HearthSide Cabin Rental company was created as some friends gathered around the warmth of a glowing fire, by a massive hearth, one winter afternoon. "What if we could offer the kind of service that you just don't see in any rental companies any more?" we wondered. "What if we offered decent rates, and kept the company small so neither the homeowners nor the customer get lost in the shuffle?" "What if we treat everyone the way we've always wished we could be treated?" With all these questions we finally got one answer, we would start the best little rental company and run it the way it should be run.
With a focus on compassion, service, and hard work our little effort soon turned into the company you see today, Hearthside Cabin Rentals. We are not the biggest in town (nor do we WANT to be), but we try VERY hard to provide the best service to our guests and owners.
On this page we would like to introduce you to some of the people you might meet when you visit or call us. Some of them you might have already spoken to on the phone, some you might get to meet in person. We just want to make sure that you feel as much a part of our family as possible, so relax, enjoy, and have the best vacation possible.
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Janice McAllister, Co-Owner and Marketing Director
Janice has the fun job of balancing everything and everybody. Her busy life revolves around her children and their families, (John McAllister, Jillian and Tracy Cheek, and Sherry Stoner), eight very active grandchildren, and her friends and work at Hearthside. Janice primarily deals with the marketing, financial planning and long-range growth options for the company. She is usually the second contact for homeowners, because most owners first go through our Operations Manager, Duke Blevins. Janice claims most of the children around here as her babies, too, and is always looking to spoil them!
Ultimately, however, "the buck stops here" -- Janice will do whatever it takes to take care of the guests, the company and the owners.
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Danny McAllister, Co-Owner and Maintenance Manager
Danny was formerly a cabin builder, specializing in log cabins. However, when HearthSide got to the point in its growth that it required a full-time maintenance manager, Danny stepped in (after much pleading and begging by the girls in the office). Danny and Janice usually work well together, but when you hear him growl, you might want to give him a little space. Danny has a vendors phone list that is worth its weight in gold (people you can count on and trust), and he will help cabin owners (or guests) with any problems they may have. He and Duke Blevins are presently working on establishing our golf packages, which involves a lot of "research" into area golf courses. |
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John McAllister, Maintenance and The McAllister Favorite Son
John is the beloved son of Danny and Janice. He is in charge of the Rocky Branch Recreation Center and indoor poolhouse. He maintains numerous cabins, yards and firewood as needed. John is a "Jack of all Trades". We depend on John in many aspects to keep this company operating smoothly. Two of John's main jobs here are to keep his Dad out of trouble, and protect Danny and Janice's precious Tennessee grandbabies! And that is almost a full-time job with Kale, Ayden and Zane.
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Rod Kurr, Cabin Owner Liason and Accountant
Rod Kurr is our newest member of the Management Team. He has previous experience with another local cabin company, using the same software we use here, so he is very experienced. Rod's straightfoward, no-nonsense approach to work with no drama will ensure every owner, guest and employee is treated right He has two lovely daughters. Rod is in charge of processing the homeowners' statements and checks, maintaining our work orders log, accounts payable and many other needs of our cabins and/or owners. He processes all our sales tax reports, gross receipts tax reports, month-end and annual financial reports, payroll and so many more financial details. Rod wears many "hats" around our office, but is never too busy to help.
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Brandi Blevins, Office Manager and Marketing Assistant
Brandi has been with our company for several years now and has just been promoted to Office Manager. She works with all aspects of keeping this Office and company working efficiently. Brandi knows the cabins well and also works with reservations as needed. Brandi and her husband Duke have three precious children, Christian, Cameron and baby Carter. The older boys are are very sports-oriented and keep them on-the-go constantly. Brandi assists with our website and marketing projects as needed. She also manages her own Cabin Cleaning company and is doing a wonderful job with that.
2009 Hospitality Association Employee of the Year!
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Carla Byrd, Reservations Specialist
Carla has worked with HearthSide Cabins on many levels. She was first employed as a cleaner and inspector for our former cleaning company. She joined us as a Reservations Specialist in January 2012. She has worked at many of our wonderful local stores. Carla works with the Bible School program at her church, Mountain View Baptist, in Sevierville and is a strong Christian lady. She always works the polls at local elections, too, and is diligent in performing her civic duties. Carla knows the cabins well and can help you find the perfect one for you. Be sure to say hello to Carla when you call in and ask about her son Blake and his lovely bride Cecily.
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Scott Lowe, Senior Reservationist
Scott has worked with HearthSide off and on for many years. Scott knows the cabins very well! He is also our "Go-To" Guy when it comes time for decorating in cabins or for Seasonal decorating needs. Scott was formerly employed at The Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge and has excellent taste in decor. He has two sons by a "former life" (Jake and Bubba) and three grandchildren and one on the way. Scott and his wife Sandy have two children, Gabby and Schular. These children, plus his grandbabies, keep Scott especially busy these days with all the school activities and sports involved.
