Current Class 2021

We are pleased to announce the selection of the following community and civic leaders to participate in the Flagship Program of Leadership Knoxville. During the year, class members will participate in monthly sessions and focus on Servant Leadership. This year’s class is the largest class in our thirty-plus years and we are excited to begin our journey with them. Please join us in congratulating the Leadership Knoxville Class of 2021. We look forward to working with them throughout the 2020-2021 year and helping them become the Best Class Ever!

Bill AilorCircuit Court Judge

Moody E. AltamimiDirector, Office of Research Excellence

George R. Baddour, Jr.Vice-President and Physician, Advanced Orthopaedic Center, UT Medical Center

Andrea BaileyExecutive Director

Laura BaileyOwner and Real Estate Agent

Suzanne Bailey, PsyDChief Operating Officer

Whitfield BaileySales

Chris BarksdaleSVP, People and Culture

Tony BentonChief Executive Officer

Charley BibleVP, Business Development

Trisha BradyVice President, Human Capital

Shanna BrowningPortfolio Manager & Community Outreach Specialist

Wynne Caffey-KnightPartner

Tim ChandlerCEO/Executive Director

Laura Seery ColeDirector of Masters Investment Learning Center

David ColquittOwner

Christian CortsRegional President

Tim CrossSr. Vice President/Sr. Vice Chancellor

Benjamin M. Cunningham, Jr.Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Jamie DavisDirector, Grid Modernization

Wesley DeanPhysician

Marian EppsBroker/Agent

George A EwartOwner

David B. FountainSenior Vice President and Vice General Counsel

Robin Gibson

Kristin Lee GroveDirector of Property Development

Kimberly K. HenryDirector of Business Development & Associate Financial Advisor

Reico HopewellLicensed Counselor/Founder/Executive Director/Owner

Shannon JacksonExecutive Director of Teaching and Learning

Adrian MacLean JayCo-Founder

Sherry JenkinsExecutive Director

Shannon JohnsonCorporate Executive Chef, Food and Beverage Innovation

Omar JubranPortfolio Manager

Christopher Collin LambertRelationship Manager

Anna LeeExecutive Pastor

Charles F. Lomax, Jr.Director of Community Empowerment

Lauren LongmireDirector of Regional Enhancement

Robyn McAdooArchitect

Catey McClaryPresident and CEO

Jordan MollenhourCo-Founder & Co-CEO

Sharon MooreDirector of Development

Michael MortonVice President and Chief Financial Officer

Michelle MoyersDirector, Community Health

J. Brandon Ross, IICommunity Sales Manager & Property Manager

Ed RottmannChief Operating Officer

Matt RyersonPresident & CEO

Javiette SamuelAssistant Vice Chancellor

Evetty SatterfieldCEO / Board Member

Matthew ScogginsChief of Staff

Charley SextonCreative Director

Vivian Underwood ShipeFounder/Executive Director

Todd SkeltonChief Legal Counsel

Kimberly SmithNews & Views Editor

Kellie ToonDirector, Pellissippi Academic Center for Excellence

Shannon Jackson

Executive Director of Teaching and Learning
Knox County Schools
Nashville, TN

What is your vision for Knoxville 10 years from now?

Knoxville is a strong community once nicknamed “Scruffy City.” The city embraces its complicated history and uses it toward continuous improvement. Knoxville is on the brink of greatness. Leaders must listen to constituents’ voices and participate with them in defining the future. We can build on strengths that already exist such as the research and employment opportunities at Oak Ridge National Labs and the University of Tennessee. This makes the city attractive to people who want to change the world. The growing entertainment and manufacturing sectors allow us to retain and recruit local, national, and international talent. Rural, suburban, and urban communities provide opportunities for different lifestyles. In my vision of Knoxville, talented individuals are drawn to the community and stay because it is a great place for families to work and play. The downtown area thrives with arts, crafts, locally owned and operated restaurants, and farmers’ markets, encompassing all voices and flavors, enriching the experiences of all. Complementing the vibrant downtown is continued development, conservation, and protection of the urban wilderness, lakes, and mountains. To actualize this vision, leaders need to respectfully listen to and incorporate the voices of a changing demographic, even when we disagree. If we are successful in promoting widespread ownership of an evolving vision in the context of a safe community for work and play, Knoxville has all the resources necessary to set the standard for positive community development in a changing world.

