KEY NOTE SPEAKERS
Expert Panel: Keepers of the Smokies
We’re proud to introduce a powerful lineup of voices dedicated to protecting and sustaining the places we all care about:
Troy Waskey – Nantahala District Ranger
Jeremy Hyatt – Executive Director, Mainspring Conservation Trust
Joe Woody – Founder, Pack Out More
Bridget Herbig – Communications Manager, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
Together, they’ll take the stage for a meaningful conversation on what it truly takes to keep the Smokies thriving—from conservation and stewardship to collaboration and long-term sustainability.
Scott Peacock
Director of Tourism Marketing & Communications – Visit North Carolina
Scott Peacock serves as the Director of Tourism Marketing & Communications for Visit North Carolina, the statewide tourism marketing program within the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. In this role, he helps lead statewide marketing, communications, and media strategies that position North Carolina as a premier travel destination.
Session Overview: North Carolina’s Railroads & Local Economies
This session will present how the North Carolina Department of Transportation Rail Division supports the state’s tourism and industry development efforts.
Topics will include:
Supporting state rail development corridors and programs
Regional tourism and passenger train development impacts
The role of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
State passenger trains and proposed future corridors
Freight rail and economic development initiatives
Blue Ridge Southern Railroad freight operations
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad scenic and special event excursions
Speakers:
Jason Orthner — Director, N.C. Rail Division
Neil Perry — Rail Planning Manager
Nick Dula — Freight Rail & Economic Development Program Manager
Meet Dr. Daniel J. Findley, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Director at the Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) at North Carolina State University, where he also serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from NC State and is a licensed Professional Engineer in North Carolina.
Daniel specializes in economic impact analysis, multi-modal transportation, human behavior research, and transportation engineering across diverse travel modes including aviation, bicycle, ferry, highway, pedestrian, port, and railroad systems. He has led or co-led more than 150 funded research projects and contributed to key professional texts in transportation engineering.
As an educator and author, Daniel has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and manages professional education programs such as PE and FE exam review courses. A native of Robbinsville, NC, he enjoys exploring transportation systems firsthand through travel.
Meet Joe WOody
Joe Woody is Co-Publisher of The Angler Magazine WNC and a U.S. Army veteran. After moving to Asheville, North Carolina over two decades ago, Joe dedicated his life to uncovering the wild, forgotten trout streams hidden deep in the Appalachian wilderness. With unmatched grit and passion, he has hiked, climbed, and even rappelled into places few anglers have seen. His love for nature, storytelling, and fly fishing shine through in every episode. Joe’s adventures are more than entertainment—they’re a tribute to tradition, solitude, and the healing power of water.
2025 Moments
Presenting Sponsor- Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
© 2026 Visit Smokies
