Ask the Experts: Big Ideas for Big Anniversaries

Robin Hinesley previously worked in the private sector in advertising and public relations and joined Gwinnett County as a part-time Resources and Marketing Specialist for Parks & Recreation in 2012. She then spent two years at Bogan Park Community Recreation Center, learning the ropes as a Recreation Program Leader. In the years since, she has marketed thousands of events, created countless flyers and forms, crafted signage big and small, written hundreds of newsletters and even more award submissions, edited manuals, orchestrated special projects, and installed cable-sign systems at about 60 facilities -- among other job duties and responsibilities; and she graduated from the LEAD (Leadership, Education, and Development) Academy. In January, Robin stepped into the new role of Engagement & Collaboration Division Director, overseeing marketing needs for both Community Services and Parks & Recreation with her eight-person team. A proud mom to two grown children, Robin enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, kayaking and hiking, cooking, and watching crime drama!

Elizabeth Russell, TMP, currently serves as the In-Market Strategist for the Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB). In this role, she manages visitor experience, engages with community partners to develop unique tourism products and experiences, and collaborates with industry partners to encourage deeper engagement with the Tupelo community for travelers visiting the city. Elizabeth joined the TCVB in 2016 after serving as the Marketing and Public Relations Director with the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association (DTMA). Prior to her work in Main Street, Elizabeth spent 10 years with the Marketing and Public Relations Department at North Mississippi Health Services, headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi. A graduate of the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College, Elizabeth is also the recipient of the 2021 Southeast Tourism Society Rising Star Award. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Southeast Festivals and Events Association and is a member of the Mississippi Tourism Association and Southeast Tourism Society. A cum laude graduate of the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Elizabeth is the mother of two boys, Walker and Lewis, and resides in Tupelo, Mississippi.