After a nationwide search and many months of careful work, I’m honored to share with you that our board has hired Jacqueline “Jacki” Harp to be Smokies Life’s next chief executive officer.
Jacki joins Smokies Life after nearly 18 years with REI Co-op in various roles, most recently as regional director for the southeastern United States, supporting retail locations in East Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. She brings to her new role extensive experience in the outdoor industry, proven strategic leadership skills, a strong operational management background, and deep commitment to partnership development and community engagement.
A nature and outdoor enthusiast who has completed the Southern Appalachian Naturalist Certificate Program at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Jacki is a lifelong advocate for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She also serves on the board of Nashville-based TennGreen Land Conservancy and is board chair of Chattanooga-based Lookout Mountain Conservancy.
“My enthusiasm to lead this organization is rooted in my passion for the Smokies and the outdoors, but it is also rooted in appreciation for the strong partnerships among all of the cooperating agencies and nonprofits that steward the park and the enduring support of Smokies Life members,” she said.
During her tenure at REI, Jacki was engaged in almost every facet of the organization, from customer experience to employee care, leadership development to regional strategy—and to serving as co-chair of the company’s BIPOC Inclusion Network, which creates community platforms, events, mentorship, and professional development for BIPOC employees. Prior to joining REI, she served as the marketing director of Harris YMCA in Charlotte. Jacki holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Queens University of Charlotte, where she served as assistant director of student affairs.
“I am thrilled to join Smokies Life at such a transformative time for this special organization,” she said. “Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been an important backdrop for my life, shaping my memories in the outdoors and my passion for conservation and nature connection. It is an honor to have an opportunity to contribute to the legacy of Smokies Life and the perpetual preservation of the park, and I look forward to continuing the organization’s strong, existing partnerships to deepen our members’ and all visitors’ connections to the Smokies.”
Smokies Life retained Potrero Group, a national strategy and executive search firm, to facilitate the CEO search. Our current board chair, Geoff Cantrell, expressed his confidence in our new CEO as well as in her vision and determination for our mission: “We welcome Jacki and believe our work with and contributions to the country’s most popular national park will only grow stronger in coming years.”
Jacki will join our staff on September 11, 2024, and the senior staff and I are thrilled with the board’s choice. Jacki’s lifelong passion for this park and impressive resume will serve her well as she leads this organization forward in the coming years. I’m truly excited for the future of Smokies Life!
The Great Smokies Welcome Center is located on U.S. 321 in Townsend, TN, 2 miles from the west entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can get information about things to see and do in and around the national park and shop from a wide selection of books, gifts, and other Smokies merchandise. Daily, weekly, and annual parking tags for the national park are also available.
