Host: Cristan Engelke
Guest: Alison Mitchell
VIDEO
DESCRIPTION
Alison Mitchell walked away from 20 years as a real estate executive, packed up her life in Texas, and moved to a county where she knew almost nobody. Now she is the Director of Tourism for DeSoto County, and she is rebuilding what tourism means for the entire Mid-South region, not just the venues everyone already knows.
In this episode of Southaven Business Beat, Cristan Engelke sits down with Alison to talk about what it actually felt like to start over in a new community, what she learned volunteering with Special Olympics that permanently changed how she measures success, and what is coming to DeSoto County that the whole Memphis metro needs to know about, including the return of professional hockey to Landers Center.
If you do business in Southaven, Hernando, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, or anywhere in DeSoto County, this conversation matters. Tourism and local business are more connected than most people realize, and Alison is building the bridge.
Follow DeSoto County Tourism on social media to stay ahead of what is coming.
CHAPTERS
- Coming Up (00:00 – 0:34)
- Welcome to Southaven Business Beat (0:34 – 1:01)
- Meet Alison Mitchell, DeSoto County Tourism Director (1:01 – 1:40)
- Separating Tourism From Landers and Expanding to All Five Cities (1:40 – 4:22)
- Alison’s 20-Year Career in Real Estate Executive Leadership (4:22 – 6:40)
- What Brought Her to DeSoto County (6:40 – 7:28)
- What Made the Transition Less Scary (7:28 – 9:23)
- How DeSoto County Tourism’s Social Media Exploded (9:23 – 12:24)
- Sponsor: Wisdom Integrators (12:24 – 14:30)
- The Biggest Challenge: Being the New Texas Girl in Town (14:30 – 16:12)
- Business Wisdom From 20 Years in Sales (16:12 – 21:14)
- The Mentor Who Changed Everything at $9 an Hour (21:14 – 21:38)
- Growing Up Around Economic Development (21:38 – 24:52)
- Why This Role Felt Like It Was Always Coming (24:52 – 27:09)
- Special Olympics: The Lesson That Rewired How She Works (27:09 – 29:32)
- What Is Coming to DeSoto County (New Logo, Big Campaign, and More) (29:32 – 33:09)
- Hockey Is Coming Back to Landers Center (29:32 – 33:09)
- Sports Loyalties: Texas A&M, LSU, and an OU Fan in SEC Country (29:32 – 33:09)
- Sponsor: Pure Focus Media (29:32 – 33:09)
- Life in Hernando: Dogs, Back Porches, and Stepkids (29:32 – 33:09)
- How the Chamber Network Fuels Tourism (29:32 – 33:09)
- How to Reach Alison Mitchell (29:32 – 33:09)
- Building Tourism Across All Five DeSoto County Cities (29:32 – 33:09)
- Closing: Follow DeSoto County Tourism and Subscribe (33:09 – 34:25)
Want to be a guest or sponsor on Southaven Business Beat? Email [email protected]
Southaven Business Beat is produced by Pure Focus Media in partnership with the Southaven Area Chamber of Commerce, serving Southaven, DeSoto County, and the greater Memphis, Tennessee and North Mississippi business community.
Sponsors:
Pure Focus Media
The creative powerhouse behind this podcast! Pure Focus Media makes high-quality video and content creation accessible to businesses of all sizes. They specialize in helping you bridge the gap between physical and digital marketing to capture more attention.
Visit: PureFocus.media
Wisdom Integrators
Your strategic partner for the digital age. Wisdom Integrators designs tailored solutions for workflow automation and digital transformation, ensuring your business vision is backed by flawless execution.
Visit: WisdomIntegrators.com
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