Emily Akers serves as Content Coordinator for Digital Relativity. Susanna Clarke said, “A piece of writing is like a piece of magic.” And we couldn’t agree more — Emily is DR’s magician. She quietly types away, personifying brands, conducting interviews, and tirelessly managing social media for many of our partners, creating magic with each sentence she pens.

A Connecticut native based in New York City, Annie Archer is the assistant social media editor at Travel + Leisure. Prior to joining T+L in 2020, she received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, where she was the social media editor at student-run publication, Maryland Capital News Service.

As a producer and editor for T+L’s Instagram Reels channel, Annie publishes engaging short-form videos created by a diverse group of expert contributors. They cover a wide range of topics, including travel vlogs, hotel reviews, itineraries, luxury aviation, comedy skits, and more. Annie also creates Reels for the publication’s Instagram page, taking viewers to a French Bistro in San Diego with a revolving merry-go-round bar or her hotel balcony with a picture-perfect view of the Swiss Alps.

Hillary Braaksma is an Editorial Project Manager for Dotdash Meredith Travel Marketing. As part of an innovative and industry-leading tourism content team, she has worked across mediums for some of the nation’s top tourism campaigns, with clients like West Virginia Tourism, North Carolina Tourism and other DMOs. Recent projects include award-nominated keepsake print guides, as well as digital content for popular Dotdash Meredith lifestyle brands, like Travel + Leisure, Food + Wine and Southern Living. Braaksma’s other client projects include inspiration pieces, social content packages, native digital content and concept-to-completion project management. Before joining Dotdash Meredith, Braaksma held editorial positions with a variety of lifestyle brands and marketing agencies.

Anne Farmer has been teaching yoga in the Davis, Thomas, Canaan Valley area since 2010. She creates positive, approachable, friendly classes. Whether the class is a fast-flow style class or a Yin yoga class with a focus on coming into stillness, the emphasis is on connecting to ourselves and our breath. Each class recognizes and celebrates the impact yoga (asana) has on our physical, mental and emotional well-being. Whether Anne’s classes are themed from yogic philosophy, a relevant quote, certain body parts, or your own personal intention, they have those three elements in mind: body, mind, heart.

With a Master’s degree in counseling and over 20 years of experience as a counselor, Anne Farmer has been drawn to the practice of positive change and making a positive impact. Her intention is for all of her yoga students to leave classes feeling uplifted and to take this renewed sense of joy, freedom, and ease into their lives. She strives to teach with passion, clarity, and creativity. Her teaching style is a blend of inspiration, humor, and hard work.

Bram began working in hospitality data in 2015 when he joined CBRE, then known as PKF Hospitality Research, as a hotel economist. For the next seven years he would produce national hotel performance
forecasts, build new data products, and perform consulting work for hotel companies and DMOs, using his training as a UGA Economics PhD to ensure the analysis was rigorous and valid.

In 2022, Bram left CBRE to explore different aspects of the industry and was very excited at the opportunity to work with his long-time colleague Jamie Lane again at AirDNA. Bram currently works on
developing short-term rental forecasts and researching regulatory implications in the short-term rental market.

Bram writes thought leadership pieces that focus on hospitality data analysis and has been published in Lodging Magazine, Hotel Business Review, and the Cornell Hospitality Quarterly. He is also an accomplished speaker and has spoken for the Atlanta Hospitality Alliance, Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association, Savannah Chapter of GHLA, Cobb Travel & Tourism, numerous CBRE Hotels Research presentations, ARES, HFTP, the TTRA 2023 Marketing Outlook Forum and International meeting, and the IMN STR Forum.

Earl B. Hunter, Jr.’s story is powerful. After a high-flying career as an executive in global sales, Earl went camping for the first time in Western North Carolina and was suddenly “all in.” While working for Sylvansport RV & Camping Trailer Company as the Vice President of Sales and driving sales revenue from $815K per year to $17M in (4) years he took a cross-country camping trip with his son. After 20 states (plus 2 Canadian provinces) and 49 campgrounds, Earl was shocked (and a little appalled) at having encountered only ONE other black family camping. Black Folks Camp Too was launched October 10th, 2019, on stage at the Outdoor Economy Conference in Asheville, North Carolina where Mr. Hunter was the event’s Master of Ceremonies.

