Decatur Hires Visitors Center Manager

Decatur is moving ahead with plans to more fully promote itself as a tourist destination.

The Decatur Tourism Bureau has hired Sherry Jackman to manage the city visitors center, which does not exist yet. The city expects to open the visitors center early next year in , also known as the old courthouse.

The Tourism Bureau is pretty new itself. According to the city's website, it was established in December 2008 and designated "as the official agency for the expenditure of the City's hotel/motel tax funds for the purpose of promoting tourism and attracting visitors to the city."

Until the office opens in the old courthouse, Jackman will work out of city hall organizing the center and lining up volunteers.

She'll be working Friday and Saturday at the Holiday Marketplace & Café at Clairemont Elementary in conjunction with the Decatur Tour of Homes.

Here's what a press release from city hall said about Jackman's background:

Sherry is a Decatur resident who has been in the travel and tourism business for the past 20 years.

In 1995, Sherry co-founded Conyers Travel and grew the business from a start-up to over $1.5 million in sales within three years.  She managed large corporate accounts, including a professional umpire’s league for the American Basketball League, the American Heart Association and Snapple Beverages, group tours as well as individual travelers and managed a staff of five travel agents.

While in Conyers, Sherry was active in the community, serving on the board for two non-profits.  She served as Vice President of Project Renewal, a domestic violence shelter and intervention facility and Rockdale Emergency Relief, which supported families with unexpected emergencies.  She chaired several fund raising activities including a golf tournament which raised over $25,000 – the largest in its history to that date.

Sherry was also an active member of the Conyers Kiwanis Club and served on their Board of Directors, the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce serving on several fund raising committees, and was nominated as Small Business Person of the Year in 2002.

In 2002, Sherry and her husband became foster parents for Rockdale Department of Family and Children Services and eventually adopted three siblings in 2004, all of whom currently attend the 4/5 Academy at Fifth Avenue.

Sherry and her husband moved back to Decatur in 2006 for the Decatur school system and community environment.  Sherry has been an active volunteer and tutor at the Decatur schools and their family participates in many of the Decatur Special Events.

 If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Jackman at 678-615-0915 or sherry.jackman@decaturga.com.