On Thursday, November 20, the TMEP Executive Peer Group, led by Ashleigh Walters, met at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge for a full day of learning, connection, and hands-on discovery. This month’s session took the group out of the usual meeting space and into one of Tennessee’s most iconic attractions, creating the perfect environment for conversation, collaboration, and fresh perspective.
Lunch and Leadership Conversation at Aunt Granny’s
The day began with a shared lunch at Aunt Granny’s Restaurant. The relaxed setting helped everyone settle in and start discussing common leadership challenges. During the meal, the group talked through pain points related to workforce needs, operational bottlenecks, cultural alignment, and long-term strategy.
These open conversations are at the heart of the TMEP Executive Peer Group. With guidance from Ashleigh Walters, the group focuses on bringing leaders together to learn from each other, share experiences, and strengthen Tennessee’s industry-wide leadership community.
VIP Tour of the Dollywood Express
After lunch, the group headed out for a behind-the-scenes VIP tour of the Dollywood Express, the park’s famous steam train. The team learned about the history of the locomotive, how it operates, and how Dollywood is preparing to transition the train from coal to oil in order to modernize the system and reduce environmental impact.
Seeing the mechanical side of the attraction up close sparked valuable discussion around continuous improvement, equipment modernization, and proactive maintenance planning. Members noted the parallels between Dollywood’s updates and the improvements they are working toward within their own organizations.
Why Experiences Like This Matter
Changing the meeting environment can change the quality of conversation. Being in the Smoky Mountains, observing real operations, and experiencing Dollywood together helped the group:
Build stronger trust and deeper peer relationships
Step away from daily routines and think with more clarity
Gain new ideas by observing a completely different operational model
Approach their challenges with more creativity and energy
The day was a reminder that leadership development does not need to stay inside four walls. Real insight often comes from stepping into new environments and looking at the world through a different lens.
A Meaningful Day for Tennessee Leaders
The TMEP Executive Peer Group will continue to explore new ways to learn, grow, and support each other. This Dollywood session brought valuable clarity, meaningful conversation, and a sense of shared momentum for the months ahead.