Leadership Blount County presents Class of 2025

When Leadership Blount County was formed in 1990, community leadership programming in America was a relatively new concept. Unlike corporate management training, the idea of training nearly 40 individuals about every aspect of the community in order to build involvement was a novel idea in Blount County.

Blount County and its needs have changed over the last decades, Leadership Blount has aspired to meet those needs through its programming.

After a year-long strategic planning process in 2017, Leadership Blount revamped its core program to introduce a more dynamic, issue-driven curriculum to further tackle the issues in the county.

Class members have a direct connection to community leaders and a direct impact on the community. The class is designed for experienced leaders who are expected to participate through research, group facilitation, and problem solving focusing on our community’s most critical issues. A personal commitment and a class commitment are made to the community for lifelong service. The Leadership Blount core experience does not end with the program, however. Participating in the alumni organization is encouraged. The class is selected by a volunteer committee of alumni based on nominations received from the community and an in-depth application process.

The following make up Leadership Blount’s Class of 2025:

Benjamin Brooks

Company/Organization: 134th Air Refueling Wing, TN Air National Guard

Title/Position: Pilot/Squadron Commander

Hometown: Pineville, KY

Education: BS and MS Civil Engineering, University of Tennessee

Shannon Bryant

Company/Organization: Sky City Entrepreneur Center

Title/Position: Executive Director

Hometown: Plainview, TN

Education: Maryville College, BA in Writing/Communications with a Theatre minor

Community/Professional Affiliations: Blount Pride board member since 2021, Blount Chamber Ambassador since 2021, Barony of Thor’s Mountain, which is the local chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism medieval re—enactment organization, multiple officer roles including Treasurer and Live Weapons Marshal for many years

Corey Crain

Company/Organization: Simmons Bank

Title/Position: Community Banker

Hometown: Spencer, TN

Education: University of Tennessee— Finance Degree; Mercer University— Master of Business Administration (MBA); Commissioned Bank Examiner — Federal Reserve Board

Community/Professional Affiliations: Member — Green Meadow Country Club; Member — Taste of Blount Committee; Member— Fitness, Fellowship & Faith (F3); Active— Foothills Church; Volunteer for Second Harvest Food Bank of East TN; Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity

Jackie Crumpton

Company/Organization: Tennessee Mountain Real Estate

Title/Position: Realtor

Hometown: Fort Payne, AL

Education: Bachelor of Science in Apparel Merchandising, Design, and Production

Community/Professional Affiliations: Member of Dotson Memorial Baptist Church — VBS Volunteer, Volunteer for Smoky Mountain Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity of Blount County — Volunteer, Charity Chicks of Blount County— Member, Governor Football BoostersFundraising Coordinator, William Blount Baseball Boosters— Former Treasurer, WBHS Band Boosters — Former Vice President. Former General Manager—JCPenney Maryville

Sarah Dixon-Galyon

Company/Organization: Maryville City Schools — Sam Houston Elementary

Title/Position: Records Secretary

Hometown: Maryville, TN

Education: Maryville High School; Elon University — BA in Spanish and International Studies

Community/Professional Affiliations: Junior Service League of Maryville— Sustainer; Foothills Striders Member; Marathon Runner; Volunteer Server at Welcome Table (New Providence Presbyterian Church)

Troy Galyon

Company/Organization: LeConte Realty, LLC

Title/Position: Real Estate Specialist

Hometown: Maryville, TN

Education: Maryville High School, University of Tennessee Knoxville ‘17

Community/Professional Affiliations: Appalachian Trail Thru—hiker, Foothills Striders — Member, LeConte Realty Foundation — Board Member, Maryville Yacht Club — Founder and Treasurer

Tate Geren

Company/Organization: C2RL, Inc. Engineers

Title/Position: Civil Engineer

Hometown: Knoxville, TN

Education: South—Doyle High School, Maryville College, University of Tennessee Knoxville

Community/Professional Affiliations: Alcoa Kiwanis Board of Directors and President Elect 2024—2025, Alcoa Youth Sports Volunteer Basketball and Flag Football Coach, American Society of Civil Engineers

