TJ Holmes

T.J. Holmes lived in the Applegate Valley as a child and returned to Southern Oregon in 2021 with his wife after spending most of his life in California. He started working in destination marketing in 2017 for in Redding, Calif., before taking over as Senior Vice President at The Chamber of Medford & Jackson County as the department head for Travel Medford. Before moving to the region, T.J. earned a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Chico State University and was a national award-winning journalist, both for a daily newspaper and for an online news outlet he co-owned and managed with his wife. T.J. values the role tourism plays in a thriving economy and is driven by the aphorism “a rising tide lifts all boats,” believing effective communication, collaboration and teamwork leads to a prosperous community. He enjoys playing and watching sports and exploring the abundance of outdoor offerings in Southern Oregon with his wife and family. He also serves on the board for Travel Southern Oregon and the Crater Lake National Park Trust.

Book recommendations: Relentless by Tim Grover

Movie recommendations: Any sports movie and 90s comedies

Fun Fact: T.J. won a national championship in men’s indoor volleyball for Chico State

Why Should a Business Owner Move to Southern Oregon: The region is a premier tourist destination, which makes it a dream for those who love to call it home. Southern Oregon is vast with opportunity and primed for growth where collaboration is at the forefront to achieve outcomes for the benefit of the community. The customer base is genuine, loyal and deserving of quality businesses, which brings a diverse business landscape to the region.