Executive Profile
Name: Donna Klempnow
Title: Director of Sales
Organization: Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Location: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Birthplace: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Education: Mass communications and business administration, Middle Tennessee State University
Career History:
• Director of sales, regional sales manager and national sales manager, AmeriSuites
• Director of sales, Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Donna Klempnow is her hometown’s biggest cheerleader.
While some people fall in love with a new place and decide to make it home, Klempnow, the director of sales at the Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau, loves promoting the place where she grew up.
“It’s just kind of fun that I was born here in Rutherford County, in Murfreesboro, and now it’s my job to promote it,” said Klempnow. “I was in the last graduating class at Central High School before they built the new schools. I went to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and to Middle Tennessee State University here in Murfreesboro, where I studied mass communications and business administration.”
While she was initially urged by her family to pursue a teaching degree, Klempnow quickly realized her real passion was sharing ideas and working with people.
“I was very interested in advertising,” she said. “I thought my career would be like ‘Suits.’ Hospitality kind of accidentally turned out to be my passion when I was recruited to be a director of sales. I feel like once hospitality is in your blood, well, you either love it or it’s too much. I love it.”
“I started off at AmeriSuites Nashville Opryland, and my claim to fame was that I sold rooms to Opryland for overflow — they always needed additional rooms. I loved it. I soaked it up and learned everything that I possibly could from that experience.”
Klempnow was a quick study and a hard worker. She bounded up the ranks to become regional — and then national — director of sales. Soon, she was training new sales directors prior to hotels opening their doors.
Eventually, a friend tipped her off about a role opening up at the Rutherford County CVB.
“I was actually on vacation,” she said. “They were already interviewing, but they told me to go ahead and send in my resume. I got a call the next day to see if I could come in. I was the last person interviewed. Before I even got home, I had a job offer.”
Klempnow wanted to see the other side of the hospitality business to understand how everything worked together on the destination side. Klempnow has now been at the Rutherford County CVB (a tight-knit staff of just three people) for 12 years. She said she loves the variety — no two days are the same.
Most of all, Klempnow loves sharing that Rutherford County has something to attract everyone. The area is a hub for sporting events, offering amazing facilities for soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, equestrian events and tennis. The area is known for its Civil War history and has many historic mansions and plantations that are now museums. Rutherford County has a rich World War II aviation history. And of course, it’s home to Jack Daniels, along with numerous other moonshine distilleries — something the county is known for around the globe.
“I thrived growing up here as a child, and the area has only grown,” she said. “I’ve always loved history, but the older I get, I have just the most sincere appreciation of what I have in my own backyard. I just love it so much.”
Tips from Donna Klempnow
• It’s important to understand the interests and needs of the event and attendees to have the right format, content and activities.
• Clear communication ensures everyone knows what to expect and when — keep everyone in the loop with regular updates.
• Use what you have — your local resources, sometimes the quirkier the better — to create an unforgettable experience your group will always remember.
