Kristine Puckett named deputy director of Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism

Kristine Puckett has been promoted to deputy tourism director by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Puckett has worked with the tourism department since 2002 and previously was the tourism development manager.

In her new role, according to a news release, Puckett will oversee the department’s marketing and operations budget, coordinate the annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism and work alongside state tourism director Jim Dailey to increase visitation of travelers from across the globe and to enhance the image of the state.

During her time with the department, Puckett has developed the state’s Welcome to Arkansas guest service training curriculum, administered three grant programs totaling more ta hn $1.3 million annually and managed the state’s retirement and relocation marketing and advertising program.

She has also served in at-large and advisory positions in several tourism industry marketing associations, spoken at state, regional and national workshops and conferences on behalf of the department and graduated from the University of Central Arkansas’s Community Development Institute.

Puckett is from Wilson, Ark., and earned bachelor’s degrees in both tourism administration and hotel and restaurant management from the University of New Haven in Connecticut. Prior to joining the state tourism department, Puckett worked as a manager with Omni Hotels.