10 Year Vision for Knoxville
I'm hopeful that everyone in the Knoxville area will realize that getting into downtown and enjoying it is easy and fun. We have plenty of free or extremely affordable parking in close proximity to many restaurants and venues. The complaint about limited food options will go away when we spend more time in town and show restauranteurs, entertainers and shop owners that we want them here. We are capable of competing with the best downtowns if we start voting with our dollars today.
What is Knoxville's Best Kept Secret?
Other than the obvious things like our landscape and proximity to so many great outdoor activities, our in town traffic is probably my favorite part of Knoxville. We are big enough to have everything you need and small enough to have lite traffic between rush hours and after dinner. Being in construction, I drive a lot during the work day and I feel very blessed to have such little traffic to contend with.
What would you do to strengthen Knoxville?
I would make Knoxville an iconic city for reviving a skilled blue collar work force. Ford coming to West TN proves that we have the economic climate to attract the biggest companies and most cutting edge manufacturing in our state. Supporting a large volume of our young adults to pursue skilled jobs that start between $50k and $100k per year, with no school debt, inside their twenties could make us the next candidate for multiple manufacturers that would love to be positioned at the intersection of I-40 and I-75.
What is your favorite Knoxville memory?
Taking my 6 year old daughter to her first Volunteer football game 7 years ago. When we walked into the crowd, I'll never forget how speechless and amazed she was at the size and scale of everything. Nothing competes with special memories like this with my children.
What is your favorite book or what book is currently on your nightstand?
American Icon
What is the best advice you have received from a mentor, and who was that mentor?
In the regards to "Who is the greatest leader in America?" Patrick Lencioni... "I believe that the best leader out there is probably running a small or medium-sized company, school or a church. Moreover, that leader's obscurity is not a function of mediocrity, but rather a disdain for unnecessary attention and adulation. He or she would certainly prefer to have a stable home life, motivated employees, and happy customers-in that order-over public recognition."
What advice would you give to your 16 year old self?
Don't try to force all that life has to offer so quickly. Be patient and take your time, enjoying different phases of life as they come to you. Be content and enjoy each leg of the journey. When you're ready to believe it... the best part of your life is happening right now!
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