What is your vision for Knoxville 10 years from now?
I would like to see the area around downtown continue to grow and expand to attract more convention and tourism traffic. The introduction of more entertainment venues, as well as expansion of retail and restaurant locations will not only increase the revenue and tax base for the community but would also be great additions for community residents. We need to capitalize on the location of Knoxville and our proximity to not only the mountains and the busiest National Park, but also our beautiful lakes and great outdoor spaces to help make the Knoxville community an even greater vacation destination.
What is Knoxville's best kept secret?
We really have some fantastic restaurants here, particularly relative to the size of our city. I think people can be really surprised by the quality and creativity of the chefs in this community.
What would you do to strengthen Knoxville?
I think like many communities, Knoxville has the opportunity to better integrate the parts of the community that need support and assistance with the parts of the community that are able and want to provide such support but may not know how to go about doing it. I believe at the core, people in the East Tennessee community have big hearts and love their neighbors. I want to be part of the solution to better align these resources so we have an even stronger base of people all pulling together to make this community more cohesive for all of our residents.
What is your favorite Knoxville memory?
Two completely different things come to mind. My husband and I really love to spend time downtown. We fell in love with downtown when our kids went off to college and have enjoyed getting to know the restaurants and shops in the downtown community. However, when COVID hit, since we could not really go anywhere, we took up hiking. Now, I have come to really appreciate the beautiful mountains we have all around us and have enjoyed exploring all of those new areas and experiences.
What is your favorite book or what book is currently on your nightstand?
I most recently read a book called A Second After. It was very thought provoking.
What is the best advice you have received from a mentor, and who was that mentor?
Much earlier in my career, someone took me under his wing and gave me an opportunity to write a professional article with him on a fairly technical topic. At the time, he was much better known in that particular segment of the industry, and I was grateful for the validation and professional exposure, although to be honest, I didn't feel quite worthy of the opportunity. When I asked how I could repay his confidence in me, he said pay it forward. Find the next person in line, and do the same for them. I have never forgotten that lesson and always try to see the potential in young professionals that they cannot see in themselves yet.
What advice would you give to your 16 year old self?
Wow, I would say, girl, your dreams need to be bigger! I would love to say that I carefully crafted my career track, but nothing can be farther from the truth. I would tell my 16 year old self to take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow, and don't close your mind to anything that you think may not be part of your plan. I have been blessed to do things professionally that I would have never dreamed would have been possible for me even early in my career, much less at 16 years old.
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