Regional Director of the National Park Service Stan Austin named Memphis native Cassius Cash the new superintendent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park last week.

In February, 2015, Cash will be taking charge of an important role for the Smoky Mountains. Currently, 97 percent of Smoky Mountain visitors are white, two percent are American Indian, two percent are Hispanic or Latino, one percent are Asian, and one percent are black. Since Cash is African American, he aims to increase the amount of minorities visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Cash and the National Park Service are working together to come up with ways to attract more minorities to visit our nation’s environmental landmarks and treasures.

Cash explained in a local news release that, “I look forward to working with local communities, friends groups, and tribal communities on how the National Park Service can build on innovative ideas to create the next generation of stewards and supporters of this park. The timing for this is excellent because the Park Service will enter its second century of service to the nation when it celebrates its Centennial in 2016.”

Having such an important role and representing a stepping stone for Smoky Mountains’ officials, Cash is proof that although the nation’s view of minorities is changing, the percentage of minorities represented in the visitor data shows an area for the NPS to improve upon.

Knoxville moving companies welcome everyone to our great city and hope that all visitors and new residents make it to the Great Smoky Mountains, not only to cherish one of our nation’s greatest landmarks, but also to help diversify Tennessee.