Speakers:

Lina Kornmeyer, Market Executive, Bank of America Knoxville – Presenting Sponsor

As the Market Executive for Knoxville with the Local Markets Organization Lina leads Bank of America’s efforts to Deliver One Company in Knoxville through community partnerships, client connectivity, and employee engagement. She has been with Bank of America since 2009 and moved to Knoxville, Tennessee in 2017.

Azsha White, Co-Founder and Host, Knoxville Asian Festival

In 2014, Azsha helped co-found and host the Knoxville Asian Festival. This festival has has grown to over 65,000 annual attendees and features acts traveling from both Disney World and other countries. She also actively works in promoting the event via interviews or speaking on television, radio, and in person events. In addition to continuing to host and assist in the yearly Knoxville Asian Festival, Azsha acts as the annual co-host for the East TN Chinese New Year. When Azsha is not in her studio working on recording projects, you can rest assured she is running around doing something. If spotted in the wild, you may catch her shooting local/national television shows or commercials. Depending on the season, you may even find her on stage for a cultural or other type of event. But, when she is not working, you can count on her being a crazy dog lady, and find her at one of Knoxville’s many dog parks with her two pups. In fact, you can catch her every other Thursday @ 3:00PM on Amazon Live with Petsafe.

Cristina Cáceres, Director of Community Resources, Centro Hispano de East Tennessee

Cristina Cáceres is the Director of Community Resources at Centro Hispano. She manages programs in health, housing stability and civic participation, creating partnerships to provide resources to the Latino Community. Cristina is from Peru, where she graduated with a BA in Clinical Psychology and worked in a variety of positions within education, such as a School Psychologist for Early Childhood and a University coordinator for international students. In 2017, Cáceres relocated to Germany to pursue a masters degree in Peace and Conflict Studies on full scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service. After graduating, she relocated to the U.S. with her spouse, whom she met while he was serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Peru. They converted an old van and traveled the country before deciding to settle in Knoxville. Cristina got involved with Centro as a volunteer with a mental health project and was thrilled to get the chance to join the team full time. For questions regarding Centro’s services, feel free to email cristina@centrohispanotn.org.

Clarence Vaughn III, Director of the Office of Diversity and Community Relations, Haslam College of Business, University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Clarence L. Vaughn, III, is the director of the Office of Diversity and Community Relations in the Haslam College of Business, at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. As diversity and community relations director, Vaughn will provide strategic leadership in creating an integrated vision and shared responsibility for facilitating the college’s diversity goals and for fostering and supporting a campus culture that respects and appreciates individual differences. Through collaboration with offices across the college and university, he will advance diversity and inclusion in the university’s research and educational missions, creating a welcoming environment for students, faculty and staff. He holds an MBA in organizational management from Syracuse University.

Josh Loebner, Director of Strategy, DE&I for Designsensory and PhD Candidate

Josh is a blind disability advocate, 20+ year advertising professional and PhD candidate at Clemson University focusing on advertising and disability. As an inclusive design strategy subject expert he collaborates on global and national brand initiatives and regional and community-based projects across the country. He serves on boards including the Adweek DEI Council, American Advertising Federation Mosaic Council, TravelAbility and Dollywood’s disability advisory panel. Josh is an internationally recognized keynote speaker, lectures at the University of Tennessee and mentors disabled students. Josh co-created and co-hosts Explorable, a travel podcast centering on disability inclusion and accessible tourism, where guests include Walt Disney World, Alaska Airlines, the National Park Service, I LOVE New York, Expedia, Amazon and many others. Visit explorablepodcast.com to listen. He is fully blind in one eye and legally blind in the other, but clearly sees the best in everyone. Connect with Josh at linkedin.com/in/joshloebner/

Door prizes provided by Adventure Sponsor: Lifetime Products.

Free entry alternatives are available. Submit a self-addressed stamped envelope to 17 Market Square #201, Knoxville, TN 37902 containing your name and email address. One entry per person. Entries must be received prior to October 21, 8:30 AM EST.

