Mark Ezell

Mark Ezell leads Tennessee’s global tourism strategy, driving record growth since his appointment in 2019, including $31.66 billion in direct visitor spending in 2024. A trusted longtime business advisor to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Ezell and his team support the state’s economy by driving visitation, revenue and job creation. Under his leadership, visitor spending has risen 35.5%, more than double the national average, through initiatives like Kid Reviewed, Tennessee Playcation, Bill Dance Signature Lakes, BikeTN, the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, Tennessee Music Pathways and Songwriters Week.

A seventh-generation Tennessean, Ezell also directed the state’s Economic Recovery Group during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ezell is a seventh-generation Tennessean and a leader in building recognizable brands, helping make Purity Dairies a household name and one of the minds behind the iconic “Got Milk?” campaign.