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Debbie Trimble, Reservations Specialist
Debbie has been a part of the HearthSide family for over a year now and is eager to help you plan your perfect vacation. She and her husband Dewey have two beautiful daughters, two precious grandsons and two darling granddaughters. They retired here from the Anniston-Oxford, Alabama when Dewey retired from the Johnson Food Company family. Debbie has an enthusiastic and compassionate personality, and will work extra hard to be sure that you get the perfect cabin for your needs. Don't hesitate to ask about any cabin; Debbie knows them ALL! Be sure to call and say hello to Ms. Debbie -- she will be sure to get you a great cabin, good tickets and a great price!
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Marcella Richardson, Reservations Specialist
Marcella has been part of the HearthSide family a little less than a year now. She is well-educated in how our cabins are laid out, their amenties and their locations. Marcella is a strong Christian and very involved in Pathways Church, where she is very involved with the Youth Group, alongside her fiancee Mike.
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Laura Weathersby, Reservations Specialist
Laura Weathersby is originally from Michigan. She came to Pigeon Forge with her beloved husband Jonathan. They were both performers at The Miracle Theater. They have one precious son, Ethan (for now). Laura teaches private voice and piano lessons and loves to run in marathons. She has been with us at HearthSide now for about seven months, but has become an intregal part of our family and business. Laura is usually at the front-desk Monday through Friday, and can be counted on for a bubbly personality and welcoming smile.
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Duke Blevins, Director of Operations
Duke Blevins was formerly employed by a local competitor as General Manager. When HearthSide management saw the chance to "woo" him over, we jumped at it. Duke has organized and streamlined our Marketing efforts so that we get more exposure (and more EFFECTIVE exposure) for the same money. Duke wears MANY hats around our office. One of his top priorities is trying to keep Danny out of trouble. (He also has to keep Brandi happy!) In all seriousness, Duke is in charge of our daily operations in general, a marketing expert, an inspector when needed, a negotiator when necessary, supervisor of maintenance staff and has been an invaluable addition to our busy management team. He has recently undertaken development of a Group Sales Division, which will specialize in large cabin rentals and management of these luxury cabins.
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Sheila Madrigal, Group Sales Division
After spending several seasons as an outside marketing person, Sheila Madrigal joined HearthSide full-time in October 2012. Her background includes Compliance Officer at Merrill Lynch and at Dean Witter, and numerous management roles at J.P. King Auction Company. Sheila has two sons, Robert of Portland, Oregon and Christopher of Akron, Ohio. She has one daughter-in-law Christine and three handsome grandsons, Nathan, Zack and Eli. We are delighted to have her onboard!
She is also Janice's Sister!
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Donatta Proffitt, Reservationist
Donatta has been a part of HearthSide for several years and we are proud to welcome her back home. She has experience in Sales and Reservations, reserving tickets, planning weddings, cleaning cabins and worked at the local schools as a Teacher's Aide for several years. We needed her and she came back to help us out. Donatta is a true native of the mountains and knows all about what our guests will love in this area. She has two precious sons, Wade and Hunter, who keep her on her toes. Donatta is a member at Mountain View Baptist Church and you will LOVE her Southern accent and charm.
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Maintenance Personnel -- Subcontractors
Maintenance personnel are John McAllister, Chuck Hartbarger, Frank Walde and Allen Blevins, all of whom are independent contractors who give our company their specialized services. We are very pleased to have this staff of professionals available to take care of our homeowners and our guests.
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Now here's the test to see if you've been keeping track . . .
Janice and Danny are married, working with son John and his former wife, Nicole. Brandi (Nicole's sister),and Duke (Brandi's husband, and Nicole's brother-in-law) also work here. Rod Kurr stays extra busy with our owners accounting and financial aspects (and has known Duke, Danny, Brandi and Janice for many years). Sheila Madrigal, Group Sales Manager, is Janice's sister. Scott Lowe has worked with us for several years. Carla Byrd worked with us for many years through the former cleaning company as an inspector and now in our Reservations Department. Debbie Trimble came to us by referral from an Alabama relative. Marcella and Laura came to our Reservations Department through going to church with Brandi and Duke. Chuck Hartbarger worked for Janice and Danny at Jan's Country Collectibles in Alabama from his teenage years on for about 10 years, until it went out of business. Chuck's wife, Deborah (also from Albertville, Alabama) works for Brandi's Cleaning Company. Allen and Joyce Blevins are inspectors for HearthSide and are Duke's parents. So when we say we are a family ... we really MEAN that we are all a big extended family!!!
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