Jessica Auten
General Manager
Courtyard by Marriott
Program Partner
Professional Bio
Jessica Auten graduated from Appalachian State University with a BSBA in Hospitality Tourism Management in 2008, and then earned her MBA from ASU in 2009.
Immediately following graduation, she was hired as the General Manager of the Village Inns of Blowing Rock, 3 boutique hotel properties in downtown Blowing Rock. During her 7 years as GM, she was an active member of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, graduating from Blowing Rock Leadership Challenge in 2011 and serving on several committees planning area wide events.
Smith went onto become the Office and Marketing Manager for Blue Ridge Mountain Club, an upscale mountain home community. She is currently the General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriott in Boone, as well as an adjunct professor in the Walker College of Business at ASU. She has served as the President for the High Country Host Board of Directors, and currently sits on the Boone Tourism Development Authority Board, as well as the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Smith is a graduate of the 2015 Watauga Leadership Class, as well as the 2018 inaugural Watauga Leadership Development class. She is an active member of the Daniel Boone Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
Immediately following graduation, she was hired as the General Manager of the Village Inns of Blowing Rock, 3 boutique hotel properties in downtown Blowing Rock. During her 7 years as GM, she was an active member of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, graduating from Blowing Rock Leadership Challenge in 2011 and serving on several committees planning area wide events.
Smith went onto become the Office and Marketing Manager for Blue Ridge Mountain Club, an upscale mountain home community. She is currently the General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriott in Boone, as well as an adjunct professor in the Walker College of Business at ASU. She has served as the President for the High Country Host Board of Directors, and currently sits on the Boone Tourism Development Authority Board, as well as the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Smith is a graduate of the 2015 Watauga Leadership Class, as well as the 2018 inaugural Watauga Leadership Development class. She is an active member of the Daniel Boone Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
Company
Education
Appalachian State University 2009
Master of Business Administration
Areas of Expertise
HOTELS/INNS & MOTELS