Sam McDuffie is the Executive Director of the Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Bureau. He was born in Macon, Georgia, and graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Science in Natural and Cultural Resource Management. After graduation, Sam started his career with Georgia State Parks and has had the opportunity to work and manage some of Georgia's most beautiful State Parks. In June 2019, he left Georgia State Parks to pursue a career change that would keep him in Dahlonega and Lumpkin County. Sam and his wife have always looked for a place to call home, and they, with their two sons, Grayson and Sawyer, have set their permanent roots in Lumpkin County. 

Hello - my name is Dr. Jess Place, and I am the owner of Bluebird Yoga House, LLC. Bluebird Yoga House is a community-focused yoga and wellness studio located in Dahlonega, Georgia, serving local residents, university students, and the area’s growing tourism market. The business will offer a range of services including group yoga classes, private sessions, workshops, retreats, and retail products, all designed to support physical health, mental wellness, and personal growth. We will also have a massage therapist on site as well as an esthetician. 

I have been teaching yoga since 2019 and meditation since 2017. My certifications are Yoga Alliance E-RYT 200, RYT 500, YACEP, and The Mindfulness Center CMT (certified meditation teacher). 

My name is Amanda Walker, and I currently serve as the Assistant Finance Director for the Lumpkin County School System. I am passionate about supporting public education through sound financial stewardship, compliance, and strategic leadership. I oversee payroll, budgeting, accounting, and financial operations, working to ensure accuracy, transparency, and responsible use of public funds. I am currently pursuing my MBA with a specialization in Compliance and Ethics and am committed to continuous learning and professional growth. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband, two children and dog, outdoor adventures, playing tennis, and staying involved with my local community. I value integrity, collaboration, and building strong relationships that make a positive impact.

Hello!
My name is Erynn Byrom, I am a senior Psychology student at the University of North Georgia, a part-time employee at Jeremiah's Place, and the co-president of UNG's BCM for the 26/27 school year!
I am so thankful for the all the opportunities the Lord has allowed me to have while being in Dahlonega, it's been such a sweet few years! I cannot wait to see the doors the Lord continues to open, here and wherever He leads me next!

I work in operations at our family-run commercial fabrication shop in North Georgia, where we build Corian and solid surface countertops and sills for commercial projects, along with felt and PET acoustic wall and ceiling solutions. Most of what I do lives in the details: writing the SOPs, tightening the path from CNC to final QC, and making sure what leaves the shop is right the first time. Faith and family come first for me — I'm a Christian, a husband, and a father to two boys. When I'm not at the shop I'm usually under a truck or up a mountain. I have spent the last year bringing an old 4Runner back to life so we have a good excuse to load up the boys and disappear down a Forest Service road for a weekend. I like building things that have to actually work.