The Shadow
When Teresa A. Hammond was hired as the executive director of the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism in April of 2008, her expertise in technology had prepared her for success.
Hammond remarked, “In 2008 we only had a bi-fold brochure and the ‘Alleghany Living Magazine’ to promote the area and tourism and the chamber had limited internet connectivity.”
Since that time, the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism has grown to include two all-encompassing websites and multiple Facebook pages designed to promote the Alleghany Highlands’ attractions and events to both residents and visitors.
Hammond’s father, the late Dana Humphreys, and her mother, Una, moved from White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., to the Alleghany Highlands where Hammond attended Sharon Elementary School and later graduated from Alleghany County High School in 1980. While in high school, she met her husband-to-be, Rusty Hammond, a 1979 graduate of ACHS.
Teresa and Rusty married while attending James Madison University, where they received their Information Technology (IT) and Business Management degrees respectively. They then moved to Raleigh N.C., where Rusty received two additional degrees in chemical engineering and pulp and paper technology from North Carolina State University while Teresa worked in the IT field at NCSU.
The couple then moved to Cumberland, Md., where Teresa worked in the IT Department at Frostburg State University and Rusty accepted a position at Westvaco, the company’s first paper mill located in Luke, Md. Rusty’s father, Jack, was a mill manager for Westvaco and Covington and he later rose in the corporate ranks to become a vice president in the company.
Rusty and Teresa have two sons, Jack “Tripp” Hammond III, 32, a firefighter in Durham, N.C.; and Travis Hammond, 30, operations manager as Smooth Ambler Distillery in Maxwelton, W.Va. Following Rusty’s transfer to the Covington mill with Westvaco, Teresa worked in the IT department with Westvaco.
Teresa worked as director of the Tech Prep Educational Consortium of Western Virginia; a federal program managed through Dabney S. Lancaster Community College. She and Rusty co-owned Covington Florist which Teresa’s mother managed.
Having been a member of the chamber for 10 years, Teresa was aware of her task ahead as executive director. She has worked diligently to develop and grow tourism in the region, adding that area of work to the chamber when it was renamed the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism and now serves as the regional Destination Marketing Organization (DMO).
Teresa said, “We have worked with area stakeholders, the local municipalities and the Alleghany Foundation along with Mikula/Harris to create the logo, as well as branding and marketing materials for the Alleghany Highlands.”
The multipage visitors’ guide has also been developed to assist visitors to the Alleghany Highlands in finding their way around the area. The blueway guide and trails brochures are routinely distributed to help travelers navigate the Alleghany Highlands’ waterways and trails. Several videos have been created to highlight the outdoor amenities, our walkable downtowns and the wonderful arts and cultural attractions in the region
In order to promote tourism, the chamber has also successfully written grant proposals to secure funding for marketing efforts from various organizations, including The Alleghany Foundation and the Virginia Tourism Corporation. One key grant from the Alleghany Foundation allowed the chamber to refurbish a former drive-through bank building at the Highlands Centre into a visitors center and offices for the chamber.
Grants have allowed the chamber to create events that draw competitors and spectators alike to the Alleghany Highlands. Examples are the Jackson River Trail Marathon and Half Marathon, Lake Moomaw Open Water Swim and Agony in the Alleghanies Gran Fondo. These events have brought, and continue to bring, many runners, swimmers and cyclists to the area to compete.
Teresa commented, “We want to continue to grow and enhance our outdoor events.”
Teresa praised her staff, “I’m thankful for the wonderful office staff we have here at the chamber.”
Staff members include office manager Pam Warren who oversees the day-to-day operations of the office, Susan Knick, who manages the program for small businesses and nonprofit recovery grants, and customer service representatives Angie Moncrief and Pam Myers.
Josh Taylor, a former staff member, has relocated to Chapel Hill, N.C., to work for the Ronald McDonald House.
“Josh did a great job of growing events during the pandemic,” Teresa observed.
The newest member of her staff is Megan Persinger who has replaced Taylor as marketing and outdoor events coordinator. Megan comes to the Chamber with tourism-related experience at The Greenbrier Resort.
As for being on the job for more than a decade, Teresa confessed, “I love my job promoting the Alleghany Highlands as a great place to live, work, play and raise a family. Over the past 13 years, we have benefited from great board members, two wonderful downtown organizations and many community leaders and volunteers, all working to help grow and enhance tourism here in the Alleghany Highlands.”
One of the goals for the Chamber for 2022 is to promote “Work Remotely, Live Uniquely,” a campaign designed to attract those with the ability to work remotely to relocate to the Alleghany Highlands.
The arts attractions and historic landmarks that serve as a draw for the Alleghany Highlands are also a main focus for the chamber’s marketing efforts.
Teresa observed, “We are trying to market and promote our arts and historic attractions as they try to recover from the adverse effects of COVID on their organizations.”
Throughout her tenure as executive director, Teresa has continued her education by completing various professional development courses, seminars and workshops, including the Institute for Organizational Management.
Teresa’s resume includes a long list of awards and honors, but perhaps, the award that exemplifies her dedication and expertise is the one she received recently from her peers, the “2017 Executive Director of the Year by the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.”
She said, “We have a great opportunity to continue to grow visitation to our area and to cross promote all that our region has to offer.”