Tim serves as the Director of Outdoor Recreation Planning for Destination by Design (DbD) and has worked for more than 20 years in the parks and recreation field. His professional interests include parks and open space preservation, regional trail and greenway planning, and hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trail design. Tim has taught students from around the country how to design and construct natural surface trails.

Sarah Jones is Multimedia Intern for Digital Relativity. With a love for West Virginia that runs as deep as her technical skills, Sarah is a valuable addition to DR’s in-house multimedia production team. As a true visionary, she transforms everyday scenes into captivating works of art, whether she’s on location or in post-production.

John Klemish was born in Westport, Connecticut and educated in Amherst, Massachusetts. Since 1983, he has been instrumental in the development of world-class, mixed use, residential, and hotel developments throughout the United States and Caribbean. John was part of the team that launched The Greenbrier Sporting Club in 2000 and now acts as Broker in Charge and Adviser to the President, as well as a member of the Tourism Advisory Council. John enjoys golfing and spending time with his two sons and six grandchildren.

Kylee Krizmanic is the Editorial Content Director of Dotdash Meredith’s Travel Marketing Content Studio and Midwest Living magazine. In recent years, Krizmanic and her team have grown the small studio into a travel industry powerhouse with a roster including Princess Cruise Lines, West Virginia Tourism, Travel + Leisure Co., Pure Michigan, Travel Illinois, Visit California, Visit Phoenix, Montana Tourism, Travel Nevada and many other DMOs. Her team produces keepsake travel guides, inspiration pieces, native print and digital programs, short documentary films, in-market activations and social content packages. The group won a 2020 FOLIO Award for Best New Custom Magazine for its work with the West Virginia Vacation Guide, and in 2021 they were awarded a coveted ESTO Mercury Award for the second time, recognizing West Virginia as the best in printed travel guides.

Krizmanic is a past 40 under 40, was included in the 2018 class of FOLIO’s Top Women in Media and was a recipient 2020 Editorial Director of the Year. She previously held positions at Parents and Better Homes & Gardens magazine brands after a handful of years building a national agency portfolio. Kylee spends her free time serving on various non-profit boards, coaching youth sports and spending time in her art studio.

Joining the BVK team at the beginning of 2022, Shannon brought her two main passions of advertising and building human connections to the table. With almost a decade of client service experience ranging across marketing agencies, non-profit, and government organizations, Shannon doesn’t hesitate to jump right it in when it comes to understanding unique client needs and facilitating brand solutions. Hardly shy, she attributes her positive and upbeat nature to growing up in the mountains of West Virginia where she also obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising from Marshall University with a minor in psychology.

Subaru/Leave No Trace Team Members, Becca and Luke McGraw, are experienced educators who share a passion for conservation and a desire to promote sustainability and inclusion in outdoor recreation. They met while Becca was teaching elementary school in an Alaskan village just north of the Arctic circle, and since then, they have continued to travel and hone their skills as educators while working with underserved communities in Cherokee Nation, Ecuador, and Palestine.

Combining these experiences with their love of the natural world has enabled them to promote good stewardship practices in the outdoors and empower people of diverse backgrounds to responsibly enjoy outdoor recreation. By leveraging her 17 years of media experience with roles in advertising, retail, production and sales, Katy has played a key role in some of the country’s most respected tourism campaigns. Clients include West Virginia Tourism, Montana Tourism, Pure Michigan, South Dakota Tourism, Visit Phoenix, North Carolina Tourism, Travel Nevada, and many other DMOs with projects ranging from straight media buys to more custom work such as state travel guides, inspirational pieces, digital native hubs, TV segments and much more.

Subaru/Leave No Trace Team Members, Becca and Luke McGraw, are experienced educators who share a passion for conservation and a desire to promote sustainability and inclusion in outdoor recreation. They met while Becca was teaching elementary school in an Alaskan village just north of the Arctic circle, and since then, they have continued to travel and hone their skills as educators while working with underserved communities in Cherokee Nation, Ecuador, and Palestine. Combining these experiences with their love of the natural world has enabled them to promote good stewardship practices in the outdoors and empower people of diverse backgrounds to responsibly enjoy outdoor recreation. By leveraging her 17 years of media experience with roles in advertising, retail, production and sales, Katy has played a key role in some of the country’s most respected tourism campaigns. Clients include West Virginia Tourism, Montana Tourism, Pure Michigan, South Dakota Tourism, Visit Phoenix, North Carolina Tourism, Travel Nevada, and many other DMOs with projects ranging from straight media buys to more custom work such as state travel guides, inspirational pieces, digital native hubs, TV segments and much more.

