Conley is a Hickory native with direct roots in Swain County. A graduate of UNC-Charlotte, Conley began her career in NASCAR, but followed her heart into the world of travel and tourism.

“With her 14-year successful marketing career at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City and Old Edwards Inn Hospitality Group in Highlands, she has been able to combine her love for the area with her passion for creative marketing to showcase the timeless beauty of this beloved part of Western North Carolina,” a press release stated.

“I consider my return to Swain County a homecoming,” said Conley. “I enjoyed such wonderful relationships within the community while working with the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, so I look at this role as an opportunity to reconnect and build upon an already solid foundation. I am looking forward to working with our greatest resource –­­ our vibrant community. I hope to enhance the great work already being done by so many and amplify what’s to come.”