Beth Stinnett is the Assistant Director of Tourism and the Film Office Coordinator with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. She has been with the organization for seven years and works diligently to promote Martinsville-Henry County (MHC) to both visitors and production companies.
Stinnett’s job entails a variety of duties including but not limited to, enticing visitors to the area, helping them once they are here, assisting people who are looking to relocate to the area, or by marketing the community to film and production crews looking for a place for their next project. As the Film Office Coordinator for MHC, Stinnett is personally certified with the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) and oversaw getting the film office AFCI-certified. Stinnett notes that sometimes the job can be very demanding, but it has its perks too. She has been fortunate enough to meet a ton of new people, visited beautiful places, and had extraordinary experiences along the way.
Stinnett proudly calls MHC is home. She was born and raised there and that’s a big part of why she enjoys what she does. Stinnett is active in the community. She is a member of the Martinsville Rotary Club. Along with her husband, Stinnett volunteers as a Sunday School teacher at Cross Point Church and works with children ages 2-5. She also serves as the Treasurer for the Patrick Henry Elementary School PTO.
In 2017, Stinnett graduated from Lead Virginia which is an organization that educates participants about regional differences and statewide needs. This shared experience is held over seven intense monthly sessions in different venues across the state to ultimately build a network of informed and engaged leaders.
We took a moment to talk to Beth about what it’s like to be a young professional.
SM: What is professionalism to you?
BS: Professionalism means always working for the good of the greater cause and not for selfish reasons. Personal feelings or political agendas should not interfere with the project or task at hand.
SM: Who or what inspires you and why?
BS: I have always encouraged my two children, Jackson and Mattison, to work hard and take pride in whatever they decide to do. I know they’re watching me, and even the effort and pride I put into my job of trying to help our community grow. This may be their home when they grow up.
SM: What do you admire about your community?
BS: There are numerous things I admire about Martinsville-Henry County, but I’d have to say that through the years, and after interacting with thousands of visitors, I am very proud of the friendliness of our community. Something I have heard time-after-time over these last seven years is how incredibly nice and hospitable all the locals are.
SM: What do you like to do in your downtime?
BS: I love going to concerts, hunting and fishing with my husband, lifting weights, doing yoga and running. I also love thrifting, repurposing vintage items and skimming Pinterest for my next DIY project. Any other time, I’m watching my Atlanta Braves and Dallas Cowboys play.
SM: What’s the best piece of advice you have for aspiring young professionals?
BS: Don’t hold yourself back. This is something I wish I had embraced sooner than I did. I think all too often we grow complacent because we are scared of failure for any number of reasons, sometimes because we feel as if we are “too young”, or scared to make that big move. Through experience I can say, that, most of the time, things are never as scary as you make them out to be. If you have vison or a dream, you have to go for it.
SM: Where do you see yourself in five years?
BS: I’m sure. Wherever that is, hopefully I will still be advocating for Martinsville-Henry County and helping others in some aspect. I love my community and look forward to seeing it blossom.