Will Pattiz, co-founder of More Than Just Parks, is an award-winning filmmaker and noted outdoor tourism and public lands expert. Together with his brother Jim, he works with numerous state and regional tourism offices annually, producing campaigns that highlight regional beauty and promote sustainable tourism. Their 2021 production for Visit Utah was recognized as Google’s most successful travel advertisement of the year.

Over the past decade, Pattiz has leveraged his filmmaking skills to assist federal agencies in effectively engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders. His integral work on the National Parks Service film, National Parks: A Love Story, helped secure the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act and a $9.5 billion fund for America’s National Parks. Reflecting his contribution to America’s understanding of its public lands through film, Pattiz served as a keynote speaker at the 2018 Government Video Exposition in Washington, DC.

Pattiz’s ability to capture the imagination of outdoor enthusiasts has fostered partnerships with National Geographic, Disney, the BBC, and numerous global entertainment and consumer brands. London’s Telegraph calls his work “The Most Beautiful Videos of America You’ll Ever Watch.” Outside Magazine, National Geographic, Travel+Leisure, and a host of other premiere outdoor and travel publications have written extensively about his efforts promoting public lands and outdoor travel.

Will is a regular guest on The Weather Channel’s AMHQ and Weekend Recharge programs where he discusses public lands and outdoor travel as a subject matter expert. Alongside his brother Jim, he steers the media platform More Than Just Parks, drawing over half a million viewers monthly with engaging films and articles spotlighting America’s public lands.

Jim Pattiz, co-founder of More Than Just Parks, is an award-winning filmmaker and noted outdoor tourism and public lands expert. Together with his brother Will, he works with numerous state and regional tourism offices annually, producing campaigns that highlight regional beauty and promote sustainable tourism. Their 2021 production for Visit Utah was recognized as Google’s most successful travel advertisement of the year.

Over the past decade, Pattiz has leveraged his filmmaking skills to assist federal agencies in effectively engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders. His integral work on the National Parks Service film, National Parks: A Love Story, helped secure the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act and a $9.5 billion fund for America’s National Parks. Reflecting his contribution to America’s understanding of its public lands through film, Pattiz served as a keynote speaker at the 2018 Government Video Exposition in Washington, DC.

Pattiz’s ability to capture the imagination of outdoor enthusiasts has fostered partnerships with National Geographic, Disney, the BBC, and numerous global entertainment and consumer brands. London’s Telegraph calls his work “The Most Beautiful Videos of America You’ll Ever Watch.” Outside Magazine, National Geographic, Travel+Leisure, and a host of other premiere outdoor and travel publications have written extensively about his efforts promoting public lands and outdoor travel.

Jim is a regular guest on The Weather Channel’s AMHQ and Weekend Recharge programs where he discusses public lands and outdoor travel as a subject matter expert. Alongside his brother Will, he steers the media platform More Than Just Parks, drawing over half a million viewers monthly with engaging films and articles spotlighting America’s public lands.

Christopher Pike has twenty years of experience as a professional economist with the last 17 focused on the tourism sector. Chris is responsible for measuring the economic impact of tourism activity – both broadly and for specific initiatives and projects – and has worked with dozens of state and local tourism offices. Chris manages a series of ongoing consultancy projects related to the tourism sector, including forecast and impact studies for Destinations International, the U.S. Travel Association, and many of our US-based clients. Chris received his Master’s in International Trade and Public Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Chris will manage and act as model developer.

Mike Powell is Director of Lands for The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia where he manages a network of nature preserves and conservation easements. Restoration and management of the Red Spruce ecosystem has been a focus of his work since joining TNC in 2006. Mike also works to ensure acquisition opportunities are protected by TNC or state and federal partners and works with TNC colleagues across the Appalachians. Mike obtained degrees from West Virginia University – Davis School Agriculture and Natural Resources of a BS in Park and Recreation Management and an MA in forest and land management. Prior to working with TNC Mike worked with State and National Parks including 3 years as Park Naturalist at Canaan Valley State Park, and is an avid proponent of the intersection of sound ecological management and recreation opportunities. When not working Mike lives in Canaan Valley where he pursues a variety of activities such as hiking, whitewater and flatwater boating, botany, bird watching, and mountain biking, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Canaan Valley State Park Foundation, Heart of the Highlands, and the Friends of the 500th.