Anna Graham

Company/Organization: Pellissippi State Community College

Title/Position: Campus Dean, Blount County

Hometown: Gulfport, MS

Education: BA Art History, Sewanee: The University of the South; MA Arts Administration, The University of New Orleans; MS Counseling, The University of Tennessee at Knoxville; EdS, Curriculum & Instruction, Lincoln Memorial University

Community/Professional Affiliations: Member, Board of Trustees, Sewanee; Member, Board of Trustees, Episcopal School of Knoxville; Member, Board of Directors, Sky City Entrepreneurship Center; Blount County United Way, Industry Committee; Creative Economy Group Committee, Blount Partnership; Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan, Audio—Visual Team

Elvira Grant

Company/Organization: Elvira’s Cafe

Title/Position: Owner

Hometown: Townsend, TN

Education: Zheleznogorsk High School, Krasnoyarsk, Russia — High School;

Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical Institute, Krasnoayarsk, Russia

Community/Professional Affiliations: Involved with many community events such as Taste of the Smokies, Maryville Kiwanis Club, and United Way of Blount County.

Chris Hackler

Company/Organization: Drees Plant Wholesalers

Title/Position: Co—Owner, VP Sales & Marketing

Hometown: Maryville, TN

Education: UTK College of Agriculture, Maj. Plant and Soil Sciences, Min. Marketing

Community/Professional Affiliations: Downtown Maryville Alliance— Board of Directors, Executive Committee served as Secretary and Design Committee Co—Chair ’19—current, Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association— Board of Directors ’20—22, City of Maryville Historic Zoning Commission ’19—current, City of Maryville Tree Board — BoD ’20—current, Keep Blount Beautiful Board of Directors ’23—Current, Historic College Hill Neighborhood Association— Welcome Chair ’16—current

Leah Hadder

Company/Organization: Maryville College Career Center

Title/Position: Career & Internship Coach

Hometown: Selma, AL

Education: MPA, Arkansas State University, B.S., Arkansas State University, A.A., Arkansas State University—Beebe, Heber Springs Campus

Community/Professional Affiliations: National Association of Colleges and Employers Member, “Smart Women Smart Business” Attendee, Maryville College Scholar’s Day 2024 Interview Panelist, Maryville College Homecoming Volunteer

Luc Hardyn

Company/Organization: Smith & Wesson

Title/Position: Vice President of Operations

Hometown: La Rochette, France

Education: Master in Economics, Lois Pasteur University, Strasbourg France

Community/Professional Affiliations: Manufacturing Operations Council, Manufacturers Alliance.

Andi Heinemann

Company/Organization: Blount Memorial Hospital

Title/Position: Clinic Manager, Physical Therapist

Hometown: Columbia, SC

Education: Wofford College, Bachelor of Science; Medical University of South Carolina, Master of Health Science, Doctor of Physical Therapy

Community/Professional Affiliations: American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Tennessee Physical Therapy Association (TPTA), Lymphedema Association of North America (LANA), Social Media Chairperson Lymphedema Education & Research Network — Tennessee chapter, On the Mend Lymphedema Support Group organizer, Alcoa FMC, Missions & Executive Council Member, Your Best Life Rehab & Wellness Expo co—chair, Blount County Community Health Initiative member.

Ashlee Ivens

Company/Organization: Blount County Schools

Title/Position: Assistant Principal, William Blount High School

Hometown: Maryville, TN

Education: High school diploma— Maryville Christian School (2004), B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with Teacher Licensure from Tennessee Wesleyan College (now University), 2008, Masters in Administration and Supervision with an emphasis in Library Science, MTSU (2014), Education Specialist Degree from Lincoln Memorial University in Instructional Leadership (2018).

Community/Professional Affiliations: Vineyard Church, Maryville— VBS volunteer, Kids Ministry volunteer, Discernment Team member, small group participant and past leader

Mark Johnson

Company/Organization: Denso

Title/Position: Electrification Manufacturing Director

Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee

Education: Class of 1985 Carter High School, Class of 1989 Carson Newman College Bachelor of Science

Community/Professional Affiliations: Member of the Leadership Council for Restoration International Outreach Central Church; Coached Girls Softball at Maryville Little League and Team Tennessee Organization; Serve as a member of the William Blount Lady Governors softball booster club.

