Originally from Waxhaw, North Carolina, Jessica Auten first fell in love with the High Country during her time as an undergraduate student at Appalachian State University. After earning her Master of Business Administration in hospitality and tourism management, Jessica stayed in Boone and ultimately decided she wanted to raise her family in this very special place. As a broker associate with the Banner Elk office of Premier Sotheby's International Realty, Jessica enjoys sharing her love for the area with others wanting to make the Blue Ridge Mountains their home or find the perfect getaway or vacation investment property.
Previously, Jessica was the sales manager for The Village Inns of Blowing Rock, a collection of charming boutique hotels. Later promoted to general manager, she gained valuable experience overseeing everything from marketing and advertising to customer service, accounting and human resources. Jessica then joined the team at Blue Ridge Mountain Club, opening and managing the new sales office in Blowing Rock and assisting with marketing efforts and event organization for the new development. She continued her hospitality career as the general manager for the Courtyard Marriott in Boone, where she served for the past nine years. Under her direction, the property earned several regional and national awards, including Marriott's Diamond Circle.
Transitioning to a second career in real estate was a natural progression for Jessica, who has long had a passion for real estate and home design. She personally bought and sold several properties, putting in sweat equity to create beautiful homes for her family, which she later turned for profit. Her background in hospitality and tourism serves her well in a market that is highly driven by second homeowners and vacation properties. Customer service is at the forefront of all that Jessica does. Her unwavering integrity, loyalty, positivity and problem-solving skills allow her to provide an exceptional experience for her clients and facilitate long-lasting relationships.
As a long-time resident of Boone, Jessica has deep ties to the local community. She and her husband, Zak, are the proprietors of Benchmark Provisions Beer and Wine Market located downtown, and Jessica teaches hotel management as an adjunct professor for the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State. Jessica and Zak are the proud parents of Molly, a student at AppState, and Colt, a local middle schooler. Jessica's hobbies include traveling, trail riding one of her three horses around Moses Cone and Leatherwood Mountains Resort, boating and camping with her family on Watauga Lake and taking walks with the family's three dogs - Kash, Gemma and Zeus - in the beautiful mountains.
Additionally, Jessica serves on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity and the High Country Workforce Development Board and previously sat on the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, along with the High Country Host executive board and Boone Tourism Development Authority Board.
Jessica is a newly licensed Real Estate Agent in Tennessee, recently joining the Tennessee/Virginia Regional MLS and Canopy REALTOR® Association. She is a proud member of the National Association of REALTORS®, the High Country Association of REALTORS®, the North Carolina Association of REALTORS® and the Tennessee Association of REALTORS®.