Denise Hudson-Brian

With over 20 years of experience in management, economic development, event planning, and marketing—14 of which have been dedicated to the hospitality and tourism industry—I proudly became the City of Early’s first tourism director in 2016. My mission has been clear: to "put Early on the map." I've had the pleasure of overseeing the development of the Visit Early brand. Under my leadership, we've seen the hotel occupancy tax in Early more than double, and I've introduced exciting new events, including the Bass Clubs of Texas Top 6 Tournament, the Southwest Amputee Golf Association Regional Championship, and the Texas High School Bass Association. A highlight of my tenure was bringing Major League Fishing to Early, marking Brown County's first-ever professional sporting event. Additionally, I helped bring the TexOma Regional Touring Club and the Texas Teenage Baseball-Softball Association's 25-team state tournament to our community. In 2019, I earned my TDM certification from TACVB, and in 2023, I completed the Travel & Tourism College program, earning my certification as a Certified Tourism Executive. I'm honored to have been recognized as the Early Chamber of Commerce board member of the year in both 2018 and 2019, and I was named Early's Citizen of the Year in 2023. Currently, I serve as the marketing chair on the board of directors for the Brown County Museum of History, chair the Small DMO Advisory Council for TACVB, and hold the position of President of the Texas Association of Venues & Facilities, as well as being a board member for the Texas Forts Trails.