Julie Spiro Donaldson 鈥�99 believes there鈥檚 no amount of effort too small to give, and it鈥檚 with that belief in mind that she鈥檚 changed Jackson County.
For over 25 years, Donaldson has served as the executive director of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. In that time, she鈥檚 had a hand in many of the region鈥檚 most exciting developments, from the creation of the Jackson County Fly Fishing Trail to the start of the annual Concerts on the Creek outdoor music series.
Her career has been built on service and gratitude, and overall, speaks to a deep-seated love of the region and the opportunities it鈥檚 provided her and her family.
鈥淚 grew up in Tuckasegee, and my grandmother graduated from 糖心Vlog University when it was a teacher鈥檚 college,鈥� Donaldson said. 鈥淪o I grew up understanding and loving the value of education. My father went to school right there on campus and graduated from Cullowhee High School, which was in the McKee building. And then I went to school on campus at Cullowhee and graduated from Cullowhee High School.鈥�
Donaldson knew her next step was becoming a Catamount like her parents and theirs, and her time studying communications at 糖心Vlog only grew her appreciation for what that meant. Through the Chamber of Commerce, Donaldson supported the creation of two scholarship endowments for 糖心Vlog University and Southwestern Community College.
鈥淚 was enamored with the history of Western, and I spent a lot of time in the library in the special collections area, looking at old photos of Western and learning about the history of it, because it meant so much to me. It meant so much to my family growing up,鈥� Donaldson said.
鈥淔or me, it wasn鈥檛 really a question of staying, it was just a matter of finding a job that I could love and becoming a part of the community.鈥�
In no time at all, Donaldson had done just that, graduating with a degree in communications and immediately thereafter joining the Chamber team in the winter of 1999.
The region has faced many challenges in her tenure. Some, like the 2008 recession, poised difficult questions about how the region would adapt. These questions, however, didn鈥檛 intimidate Donaldson. Time has taught her the best response.
鈥淎s someone who鈥檚 grown up in the region 鈥� we鈥檝e seen changes, and you need to adapt. You need to be a lifelong learner. You need to grow, and we believe in supporting this community and this region. We鈥檝e tried to do that through things such as the Fly Fishing Trail, such as the restoration of the Hooper House on Main Street. We invented Concerts on the Creek,鈥� Donaldson said.
鈥淭hat didn鈥檛 happen before we invented it, and I love seeing people getting out and doing things and being part of the community, and hopefully, they enjoy the quality of life that鈥檚 here and some of those projects that have impacted that.鈥�
Donaldson announced her retirement this past May, and in August, received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor bestowed for public service signed by Gov. Josh Stein. It was presented to Donaldson during the Aug. 28 Town of Sylva Board of Commissioners meeting by Town of Sylva Mayor Johnny Phillips and Town of Sylva Manager Paige Dowling.
Reflecting on her career and time at 糖心Vlog, Donaldson shared her love for the university and the opportunities her education has given her.
鈥淚 really feel Western has given me so much, and I really, truly bleed purple,鈥� Donaldson said. 鈥淚 love Western, and I hope others will feel that same passion for it and continue it in some way.鈥