What are you reading that is on your nightstand?

Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality by Richard Rohr; Jack’s Life: The Story of C.S. Lewis, by Douglas Gresham; The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

What is your favorite Knoxville memory?

In my late twenties, early thirties, we purchased a wakeboarding boat. I spent every possible evening and weekend relaxing on the Tennessee River. I vividly remember the feeling of waking up early on a Saturday morning to get out on the water while it was calm and the instant feeling of relaxation that washed over me when I puttered out of the marina to the open waters, getting my first glimpse of the morning sun reflecting off of the water and casting halos of light on the surrounding mountain views. The time with friends was precious and protected. With no interruptions from cellphones or laptops, we entertained ourselves with good conversation, laughter, wake boarding mishaps, and the serenity that comes with enjoying the natural beauty of East Tennessee.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor, and who was that mentor?

When I was a mid-career teacher, I had a colleague who forever impacted my understanding of leadership. I cannot name her here; however, I hope she recognizes herself if she reads this. At the start of a new school year, she joined us as a faculty member after serving in a high leadership position in another school. She was moved to our school after some of her staff engaged in unethical behavior. I expected her to be bitter and angry; after all, she had not been involved in unethical behavior herself, but as the leader she suffered the consequences of other’s bad choices. However, that was not the case. She came to our New Teacher Orientation and was fully engaged as a learner. She asked to visit classrooms to get ideas for instruction and classroom management that worked in our vastly different school environment. She attended all professional development sessions and demonstrated her willingness to learn how to be successful in our school. Her attitude of collegiality, professionalism, grace, and commitment to students in a time of personal struggle made a lasting impact on me. While she was not a mentor in the traditional sense and her advice was given through her actions, not her words, she was a model of professionalism and character under adversity that still resonates with me today. She demonstrated the impact of being a positive leader even without formal authority.

What advice would you give to your 16 year old self?

The movies of my teen years portray the teen struggle as a time to fit in (The Breakfast Club) or move up in social status (Pretty in Pink) or have the perfect day (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off). In each case, John Hughes’s protagonists are searching for happiness somewhere outside themselves. At 16, I was an active member of the Girl Scouts, which pulled me out of the silver screen version of the teenage perspective and gave me the opportunity to backpack, sail, and sell cookies. It was an experience of girlhood separate from that in teen magazines and television. It was not an activity that I did with girls in my own school, so I was exposed to different perspectives. At the time, I did not have the language to consider the various messages about life’s meaning, so I was confused about how to reconcile what seemed like separate lives. Therefore, my advice to my 16-year-old self is to critically evaluate conflicting messages and search for meaning. As Viktor Frankl writes in Man’s Search for Meaning, happiness is a byproduct of having meaning and purpose in your life. Finding your meaning and creating your purpose give you an anchor in principles and ethics to evaluate competing messages.

Sherry Jenkins

Executive Director
Dogwood Arts, Inc.
Knoxville, TN

What is your vision for Knoxville 10 years from now?

I want to see Knoxville become THE vibrant, art & culture hub of the Southeast with a thriving local economy built on equity and inclusion that makes that possible. I can see us working to embrace what makes us unique by providing critical support and encouraging growth for local entrepreneurs, makers and artists of all types, and the institutions that support their work. We will honestly and openly address the challenges we currently face regarding homelessness and the lack of equity for people of color and for people in under-resourced communities. And we will develop real, actionable steps to try to improve those situations every single day. We will thrive by finding common ground to bring all parts of our community together while celebrating the characteristics that make each of us different. We will also bring more national and regional corporations here that embrace our unique qualities and value this culture and the natural beauty around us as assets for recruitment and retention of their talented employees. Those talented people will then join this welcoming community, bringing their own characteristics and influence to continue to enrich us all.

