Heather Kouns, Vice President of Strategic Sales at North Little Rock Tourism has completed the three-year program of Southeast Tourism Society (STS) Marketing College® and earned certifications as a Travel Marketing Professional (TMP) and Festival & Event Planner (FEP).
Kouns is a graduate of Florida State University with more than 12 years of experience in hospitality and tourism industries and was recently promoted to Vice President of Strategic Sales at North Little Rock Tourism. She manages “Setting the Table” culinary initiative, group travel sales and the Downtown Riverside RV Park. Kouns has been awarded the “Rising Star Award” by the Southeast Tourism Society, “Emerging Hospitality Leader Award” by the Arkansas Hospitality Association, and the “Rising Star Award” by Arkansas State Tourism. She is a Culinary Destination Marketer (CDM) through World Food Travel Association and is also a Professional in Destination Management (PDM) through Destinations International.
Kouns was among 81 STS Marketing College graduates in the class of 2024, including 18 Festival & Event Planners (FEP). The graduates were announced at the STS Connections Conference in Auburn, Alabama in September. The program began in 1992 and has produced more than 1,488 TMPs. Among the ten employees of North Little Rock Tourism, six have now earned their Travel Marketing Professional (TMP) certifications.
STS uses facilities at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. Industry professionals from a variety of tourism sectors volunteer their time to teach the classes. They include convention and visitor’s bureau executives, public relations practitioners, sales and marketing consultants and research experts.
“STS is enhancing the professional skills of tourism professionals throughout the Southeast,” said Monica Smith, President and CEO of STS. “Earning TMP certification is a combination of classroom work and special projects. Becoming a TMP takes dedication.”