The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association has announced the hiring of a Franklin County native as membership recruitment and legislative liaison.

Hodges’ Tina Lawler will be responsible for seeking and recruiting new members and for communicating with the legislative body in north Alabama. She assumed her new responsibilities Jan. 7.

Lawler steps in the role of membership recruitment and legislative liaison with 11 years of tourism experience. Before joining AMLA – a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the travel industry in the 16 northernmost counties of the state, including Franklin – Lawler was the activities director of Rock Bridge Canyon Equestrian Park, where she helped to build the equestrian park from the beginning to a five-star horse park and campground. Her duties included planning and organizing successful events such as rodeos, horse shows and barrel races; designing merchandise logos; and writing grants and recruiting new members for the Hodges Saddle Club.

She was also instrumental in the start of the Spirit of Hodges Festival and assisted with fundraising efforts and seeking sponsors from 2007-2013.

In her role as membership recruitment and legislative liaison, Lawler will report to President/CEO Tami Reist. She will be responsible for seeking and recruiting new members, maintaining contact with current members and striving for 100 percent membership retention for the Association.

As the legislative liaison, she will communicate with legislators in the north Alabama region, including state, local and national representation; stay abreast of local and regional political matters that effect the Association and membership; and plan and execute the annual Legislative Prayer Breakfast.

“We are excited to welcome Tina to our tourism team,” said Reist. “Tina is no stranger to the tourism industry of north Alabama. Her knowledge, energy and experience in membership recruitment and event planning will be a welcome addition to AMLA.”

Lawler replaces Sandra Burroughs, who recently became the new director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia.

AMLA is supported by 500-plus members, consisting of chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, counties and more. Additional information on north Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available by calling 800-648-5381 or by visiting www.northalabama.org.