Adrian Jones

Company/Organization: ADJ Travel Company

Title/Position: Owner | Travel Advisor

Hometown: Maryville, TN

Education: Maryville High School

Community/Professional Affiliations: East Maryville Baptist Church — Former MOPS Coordinator; Coulter Grove Intermediate School — PTC Board Secretary, PTC Board Book Store Coordinator; Maryville Middle School Swim Team Parent Liaison

Sarah Jurinsky

Company/Organization: United Way of Blount County

Title/Position: Community Impact Manager

Hometown: Maryville, TN

Education: Maryville High School; B.A. The George Washington University; M.P.A. American University (graduating in August)

Community/Professional Affiliations: Blount County Young Professionals, Trauma Responsive Advisory Board, Blount County Community Health Initiative, Rotary Club of Maryville, Blount County Schools Family Resource Center Advisory Council

Renee Kelly

Company/Organization: Clayton Homes

Title/Position: Director of Boundless (DEIB)

Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee

Education: University of Tennessee (Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Master’s Degree in Elementary Education) and Lincoln Memorial University ((Education Specialist Degree)

Community/Professional Affiliations: Serves on the board of directors for YWCA, Boys and Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley, University Health Systems (UHS), Persist Nashville, Freedom Village of Hope, Pellissippi State Foundation, and the Todd Kelly, Junior (TKJ) Foundation. Also a member of the Executive Women’s Association of Knoxville (EWA), the National Coalition of 100 Black Women (Greater Knoxville Chapter), the Downtown Knoxville Rotary Club, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Leadership Knoxville Class of 2016, and Cohort X of Leadership Tennessee.

Tom Loud

Company/Organization: Blount County Schools—Samuel Everett School of Innovation

Title/Position: Director of Lowerschool (K—7)

Hometown: Friendsville, TN

Education: Maryville Christian School/Tennessee Technological University/Lincoln Memorial University (B.S. in Multidisciplinary Studies, Human Learning, Masters in Education Administration and Supervision, Educational Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction, PhD in Business/Leadership)

Community/Professional Affiliations: Professional Educators of Tennessee, State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE), National Hybrid Schools Society (Kennesaw State University), Faith Promise Church

Cheyanne Channie Marston

Company/Organization: C.C. Marston & Company

Title/Position: Founder, Owner

Hometown: Winslow, AZ

Education: AASOT, Horticulturist, Partially through a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

Community/Professional Affiliations: NBCOT member, Smart Women Smart Business Board Member, Sky City LaunchPad Audience Choice Winner, Blount County Chamber Member. Active Toastmaster— Morning Cup of Maryville, Public Speaker and Educator on Elderhood related topics

Robert McClelland

Company/Organization: Retired

Title/Position: Volunteer in the community

Hometown: Xenia, Ohio

Education: B.Sc. Ohio State University; M.Ed. Louisiana State University; post—graduate work at University of Hawaii

Community/Professional Affiliations: Member, Blount County Bahá’í Community; Secretary, Alcoa Blount County NAACP; Member, Blount County United; Member, Alcoa Kiwanis Club; Volunteer, Smiles; Volunteer, Blount County Schools; Member, Blount County Friends of the Library; Co—founder, Blount County Volunteer Festival; Volunteer, Tennessee Valley Coalition for the Homeless

Patrick McMahon

Company/Organization: Civil & Environmental Consultants

Title/Position: Principal

Hometown: Maryville, Tennessee (adopted)

Educa-tion: Farragut High School (1998); University of Tennessee, BS in Civil Engineering (2003), MS in Environmental Engineering (2005), PhD in Civil Engineering (2013)

Community/Professional Affiliations: Saint Andrews Episcopal Church, Maryville; Association of State Dam Safety Officials; Association of State Floodplain Managers; Tennessee Association of Floodplain Management, board member; Blount Partnership, member.

