Meet the Team

Robyn L. Bridges

President & CEO
rlbridges@aotourism.com
Phone: 334.501.3281

Robyn Bridges brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience to Auburn-Opelika Tourism and has been with AOT since 2003. As President & CEO, she leads the organization’s strategic direction, destination development, community partnerships, and efforts to grow tourism’s impact throughout Auburn-Opelika. She also teaches hospitality and public relations at Auburn University.

Robyn is active in industry leadership through the Southeast Tourism Society and Destinations International and has served numerous community organizations, including the City of Auburn Planning Commission.

Contact Robyn for: organizational leadership and partnerships, tourism and destination development, community initiatives, speaking opportunities, and strategic opportunities involving Auburn-Opelika Tourism.

Brooke Kastner

Vice President
brooke@aotourism.com
Phone: 334.501.3281

Brooke Kastner brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience to Auburn-Opelika Tourism. As Vice President, she leads AOT’s sales efforts and works with planners, groups, and hospitality partners to bring business to Auburn-Opelika. Before joining AOT in 2020, Brooke served as director of sales and marketing at Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National.

An Auburn University graduate, Brooke is active in the Opelika Rotary Club and is a past chair of both the Opelika Chamber of Commerce and Opelika Main Street boards. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, trying new food and drinks, baking, and spending time with her family.

Contact Brooke for: group sales, meetings and conferences, hospitality partnerships, site visits, and opportunities to bring groups and events to Auburn-Opelika.

Cindy Pugh

Sales Manager
cindy@aotourism.com
phone: 334.704.0114

With more than 20 years at Auburn-Opelika Tourism and a background in the travel industry, Cindy brings decades of experience helping groups plan successful visits to Auburn-Opelika. She promotes the destination to meeting planners, group tour operators, and organizations across the country and helps connect groups with the accommodations, venues, experiences, and local resources that best fit their needs.

Outside of work, Cindy enjoys cooking, gardening, arranging flowers, and spending time with her family.

Contact Cindy for: meetings and conferences, group tours, customized group itineraries, venue and hotel recommendations, group accommodations, site visits, and assistance planning your group’s Auburn-Opelika experience.

Cat Bobo

Director of Communications & Marketing
cat@aotourism.com
Phone: 334.501.3281

Cat Bobo is an Auburn University alum and serves as AOT’s Director of Communications & Marketing, leading marketing strategy, public relations, advertising, campaigns, and destination storytelling. With over 10 years at AOT, she also manages the internship program and serves as lead curator for the AO Art Showcase.

Cat is a graduate of Leadership Lee County, the Alabama Leadership Initiative, and was named to Auburn University’s 20 Under 40. Outside of work, she enjoys her family, travel, running, reading, & wondering what happened to the days of really good TV.

Contact Cat for: marketing and advertising, media and campaign partnerships, photography and videography, internships, speaking opportunities, and artist participation in the AO Art Showcase.

Anthony Terling

Sports Development Director
anthony@aotourism.com
Phone: 334.391.2527

Anthony Terling serves as AOT’s Sports Development Director, leading efforts to recruit and develop sports and recreation events that generate economic value and showcase Auburn-Opelika as a sports and recreation destination. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Sport Management and brings experience from the Alabama Sports Festival Foundation and professional baseball.

Anthony serves on the Sports ETA and Alabama Senior Olympics boards of directors and is SafeSport trained. He and his wife, Lindsey, also co-founded the Austin 1st Foundation, supporting families affected by rare diseases. Outside of work, he enjoys family time, sports, the outdoors, and landscaping.

Contact Anthony for: sports event recruitment and development, sports partnerships, venue and facility needs, site visits, and bringing your sporting event to Auburn-Opelika.

Karen Gilmore

Experience Manager
karen@aotourism.com
Phone: 334.734.2987

Originally from England, Karen brings 20 years of hospitality experience to Auburn-Opelika Tourism, including more than a decade at the Marriott at Grand National. She helps support groups and events coming to Auburn-Opelika, coordinating lodging needs, event logistics, visitor resources, and other destination services.

Karen holds a degree in International Hospitality and Business Management and is a graduate of Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College and Leadership Lee County. Outside of work, she enjoys family day trips, hot cups of coffee, and reading copious amounts of books.

Contact Karen for: event logistics and support, visitor materials and resources for groups, hotel room blocks and group lodging needs, and all things Volunteer AO

Awbrey Mitchell

Sports Sales Manager
awbrey@aotourism.com
Phone: 678.972.0522

Awbrey Mitchell earned his degree in communication from Auburn University and serves as AOT’s Sports Sales Manager. He recruits sporting events to Auburn-Opelika, connecting organizers with the facilities, resources and local support needed to host successful events.

Originally from Peachtree City, Georgia, Awbrey grew up visiting Auburn for athletic events before making the area home. He is a graduate of the Opelika Chamber’s 20 Under 40 program. Outside of work, he enjoys Auburn Athletics, the NFL and playing golf with friends.

Contact Awbrey for: sports event opportunities, facility and venue information, site visits, event bids and proposals, and bringing your next sporting event to Auburn-Opelika.

Travis Harrison

Experience & Marketing Specialist
travis@aotourism.com
Mobile: 334.644.6711

Travis Harrison is an Auburn University graduate with a degree in public relations and serves as AOT’s Experience & Marketing Specialist. He supports meetings and sports events in Auburn-Opelika, from conference supplies and large-volume needs to on-the-ground support. Travis also develops marketing campaigns for AOT’s meetings and sports segments and helps manage Volunteer AO.

Travis serves as vice president of membership for PRCA East Alabama and on the Leadership Lee County board. He is a graduate of Leadership Lee County and the Alabama Leadership Initiative.

Contact Travis for: meetings and sports event support, conference supplies and bulk materials, meetings and sports marketing initiatives and Volunteer AO, including finding volunteer opportunities or recruiting volunteers for your event.

Tena Hawkins

Visitor Engagement Specialist
tena@aotourism.com
Phone: 334.501.3281

As Visitor Engagement Specialist, Tena is the first face visitors see at Auburn-Opelika Tourism’s downtown Auburn location. She helps guests make the most of their time in Auburn-Opelika, from finding the right restaurant or activity to providing maps, guides, and other visitor resources. Tena also manages the day-to-day operations of the AO Art Showcase, working closely with featured artists and assisting visitors interested in purchasing local art.

With a diverse background spanning small business, nonprofit work, management, life coaching, and graphic design, Tena especially enjoys serving others and sharing the stories and experiences of Auburn-Opelika.

Contact Tena for: visitor information, printed materials, maps and guides; customized recommendations for exploring Auburn-Opelika; AO Art Showcase questions, and notary services.

Mari Lott

Communications Specialist
mari@aotourism.com
Phone: 334.501.3285

Mari Lott is an Auburn University graduate with a degree in journalism and serves as AOT’s Communications Specialist. She manages AOT’s website and social media channels, develops digital content, and plays an active role in media relations and telling the stories of Auburn-Opelika and its tourism partners.

Mari also works directly with influencers and content creators interested in visiting and collaborating with the destination. Mari is active in the Public Relations Council of Alabama and participates in the Opelika Chamber’s 20 Under 40 program. Outside of work, she enjoys creating in the kitchen, spending time at the beach, window shopping, and hosting friends and family.

Contact Mari for: AOTourism.com listings and website updates, event calendar submissions, social media, press releases and story ideas, media requests, influencer and content creator inquiries, partner updates, and digital content submissions.