What are you reading that is on your nightstand?

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon; Katharine Graham Personal History; Give And Take by Adam Grant

What is your favorite Knoxville memory?

After a lifetime spent in Knoxville, I couldn’t possibly choose a single memory. My top 10 memories definitely include the births of my nieces and nephews, family nights around bonfires, finishing my degree, volunteering at community events where I found lifelong friendships, watching our city mayor speak at Pride, every single live music event I have ever witnessed, and finally, changing careers to take a job that has been the best gift I ever gave myself.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor, and who was that mentor?

Looking back, I believe one of the biggest influences on the development of my personal leadership style came from Chuck West. I worked for Chuck for many years during a time of great transition for the small company we were building. The best advice he gave me came to me by watching him in action. He was a leader who believed in open communication, sharing goals and challenges with his employees, and fostering creative thinking while encouraging every staff member to own the outcome of our combined efforts.

What advice would you give to your 16 year old self?

“Some of the toughest times ahead will teach you things that will be critical to your growth as a person. Be kinder to yourself. Try to embrace what those times are teaching you and seek out more ways to challenge yourself outside of your comfort zone in order to continue growing. Be yourself and expect others to admire and appreciate the characteristics that make you who you are. If you are surrounded by people who do not or cannot do that, get yourself some new people!
Invest more in travel as early as possible – getting outside of Knoxville gives you new perspective, expands your mind, and has the added benefit of making you appreciate that you live in a beautiful place. You will never regret any dollar you ever spend getting somewhere you’ve never been.”

Christopher Collin Lambert

Relationship Manager
The Trust Company of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN

What is your vision for Knoxville 10 years from now?

My 10 year vision for Knoxville is to see a city flourishing by continuing to support eager leaders. Such leaders are imperative to meet the growing needs of our community. I wish for our city to be a catalyst to help individuals become involved and for them to stay connected so that 10 years from now our organizations are stable and supported by dedicated leaders with deep rooted purposes for success.

What are you reading that is on your nightstand?

On Fire by John O’Leary

What is your favorite Knoxville memory?

My favorite memory of Knoxville is meeting who, at the time, would be my future wife in Market Square. I still associate that special part of our city with perhaps the most important introduction of my life. One of my most enlightening Knoxville memories was going through Introduction Knoxville. I have lived here since I was two years old and therefore thought I knew everything about this great city. Oh, was I wrong. The first day of Intro Knox we toured parts of the city I had never driven. That was a memory I won’t forget and it prompted me to explore and introduce myself to different parts of our city. This experience made a lasting impression on how important it is to get outside of your area of familiarity and simply explore.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor, and who was that mentor?

Some of my most formative years were during college. An advisor of mine, Thomas P. Davis, or Tommy, was a trailblazer at the university. He helped guide me to get involved and stay connected in the areas I was most passionate. I remember speaking with Tommy while feeling overwhelmed with school work, campus involvement and handling various personalities…he simply looked at me and said “Delegate to smart people and keep moving, focus on what you are good at, where you can improve and don’t stop learning from others.” Prior to that point, I had never really established a true understanding of what delegation meant, both administratively and leadership-wise. I now see how important it is to surround myself with engaging people and for me to always be willing to learn from another person’s experiences. I am thankful for that meaningful advice and direction from one of my many mentors.

What advice would you give to your 16 year old self?

If I could tell my 16 year old self anything, it would be “Do not be afraid to take risks and enjoy the ride while doing so.” In fact, I am still learning how to take risks. A “younger me” was too often focused on a specific plan or process. I would tell myself that “Adapting to the unknown is good. Life will throw you curveballs, be sure to catch, but if you don’t catch, then you better learn from those experiences.”

Michelle Moyers

Director, Community Health
Knox County Health Department
Arlington, TN

What is your vision for Knoxville 10 years from now?

