wildwood in June of 2018, working as the reservationist and Holston Cafe cook. In late 2019, there was a need for an additional housekeeper, so I jumped in to help. In 2020, I took over as Guest Services and Hotel Manager.”
She smiled and continued, “I’m not sure there is a job at Wildwood that I haven’t done.”
Tillman brings with her many years of working in the service and hospitality industry.
“I owned my own real estate staging company in Nashville for many years,” she said. “I always enjoyed making properties look beautiful and creating a space where people could feel comfortable and relaxed with the hope that they would buy the property. It’s the same here at Wildwood. I see my job as the new general manager as being the person who makes sure that it always looks beautiful and that all our guests feel comfortable and relaxed.”
John Deane, Co-owner of Wildwood Resort & Marina added, “Karen has demonstrated leadership and effective, efficient management in all aspects of the resort’s operations. With her 26-year career in the hospitality industry and extensive knowledge, as well as her vast experiences here at Wildwood, we couldn’t have hand-picked a better person to be at the helm. “
Tillman and her husband, Ted, live in Granville just a few miles down the road from Wildwood and are active volunteers in the community. They also own and operate Granville Paddle and Board, which has partnered with Wildwood Resort & Marina to provide the fleet of rental kayaks, paddleboards and canoes for marina guests.
Wildwood Resort & Marina is a boutique resort and marina with 130 boat slips and 36 lodging accommodations, tri-toon boat, kayak, canoe, stand-up paddleboard and paddle boat rentals as well as a fine dining Lakeside Restaurant. In addition to hosting couples and families for weekend getaways, Wildwood serves as a venue for executive corporate retreats, weddings and family reunions. The resort is located on beautiful Cordell Hull Lake, 18 miles up the Cumberland River from Cordell Hull Lock & Dam. Wildwood enjoys close proximity to the historic town of Granville. For more information, go to www.VisitWildwood.com.
