Creating a Masterpiece: Marcus Cox
Marcus Cox
Executive Director - Welcome to Memphis
Marcus Cox became the Executive Director of Welcome to Memphis in 2023, after more than ten years working in the hospitality and tourism industries in addition to an extensive history in the performing arts. Marcus shares his journey to becoming the creative and innovative leader he is today.
What does the Executive Director of Welcome to Memphis do on a typical day?
Day to day, I am focused on how our organization can support our industry. From the guest-facing employee to our industry owners, managers, and supervisors, I look for new and inventive ways to train employees and support leadership in their work sharing Memphis culture with the world.
What brought you to your current role? Tell us a little about your journey to Welcome to Memphis.
I love telling this story! I started my career in hospitality while I was still in high school. I worked for The Children's Museum of Memphis in the summer and weekends during my senior year and stayed through my freshman year of college as well. I loved it. It never felt like work. I engaged with kids and families, taught lessons, and told stories. It was one of my favorite jobs to this day. After college, I became a professional actor and was blessed to work around the country on stage, film, and TV. In between gigs, I always picked up a serving or catering shift while living in Atlanta.
When my life changed due to my wife's illness, I shifted to working in restaurants full time. This led to me opening restaurants as a corporate trainer and managing restaurants as well. After ten years in the restaurant industry, I went back to work in theatre. I was recruited for Welcome to Memphis by our former Executive Director Mary Schmitz. Mary and I knew each other from working in tourism and the close relationships I created while working for Memphis' professional theatre company, Playhouse on the Square. I got very excited for the opportunity to give back to an industry that has always supported me.
What do you love most about your job?
I love getting to celebrate with the hardworking employees within our industry. For a guest to our city, the folks working at the front desk of a hotel, serving drinks in a restaurant, or giving tours and telling stories about our city are what makes us so special and unique. Memphis is like no other place on Earth. I love getting a chance to remind staff across the industry that they are the special ingredient. We can't do this without them.
What is most challenging about your job?
You cannot deny that our city has its challenges. But I work hard every day to remind myself that we are a great city with even greater people. We have always had each other's back. Memphis vs. Errbody! We will get through these struggles as well.
Where do you see Welcome to Memphis in five years?
Welcome to Memphis will continue to support, train, and recognize the Memphis hospitality industry. We will continue to train guest-facing employees how to share Authentic Memphis Hospitality to every guest in the city. We will continue to support careers within this industry and be a resource to job-creators as well as job-seekers on how to advance themselves within the business, making us bigger and stronger along the way.
Thank you, Marcus, for your leadership and dedication to supporting and celebrating the hardworking hospitality and tourism professionals that make our city great!
