Jennifer Coulter organized the first-ever Beautiful Table Settings Bash in Vicksburg, which was held in January. Despite the unusually frigid temperatures the state was experiencing, the event still brought hundreds of visitors to the River City for a weekend dedicated to the art of table setting.

Coulter’s endeavors — to promote her hometown — did not go unnoticed. On Oct. 4 during the Mississippi Tourism Association awards program held during the Governor’s Conference on Tourism at the Lake Terrace Convention Center in Hattiesburg, she was awarded the Community Volunteer of the Year Award. This award is given to the person that gives freely of their personal time to help attract visitors to their community and is willing to work on projects that help their city grow through tourism.

“It has been an honor to be recognized by the many people that dedicate themselves to promoting Mississippi tourism and to meet the Governor,” Coulter said after receiving the award. “Tourism in Mississippi adds over a billion dollars to our state annually and many people work diligently to promote the great state of Mississippi. I was blessed to be a small part of that, and I am extremely flattered by this recognition and thankful for everyone who played a part in my journey here.”

In a Facebook post, Coulter also thanked the executive director of the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, Laura Beth Strickland, for nominating her for the award, and her husband, Dennis, for his support. And she thanked Vicksburg residents Harley Caldwell and Shelley Hall Tingle, who aided in the success of the event as well as Wetumpka, Ala. resident and Beautiful Table Settings founder, May Eason.

In recognizing Coulter for her service, MTA Executive Director Danielle Morgan said, “We are delighted to celebrate these hardworking individuals who consistently go above and beyond for their communities and organizations. The competitiveness of these awards reflects the exceptional quality of work from our partners and highlights the strength of Mississippi’s tourism industry. It’s a privilege to collaborate with such remarkable professionals as we continue to drive growth and success in our field.”

The awards by the MTA are given annually to recognize members who excel in various sectors of the industry. Awards were presented in 22 categories, each focusing on a different aspect of the hospitality industry or individual achievement.

In coordinating the Vicksburg BTS Bash, Coulter, along with help from Caldwell and Visit Vicksburg, put together an itinerary of eateries and site visits for visitors. And for visitors and locals alike the event included a variety of guest speakers and more than 25 vendors selling wares that included vintage china, silver and glassware.

The Beautiful Table Settings Bash event is already on the calendar for January of 2025. Visit btsvicksburgbash.com for more information or to get your tickets.