Smokies hires three new management team members
Barbara Hatcher, previously a supervisory project manager and engineer for the park, is its new chief of facility management, replacing Alan Sumeriski, who is now the park’s deputy superintendent.
She oversees the park’s infrastructure projects, maintenance and operations for 238 miles of paved roads, 848 miles of trails, 10 campgrounds, nine picnic areas and wastewater and water systems. She also partners on projects with the Federal Highway Administration and Denver Service Center. Hatcher’s experience includes working as the transportation branch chief for the Washington Service Office Park Facilities Management Division, serving as acting superintendent of Andersonville National Historic Site and holding several positions in the National Park Service Southeast Regional Office.
Jamie Cupples, the new chief of administration and business services, most recently served as comptroller for Yosemite National Park. In her new position she manages the park’s budget and finance, property and fleet, employee housing and general administration support services. She is also in charge of the park’s fee and concessions programs. Cupples began her NPS career in the Washington Service Office before moving to the Alaska Region, where she held a variety of positions in administration and facility management. She has also served as the administrative officer for several small sites in the Northeast Region. Cupples replaces Dawn O’Sickey, who left for a position as associate regional director for administration and business services in the National Capital Region.
Emily Davis, who now occupies the newly created position of public affairs specialist and spokesperson, serves as the first line of contact for news media and public affairs inquiries, and she will develop communication products and messages. Davis most recently worked as public affairs specialist for the U.S. Forest Service’s Eastern Regional Office in Wisconsin and has previously served as a public affairs specialist and park ranger at Grand Canyon National Park and on detail as a public affairs officer for the Bureau of Land Management.