My vision for Knoxville is pretty simple – I want us to learn from our mistakes and work more collaboratively across sectors to facilitate change. In my own work, I have seen the power of community partnerships, engagement and collaboration. While perspectives may differ, I think one unifying thing we have in common is the value of place – where we live, work and play matters.

What are you reading that is on your nightstand?

Brave by Cheryl Strayed

What is your favorite Knoxville memory?

My favorite memory but also most angst-filled was moving away from home to attend the University of Tennessee. I was from a small town outside of Memphis. Most of my classmates who were going to college chose to stay closer to home. I of course did not make that choice and I had only visited UT one time prior to moving into my residence hall. My parents dropped me off on move-in day and I got homesick the minute their car pulled out of the parking lot. Two weeks after they dropped me off, I was diagnosed with mono and was encouraged by a clinic doctor to withdraw and go home to recuperate. Needless to say, I was devastated by that news and drug myself back to my dorm room where I immediately called my mother in tears.
How could this possibly be a favorite memory? I think this was the first moment that I can recall being truly uncomfortable and realizing that I was on my own. I was 300 miles from home and sick, and while it was tempting to consider going home and having my mom take care of me, I chose to stay enrolled at UT. Over the years, my “freshman mono” experience became family lore. I think I earned some respect from my family by choosing NOT to come home and sticking it out through freshman year -quite an accomplishment for the baby of the family.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor, and who was that mentor?

The most powerful leadership relationship I have ever had was with Mark Jones. Mark served as the director of the health department until 2010.
I learned two important things from him. 1) Don’t be afraid to try new things. He was always open to ideas and encouraged staff who came to him with things they wanted to try. I personally approached him on several occasions with things I wanted to do. His response was always the same, “write up a proposal and send it to me.” I would do as he asked and write up a proposal. He would review it and ask a few questions. He always cleared the way for me to do what I had outlined.
While that seems very simplistic, I experienced the power and the energy that emanates from a leader who fosters employee creativity and is comfortable with new ideas. Because of his support, I was able to launch an internal worksite wellness and employee recognition initiative, both of which are still in place today. One of the biggest weaknesses and challenges in working for the government is changing the status quo. The mantra of “this is the way we have always done it” is not an uncommon defense when faced with a new idea or new suggestion in how to conduct business. Mark was a long-term government employee; yet, he regularly rebelled against the status quo through this practice.
2) Personally acknowledge the small things. Mark made it a point to visit each employee on their birthday or to thank them for a job well done. Those brief face-to-face interactions built an important connection with employees. In an era where it is far easier for leaders to send an e-mail or make a phone call, Mark made a concerted effort to have a presence outside the administrative suite. The importance of making employees feel valued is something that routinely gets overlooked by leadership, but costs virtually nothing.

What advice would you give to your 16 year old self?

You got this.

Vivian Underwood Shipe

Founder/Executive Director
I AM The Voice of the Voiceless
Knoxville, TN

What is your vision for Knoxville 10 years from now?

I see Knoxville almost as it was in the beginning: historical areas like Burlington are reborn and part of a busy, vibrant city; diversity in all areas; a thriving waterfront; affordable housing for the elderly, poor, and aged out youth; the mentally ill are cared for and not jailed.

What are you reading that is on your nightstand?

Conflict Free Living by Joyce Meyer, Better than Good by Zig Ziglar, and The Words of Martin Luther King with forward by Corretta Scott King

What is your favorite Knoxville memory?

Working as banquet manager during and after the World’s Fair in 1984 at the Hilton. I was working as a banquet waitress and was handling the coat closet during a reunion of UT students of which I had been a part of the class. The manager overheard some of them laughing and talking about me . He asked me did I hear them and offered to move me from that event. I explained that I had to drop out my senior year as my mother had cancer and I was the oldest and life happens.
(I would later complete my first degree at age 41.) He didn’t say anything else but the next morning I was offered the position as assistant banquet manager and would later become the main banquet manager when he transferred to Florida. It was confirmation that promotion comes from the Lord.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor, and who was that mentor?

