The Pikeville-Pike County Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to celebrate Executive Director Tony K. Tackett, who was recently recognized by the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce as the 2026 Jr. Williamson East Kentucky Ambassador.

The award recognizes Tony’s dedication to promoting the history, culture, people, and places of Eastern Kentucky and his many years of helping visitors discover what makes Pikeville, Pike County, and our entire region special.

The Southeast Kentucky Chamber noted Tony’s ability to share the history of Eastern Kentucky in a way that is genuine, engaging, and fun. Through his work in tourism, Tony has helped introduce countless visitors to our mountains, communities, attractions, locally owned businesses, and stories while encouraging those who live here to appreciate everything available in their own backyard.

Tourism That Supports Our Community

For Tony, tourism is about much more than simply attracting visitors. It is about strengthening the community and supporting the people who call Eastern Kentucky home.

In his award interview, Tony spoke about the shared goal of bringing visitors into the region to shop, eat, stay overnight, explore, and support the local economy. Tourism dollars help sustain restaurants, lodging properties, attractions, shops, and the many locally owned “mom and pop” businesses that give our communities their unique character.

He also reflected on the many people who influenced his own approach to community service, from family members and mentors to his staff and the Pikeville-Pike County Tourism Commission.

Tony encouraged anyone who wants to become an ambassador for Eastern Kentucky to simply get involved and be available. Whether that means volunteering, supporting a community organization, helping preserve a historic site, or finding another way to leave the community better than you found it, being an ambassador begins with caring about where you live.

We Can All Be Tourism Ambassadors

You don’t have to work in the tourism industry to help make Pikeville and Pike County, Kentucky a welcoming destination.

Every one of us can be a tourism ambassador.

When visitors come to our community, even small actions can shape the impression they take home with them. Here are a few simple ways everyone can help:

• Help keep our community clean. Pick up litter when you see it, take care of our public spaces, and help our mountains, roadsides, downtown areas, and attractions look their best.
• Be kind to strangers. A smile, friendly conversation, or simple offer to help can become one of the things a visitor remembers most about Eastern Kentucky.
• Share your favorite places. Recommend a local restaurant, shop, attraction, scenic drive, historic site, or event.
• Support locally owned businesses. The places that are unique to our community are often exactly what visitors are looking for.
• Point visitors to the Pikeville-Pike County, KY Welcome Center. If someone is looking for things to see and do, directions, brochures, local history, or travel ideas, send them our way. Our staff is here to help visitors make the most of their time in Pike County.
• Take pride in where we live. Sometimes the best tourism promotion happens through everyday conversations with people who are excited to experience our home for the first time.

Tourism works best when the entire community recognizes that hospitality is something we all share.

An Honor with Special Meaning

Receiving the Jr. Williamson East Kentucky Ambassador Award was especially meaningful to Tony because of Williamson’s own connection to and advocacy for Eastern Kentucky and Pike County.

In his award interview, Tony reflected on the encouragement that comes with receiving an honor like this and what it means to follow in the footsteps of people who dedicated themselves to this region.

For those of us who work alongside Tony, the award recognizes something we see every day: a genuine enthusiasm for Pikeville, Pike County, Eastern Kentucky, its people, and the stories that make this place unlike anywhere else.

The Pikeville-Pike County Convention and Visitors Bureau congratulates Tony K. Tackett on being named the 2026 Jr. Williamson East Kentucky Ambassador and thanks the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for recognizing his years of service to our region.

Congratulations, Tony, on a well-deserved honor!