Abbey is Chief Creative Officer for Digital Relativity. Being an idea person is great, but being able to turn big ideas into cohesive and creative solutions is where real success lies. Abbey draws upon her 15 years in advertising to guide our creative team and partners on strategy and creative. Whether it’s spearheading branding projects, jumping behind the camera at shoots or reviewing dozens of deliverables daily, the impact of her artistic skill and bold leadership can be found throughout DR.

Chelsea Ruby was appointed Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Tourism by West Virginia’s 36th Governor, Jim Justice in March 2021. This appointment marked an elevation of the West Virginia Tourism Office to a cabinet-level department, where Ruby served as Tourism Commissioner for four years. Tourism is a pillar of Governor Justice’s administration. As Secretary, Ruby leads efforts to unify and promote the state’s Almost Heaven brand, advance tourism development, and promote the Mountain State to a broader audience, featuring West Virginia as a year-round travel destination to both national and international travelers.

Kevin started his career in paid media with BVK in 2008 and became an integral part of the media team as a buyer of both traditional and interactive media with nearly a decade of experience on the team. Relocating to Denver in 2016, Kevin moved into a leadership role within a media-specific organization covering all elements of media strategy, execution and analysis. In 2021 Kevin rejoined BVK as an Associate Media Director and is a key member of the strategy team. Excelling in results-based analysis and strategy, Kevin is well-versed in planning and optimizing a media plan to its maximum efficiency and has experience working with clients in the travel, healthcare, and education verticals and meeting unique business objectives. Kevin has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Marquette University with a focus on advertising and psychology.

Eric is President of Destination by Design (DbD), a community-development consulting firm that works throughout the US. He has worked in planning and economic development for more than 20 years and has served more than 150 local
government jurisdictions throughout his career. The DbD team specializes in urban planning, open space and greenway
planning, downtown revitalization, and destination branding and marketing. He holds a BS in Community and Regional Planning and a Master of Public Administration, both from Appalachian State University.

George Zimmermann brings three decades of experience in tourism destination marketing and research to the Longwoods team and its clients.

He was the Vice President responsible for Travel Michigan at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation from October 2001 until April 2014. Under his leadership, Travel Michigan and its advertising agency, McCann Detroit, created and launched the award-winning Pure Michigan branding campaign in 2006, a campaign that Forbes ranked among the top ten tourism promotion campaigns worldwide. Initially a regional campaign, Pure Michigan became Michigan’s first significant national advertising campaign starting in 2009. During his tenure, the annual tourism promotion budget rose from $5.7 million to $30 million.
In 2012, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) named George one of the “Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality Sales and Marketing.” In 2011, the National Council of State Tourism Directors named him State Tourism Director of the Year for his work at Travel Michigan. Prior to joining Travel Michigan, George served as Ohio’s Tourism Director, and was named State Tourism Director of the Year in 1997. He is the only person to have received this honor twice.

George served on the U.S. Department of Commerce Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, the board of directors of the U.S. Travel Association, and the board and executive committee of the National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD). He was elected as chair of the council four times. In 2014, he led the effort to create the NCSTD Alumni Group and was elected the group’s first chair.
George has consulted with and/or presented to the state tourism offices in Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, as well as convention/visitor bureaus in Asheville, North Carolina; Mansfield/Richland County, Ohio; Chester County, the Poconos, State College, and York, Pennsylvania; Lake Geneva and Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Before his work in tourism, George spent more than a decade in all phases of broadcasting, including serving as the Bureau Chief for the Ohio Public Radio/Public Television Statehouse Bureau in Columbus. He was the editor of the situation comedies “The Jeffersons” and “Good Times” in Los Angeles, and he was the technical director for the two pilots of “Austin City Limits” in Texas.
He is the author of three travel-related books and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.

Kyle Wicks is an outdoor photographer + videographer from Chatham, Ontario, Canada. As a brand ambassador for GoPro + Nikon, you will always catch him with a camera in hand. Kyle has an immense passion for exploring and being in the great outdoors and is always searching for adventure – near or far. Fueled by Mother Nature, Kyle uses her creations to inspire his own.