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Great
Smoky Mountains National Park Celebrates
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Tourism
Week with Local Communities
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Gatlinburg,
TN – May 2019 / Newsmaker Alert / Great
Smoky Mountains National Park is pleased to announce the selection
of Joy Absher as the 2018 “Employee of the Year” in concert with celebrating
Tourism Week with local communities. This marks the 35th anniversary of
an important partnership between the park and its neighboring communities
which recognizes the outstanding work of park employees in all disciplines.
A public event will be held on Tuesday, May 7 at 11:30 a.m. on the lawn
at Park Headquarters near Gatlinburg, TN.
“Joy’s
performance as the Tennessee Education Branch lead is extraordinary,” stated
Education Branch Chief Susan Sachs. “She is the lead for the Pi Beta Phi
partnership, coordinates a robust Teachers-in-Parks summer program, and
leads in-depth programs for the local Boys and Girls clubs in the region.
She constantly strives to find ways to enhance the Education operation
in Tennessee.”
Serving
as a Resource Education Park Ranger, Joy is responsible for helping youth
understand the natural world around them by illustrating how they are interconnected
to their environment. In her role as Tennessee Education Branch lead, Joy
serves approximately 10,000 students each year through resource education
programming. Her goal is to transform students into park stewards with
a genuine interest and appreciation for our National Parks.
“Joy’s
impact on the thousands of youth who visit the National Park is immeasurable,”
said Superintended Cassius Cash. “She transforms students through thought-provoking
programs enabling students to connect to the natural world. Through her
work, Joy is ensuring that the National Park Service and the Smokies remains
relevant for the next 100 years.”
In
addition to her education work, Joy serves as a National Park Service Operational
Leadership instructor and provides training to approximately four additional
parks across the service each year. Throughout her career at the Smokies,
Joy has stepped in to serve in multiple capacities when positions have
become vacant, including serving as the Acting Education Branch Chief and
recently as the Acting Concessions Specialist. She serves as a mentor to
all her coworkers by sharing her years of institutional knowledge and offering
a helping hand to anyone in need.
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“Joy’s
performance of her job duties is superb at all levels,” said Acting Chief
of Interpretation Stephanie Kyriazis. “She represents the best of the best
within the National Park Service-thoughtful, caring, and dedicated.”
Joy
lives in Sevierville, TN and has worked permanently at Great Smoky Mountains
National Park since 2010. Joy grew up in Wilkesboro, NC and attended Western
Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC. When Joy is not at work she loves
to bake cookies, listen to live music, travel, hike, and enjoy living in
the moment.
The
annual event, sponsored by the Smoky Mountain Tourism and Development Council,
will also observe National
Tourism Week. In conjunction with this observance, a visiting family
to the Smokies will be selected to participate as “Tourist Family of the
Day.” Jimbo Whaley, singer/songwriter and General Manager at Hearthside
Rentals, will serve as the event emcee.
Co-hosts
of the event include Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, Gatlinburg Convention
and Visitors Bureau, Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, Sevier County and
Smoky Mountains Tourism Development Council. Additional contributions provided
by Blount County Partnership and Cocke County Partnership.
About
the National Park Service
More
than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national
parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local
history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at
www.NPS.gov,
on Facebook Facebook.com/nationalparkservice,
Twitter Twitter.com/natlparkservice,
and YouTube YouTube.com/nationalparkservice.
Great
Smoky Mountains National Park
Media
Contacts:
Dana
Soehn
865-436-1207
Jamie
Sanders
865-436-1203
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