As Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD), Mark Ezell leads the state’s global tourism strategy. He is responsible for building campaigns that reinforce Tennessee as a world-class destination while driving long-term growth through increased revenue and job creation.

Since Commissioner Ezell joined the agency in 2019, Tennessee has seen historic growth in tourism. In 2024, the state generated $31.66 billion in direct visitor spending, a 3.3% increase year over year. Over the past seven years, visitor spending in Tennessee has climbed 35.5%, more than double the national average of 16.7%, underscoring the state’s momentum and strategic focus on tourism as a driver of economic development.

Ezell has led transformative initiatives such as the groundbreaking “Kid Reviewed” campaign and introduced Tennessee Playcation, the first-ever toy catalog for travel. He established the Office of Rural Tourism to bolster economic growth in the communities where it’s most needed and spearheaded the creation of Bill Dance Signature Lakes and BikeTN to expand Tennessee's footprint in outdoor recreation. His ongoing work continues to elevate the state's cultural influence through initiatives including the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, Tennessee Music Pathways and Tennessee Songwriters Week.

In 2020, Governor Lee appointed Ezell as the Director of the Economic Recovery Group (ERG) to revitalize the state’s economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Leading a diverse coalition from public and private sectors, Ezell helped steer Tennessee's economic resurgence during a time of unprecedented challenge.

Prior to joining Tourist Development, Ezell worked his way from entry-level to eventually serve in a range of senior roles at both his family-owned business Purity Dairies, Inc., as well as Dean Foods, a Fortune 500 Company where he focused on brand development and achieved record profitability. He received national recognition for his work on campaigns including the iconic “Milk Mustache – Got Milk?” campaign.

A seventh-generation Tennessean, Ezell holds a bachelor’s from Lipscomb University and master’s from Tennessee Technological University. He and his wife Martha are active community members, dedicated philanthropists and proud parents of four children and grandparents to seven grandchildren.