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TDA presents Heart for Hospitality Award to county manager Mitchell

Debi Smith presents the Debi Smith Heart for Hospitality Award to this year’s recipient, John Mitchell. [PHOTO BY JIMMY BRISSIE]

By Bill Moss, Published: April 27, 2025

For monumental efforts to lead Henderson County through floods, fires and the aftermath of Hurricane Helene while simultaneously helping sustain the local tourism economy, County Manager John Mitchell has received the 2025 Debi Smith Heart for Hospitality Award.

The award is given annually by the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority to a tourism champion who works closely and collaboratively with leaders and partners in the industry.
TDA chair Richard Rhodes presented the award to Mitchell at the Henderson County Board of Commissioners meeting on April 16, praising him for guiding the county through trying times. He noted Mitchell set up a countywide distribution site for relief supplies, opened a FEMA office and efficiently redeployed county employees to frontline rescue and recovery roles.
In addition, Rhodes thanked Mitchell for his ongoing support of the tourism industry.
“John has promoted Henderson County everywhere he goes, he worked with the TDA to get the Ecusta Trail developed here, and he’s also communicated well with our director on many occasions,” Rhodes said. “What sets John apart is his ability to lead and to draw up others around him to perform the tasks needed.”
Mitchell, unaware the award presentation had been added to the meeting’s agenda, thanked Rhodes, Smith and tourism director Michelle Owens.
“I very much appreciate our friends at the Tourism Development Authority,” Mitchell said. “I see many people in this room whose good works were just listed. I have the unique privilege to be at the front of all these people who have done the heavy lifting. I accept this on their behalf.”
Mitchell is the third recipient of the Debi Smith Heart for Hospitality Award, joining previous winners Barbara Hughes (2024) of Narnia Studios and Mike Burnette (2023) of The Waverly Inn.
Rhodes created the award to honor Smith, his predecessor as TDA chair. During a career in which she held many high-level roles in the tourism industry, Smith always found time for volunteer positions with the tourism authority before joining the organization last summer as deputy director.
“For all of her contributions to our industry, Debi Smith is the perfect namesake for the award,” Owens said. “And this year’s honor couldn’t have gone to a more deserving person.”