Patti Blake, Creative Marketing Specialist
A creative thinker by nature, Patti has always been the type of person who loves visual storytelling. She worked as a photojournalist for 10 years in a career that spanned one scuba magazine, two newspapers and countless other freelance projects for national publications. She started working at the Walton County Tourism Department in 2020 and combines her love of photography with working with travel writers. When she’s off the clock, she can usually be found stargazing at an area state park or planning her next camping trip.
Lisa Foster, Industry Relations Specialist
Hailing from Mobile, Alabama, Lisa has called Walton County home since 1999. Prior to joining the Walton County Tourism Department team, she impacted the lives of local youth as a social worker and mental health therapist, having earned a Master of Science in Community Counseling from the University of South Alabama. Known for her outgoing personality and ability to make everyone feel welcome, Lisa thrives in her current role as Industry Relations Specialist. Working directly with business owners, residents and accommodations partners in Walton County, Lisa’s relationships are key to her success. She’s also known to plan a great party, which can be seen first-hand at the annual Perfect in South Walton Awards. In her off time, Lisa enjoys shopping, soaking up plenty of sunshine at the beach, and spending quality time with her husband, two sons and their five pets.
Amelia Hester, Database Specialist
Amelia and her family are relative newcomers to Walton County but have already decided it’s their “forever home.” Originally from metro Atlanta, the area was a familiar vacation destination for them. Knowing that she always wanted to be near the beach, Amelia feels fortunate to call South Walton home. She earned an associate degree from Montana State University and a bachelor’s degree from Austin Peay State University. In her off time, she loves playing with her two Westies (Scout and Coconut), paddleboarding, snorkeling and visiting Harry Potter World.