Jimmy Morgan

Company/Organization: First Horizon Bank

Title/Position: Vice President — Com-mercial & Private Banking

Home-town: Maryville, TN

Education: Graduate of Maryville High School; Bachelor’s Degree from the University of TN

Community/Professional Affiliations: New Hope Blount County Children’s Advocacy Center — Finance Committee Member, Past—Chair of the Board of Directors; United Way of Blount County — Campaign Cabinet Member, Past—Chair of the Champions Program

John Nolan

Company/Organization: Y—12 Credit Union

Title/Position: Manager, Comm-unity and Business Develop-ment

Home-town: Nashville, TN

Education: Rhea County High School

Community/Professional Affiliations: Jumpstart TN — Vice President; Rio Revolution Church — Media Volunteer; Involved with various non—profit organizations in the area, including the Knoxville Area Urban League, Junior Achievement, and the United Way.

Mina Oldham

Company/Organization: Formerly with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond for 10+ years, recently transitioned to full—time motherhood, and now looking towards new horizons

Title/Position: Senior Risk Analyst for the Federal Reserve through February 2024 followed by a swift transition to CEO of my household

Hometown: Townsend, TN

Education: Bachelors of Economics from University of Richmond in Virginia

Community/Professional Affiliations: Member of Blount County Early Education Task Force (through the Blount partnership), Certified Yoga Instructor, Certified Arbinger Institute Facilitator, Commissioned Bank Examiner, Graduate of Partners in Professional Development (highly selective leadership program through the Richmond Fed), Toastmasters Competent Communicator

Kyle Perkins

Company/Organi-zation: RoseWood Virtual Tours

Title/Position: Founder

Home-town: Walland, TN

Education: Heritage High School; Tennessee Technological University B.S. Electrical Engineering

Community/Professional Affiliations: Sky City Entrepreneur Center Volunteer and Co—Starters Mentor; Men’s Group Maryville Member; Blount County Young Professionals Member; Blount Chamber Ambassador; The Morning Cup Toastmasters Member

Tammye Pirie

Company/Organization: Blount County Community Action Agency

Title/Position: Executive Director

Home-town: Jackson, TN

Educa-tion: East Tennessee State University (Bachelors) and University of Tennessee (Masters)

Community/Professional Affiliations: Tennessee Association of Community Action—Board of Directors; Legal Aid of East Tennessee— Advisory Committee; Smoky Mountain Meals on Wheels—Delivery Driver; United Way of Blount County—Appropriations Panel Member; Blount County Local Emergency— Planning Committee Member; Departments of Education and Health Human Services—Grant Reviewer

Lindsey Plyler

Company/Organization: Lindsey Plyler State Farm Insurance

Title/Position: Owner

Hometown: Loris, SC

Educa-tion: Loris High School, Horry George-town Technical College — Assoc-iate in Applied Science, Limestone College — Bachelor of Science

Community/Professional Affiliations: New Hope Blount County Childrens Advocacy Center board member/current President, Blount Memorial Foundation board member, Blount Chamber Ambassador, United Way Champion, Blount County Education Foundation committee member, Blount Habitat golf tournament committee, Tom Hatcher Charity volunteer

Mandy Proffitt

Company/Organization: A Place to Stay

Title/Position: Executive Director

Hometown: Maryville, TN

Education: William Blount HS; BBA — King University; MS, BSW (Summa Cum Laude) — ETSU

Community/Professional Affiliations: Blount County Ecumenical Action Council, National Assoc-iation of Social Workers, National Alliance of Mental Illness, National Organization for Human Services

Tina Rhea

Company/Organization: REO Cheesewagon

Title/Position: President and owner

Hometown: Maryville, TN

Education: Heritage High School

Community/Professional Affiliations: Volunteer highlights: Shop with a Cop; Various Golf Tournaments, Habitat for Humanity volunteer; Festivals in Townsend, founder of Greater Smoky Mountains Food Truck Festival, committee member Smoky Mountain Lights festival, Committee member for Downtown Maryville events, Speaker at Sky City Co.Starters, Judge for LaunchPad Pitch Night

Chester Richardson

Company/Organization: Richardson Construction, llc and RC Roofing, llc

Title/Position: President

Hometown: Townsend, TN

Education: Heritage High School. BA from Maryville College. TN Licensed General Contractor

Comm-unity/Professional Affiliations: Elder Board of Directors at Revolution Church; Volunteer Youth Sports Coach with BCS and Parks & Rec for many years (retired); Serve on the following committees — BCS Athletics Committee; Blount Partnership Construction Workforce Committee; HBA of Greater Knoxville Governmental Affairs Committee.