My mentor was my paternal grandmother Louise Underwood. She was the maid for 50 years for the Walkup family who started Home Federal Bank. She raised two sons by herself after her husband left her when they were toddlers. They were, Paul Underwood, my uncle, the first black firefighter in Knoxville and one of the FIRST 12 Black U S Marshals in the USA. Her other son, my father George Underwood, would be one of the first African Americans hired by the postal service and would become the first Union President of the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees. Her advice: AGE IS NOTHING BUT A NUMBER…I AM A 25 YEAR OLD WOMAN INSIDE OF A 84 YEAR OLD BODY. An example of her tenacity was her ability to go to yard sales and moving events with me and my children, and her strength and endurance!
When I was 40 and she was 70, she could out work me picking greens in the field! I would fall out after an hour and lay under a tree…she would continue on picking greens for 3 MORE HOURS, stopping by every once in awhile to see if I was okay. THEN she would go home and look them and cook them!!

What advice would you give to your 16 year old self?

“Be very brave and courageous, everything will be okay.” Since I was 12 years old I had been taking the lead in helping with my four siblings. Our mom had several bouts with cancer and was sick thru our brief time with her. Our father would die a few months after I turned 17 and my mom would die when I was 23. I learned by fire how to move the cold food to the neighbors house till I could get the lights back on, how to make a cheerleader suit because we could not afford to buy one for my little sister, how to call for the cab to take my mom to chemo because we did not have a car. I can still remember Clarence Carter song PATCHES running thru my head during those days. I remember….

Kellie Toon

Director, Pellissippi Academic Center for Excellence
Pellissippi State Community College
Tyler, TX

What is your vision for Knoxville 10 years from now?

The arts are essential to a sustainable community as they bring people together and deepen cultural understanding through shared experiences. Over the next ten years I would love to see downtown Knoxville continue to evolve and transform into a true cultural center. By bolstering our existing resources, we can build a diverse community united in the arts.

What are you reading that is on your nightstand?

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.

What is your favorite Knoxville memory?

The first Thanksgiving we moved here, my family decided to go to Fantasy of Trees, a benefit of the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. I knew little about it and had no expectations. We were simply looking for something to do to fill the time with our visiting family. I wasn’t prepared for the magic upon walking in the doors of the Knoxville Convention Center. The lights, the beautifully decorated trees, the children’s eyes lit up with anticipation of meeting Santa, the music, dance performances, and crafts all left a lasting impression on each of us. Attending the Fantasy of Trees became an annual tradition for our family and one of my favorite memories as it always brought the magic of the holidays to Knoxville.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor, and who was that mentor?

I have had so many wonderful mentors in my life. Amazingly beautiful people with whom my path has crossed at just the right moment in time. To narrow down to one person, or the best piece of advice is a most difficult pursuit as every mentor and the guidance they have provided in my life has shaped who I am today. My tenth grade English professor, Carole Countryman, introduced me to literature and writings that expanded my horizons beyond the small Texas town I called home. She told me, “If you can’t say it, write it. You have that gift.” Her advice highlighted the power of the written word and my ability to communicate in this way. My mom, Dr. Janey Hunt, my lifetime mentor, once told me to run my own race. It is too easy to compare ourselves to others and never quite feel like we measure up. While we can, and should, applaud the achievements of others, when we run our own race we celebrate our successes as they relate to us. Finally, Dr. Norma Mertz, my doctoral dissertation committee chair would always ask, “So What?” In that deceptively simple question, Dr. Mertz pushed me to think more broadly. What is the point, what is the purpose, what is the meaning? Why do we do what we do? It is a challenging question and yet when we can answer it, we find a deeper connection to our work and our life.

What advice would you give to your 16 year old self?

Be you. If I could go back and talk to my 16-year-old self, that would be my advice. To simply ‘be you’. I would encourage me to not lose myself behind the mask of conformity as it is the uniqueness that makes each of us beautiful.

Current Class 2021

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