Staff photo by Abby White / Guests gather for the Chattanooga Tourism Summit on Oct. 1, 2025, at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Staff photo by Abby White / Guests gather for the Chattanooga Tourism Summit on Oct. 1, 2025, at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
By David Floyd 5 min read
Barry White’s first job was at a church camp in Cocke County, Tennessee, where for $8 a day — plus room and board — he served meals, scrubbed dishes and cleaned the chapel, cabins, dorms and bathrooms.
One of his peers, John, was deaf, and on Day 2, he started teaching White and fellow coworkers the alphabet in sign language so they could communicate with him better. White learned the signs for “more coffee,” “more milk” and, “Hello. My name is Barry. What is your name?”
His newfound language skills came in handy when the camp ended up hosting a group of hearing impaired people that summer.
Staff photo by Abby White / Madison Swaney, left, and Lily Freeman have a dance break as speakers take the stage at the Chattanooga Tourism Summit on Oct. 1, 2025, at the Chattanooga Convention Center.Staff photo by Abby White / Wanderful Founder and CEO Beth Santos speaks during a panel Oct. 1, 2025, at the Chattanooga Tourism Co.’s tourism summit.Staff photo by Abby White / The Chattanooga Tourism Co.’s Donna Elle Harrison takes the stage as the Chattanooga Tourism Summit’s emcee.Staff photo by Abby White / Chattanooga Tourism Co. President and CEO Barry White speaks Oct. 1, 2025, at the Chattanooga Convention Center.Staff photo by Abby White / Guests gather for the Chattanooga Tourism Summit on Oct. 1, 2025, at the Chattanooga Convention Center.Staff photo by Abby White / Ruby Falls President and CEO Hugh Morrow speaks Oct. 1, 2025, during the summit at the Chattanooga Convention Center.Staff photo by Abby White / Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Mark Ezell speaks during a panel Oct. 1, 2025, at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
“Our camp director knew what he was doing when he assembled our team in the spring, anticipating and meeting people’s needs before they’re spoken or signed,” White, now the CEO of the Chattanooga Tourism Co., said during a summit Wednesday. “That experience taught me what hospitality is about. It’s really about caring. It’s about making people feel like they’re the most important person in the room — because they are.”