Caprice Richardson

Company/Organization: Alcoa Elementary School

Title/Position: Second Grade Teacher

Hometown: Pearlington, Mississippi

Education: Pearl River Junior College, Associate of Arts; University of South-western Louisiana, Bachelors Degree in Medical Records Administration; Hampton University, Certification in Education; Walden University, Masters in Reading and Math; Lincoln Memorial University, Education Specialist.

Community/Professional Affiliations: Our Lady of Fatima

Matt Sheppick

Company/Organi-zation: Arconic Corp-oration

Title/Position: Environ-mental, Health, and Safety Coordi-nator

Home-town: Newburgh, Indiana

Education: Bachelor’s in Safety Management from Indiana University

Brittany Spence

Company/Organi-zation: City of Alcoa

Title/Position: Director of Finance

Home-town: Blount County, TN

Educ-ation: William Blount High School; Pellissippi State — AS in Business; TN Wesleyan University — BS in Accounting, State of Tennessee Certified Municipal Finance Officer

Community/Professional Affiliations: Foothills Church — I volunteer for the Guest Experience Team and the Care & Prayer Team; tnAchieves — Mentor; I am member of the GFOA, TGFOA, and the AGA.

Bart Stinnett

Company/Organization: Pilot Company — Maryville City School Board

Title/Position: Safety and Security Analyst — School Board Member

Home-town: Maryville, TN

Educ-ation: MS University of Cincinnati, BS East Tennessee State University, Maryville High School

Community/Professional Affiliations: Maryville City School Board, Safety and Security Advisory Committee Maryville First United Methodist Church, Leadership Sevier former member of the Sevier County Juvenile Violence Task Force. Member of ASIS (American Society of Industrial Security Professionals)

Karla Suszek

Company/Organi-zation: Good Neighbors of Blount County

Title/Position: Executive Director

Home-town: Guatemala City, Guatemala

Education: Escuela Profesional de Traducción e Interpretación — Certification (English/Spanish Translation and Interpretation Certification); The French Pastry School — Pastry and Cake Design Certification; Florida Technical College — Associate’s Degree in Business Management and Marketing; Florida Technical College — Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Entrepreneurship

Community/Professional Affiliations: Director of Good Neighbors of Blount County; Volunteer with United Way of Blount County Grant Allocation Panel; Volunteer for Poverty Simulation with United Way of Blount County; Served on Planning Committee for Blount County Ecumenical Action Council.

Mary Thompson

Company/Organization: Shults Pediatrics a member of Summit Medical Group

Title/Position: Practice Admini-strator

Home-town: Maryville, TN

Educa-tion: Maryville Christian High School (09’), Maryville College (’13), University of Tennessee Graduate and Executive Education — MBA (’22)

Community/Professional Affiliations: Blount County Young Professionals Steering Committee, Blount County United Way Champion, Rotary International Member, Junior Service League, Violinist—First Baptist Maryville, MGMA, TNMGMA, KAMGMA

James “JT” Trentham

Company/Organization: Blount County Sherriff Office

Title/Position: Captain/ Criminal Investi-gations

Home-town: Townsend, TN

Educat-ion: Heritage High School; Walters State CC; Ashworth B.S. criminal justice; Psychophysiological (Polygraph Examiner)

Community/Professional Affiliations: Riverview MBC; American Polygraph Association; American Association of Police Polygraphists; Adult Protective Services Team Member; Child Protective Investigation Team Member; TN State License (Polygraph)

Peter Womack

Company/Organization: Oldham Hospitality, Peaceful Side Brewery

Title/Position: Director of Facilities, Oldham Hospi-tality; Partner, Peaceful Side Brewery

Home-town: Salem, VA

Educ-ation: Salem High School, Virginia Commonwealth University 2007-2009

Community/Professional Affiliations: Board Member, Little River Watershed Association; Board Member, Blount County Education Foundation; Volunteer, Keep Blount Beautiful; Volunteer, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont; Member, International Facility Management Association; Member, National Eagle Scout Association