Speakers:

Jennifer Dolfi, Vice President of Experience Initiatives, DICK’S Sporting Goods

Jennifer Dolfi graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and Katz Graduate School of Business where she studied finance, Hispanic languages, and Latin American culture. She lived abroad in Brazil and Argentina during this time. Jennifer spent nearly a decade with PPG Industries supporting finance and international business operations before beginning her career at DICK’S Sporting Goods.

Jennifer just celebrated her 10-year anniversary with DICK’S Sporting Goods. During that time, she has held numerous positions across finance, strategy, and growth initiatives. Currently, Jennifer is vice president, experience initiatives. She oversees strategy and operations oversight for all DICK’S House of Sport locations. Jennifer enjoys mentoring emerging leaders and is passionate about leading teams through major business transformations. She enjoys a challenge and working with team to build a roadmap to ensure success. Jennifer believes that great teams can do hard things and succeed.

In her free time, she enjoys golfing, hiking and skiing with her family and cheering on her kids in ice hockey and softball.

Dave Wallace, Director of Process Automation and Real Estate Management, Dick’s Sporting Goods

Dave Wallace, a lifelong native of Pittsburgh, PA, is a 21-year veteran of Dick’s Sporting Goods and has held various roles within the Finance department including Treasury, Accounting, FP&A, and Operational Accounting. Dave currently holds the title of Senior Director of Process Automation and Real Estate Management. In this role, his responsibilities include leading the Company’s automation efforts and managing the Company’s portfolio of 900+ store leases.

Dave believes the trick to getting through life is always having vacation booked. He is also the founder of Journey for Adoption, which helps provide $5,000 adoption grants to families in need of financial support. He recently rode his bike 335 miles from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC in three days, raising over $105,000.

Kenley Early, Community Integration Director, Dick’s House of Sport – Knoxville

Kenley Early is the community integration director for DICK’S House of Sport in Knoxville. She leads all community partnerships and creates innovative and unique in-store experiences and events for Knoxville athletes, youth and community members.

Prior to joining DICK’S House of Sport, Kenley was with Discovery/Scripps Networks for more than 16 years. She held both business to business and consumer marketing roles during this time.

Kenley holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Tennessee and is a native Knoxvillian. Outside of work, she is a board member and class volunteer for Humans and Animals Learning Together. She also served as a member and committee chair for the local chapter of the Junior League for 10 years.

Door prizes provided by Adventure Sponsor: Lifetime Products.

Free entry alternatives are available. Submit a self-addressed stamped envelope to 17 Market Square #201, Knoxville, TN 37902 containing your name and email address. One entry per person. Entries must be received prior to October 21, 8:30 AM EST.

Alex Abell, Founder, Lunchpool
Alex understands the importance of fostering real connections. To him, lunch is an important part of that process. Lunchpool offers a unique, virtual way for people to connect and gather, which is increasingly important with our new norm. Alex and his team hope to help people build those real connections with others and create a healthier balance in life–all of which is accomplished by simply providing users with an opportunity to chat with lunch buddies.

Femeika Elliott, Founder, Meik Meals
In 2016, Femeika decided her life needed a health reboot, but as an entrepreneurial chef, good food wasn’t going to be spared. As she ventured on her own fitness journey, she realized she could help others live a healthier, sacrifice-free lifestyle, too. Today, her meal prepping service, Meik Meals, is helping Knoxville individuals achieve their nutrition and fitness goals with its stress-free, affordable and flavorful meals. With every meal prepped, Femeika is helping the Knoxville community see that successful fitness doesn’t have to come at the cost of quality food.

Mal Alder, Founder, Alder & Co
Mal founded Alder & Co. to bring affordable, quality digital marketing to smaller businesses in her community. Although her digital marketing tactics are helping businesses around Knoxville flourish, it’s Alder & Co.’s heart that’s leaving a lasting impact. To Mal, the big picture goes beyond marketing: “One of the biggest things that set Alder & Co. apart from other agencies is how deeply we care about the relationships we build with our clients. The digital marketing landscape can change tomorrow, but how we treat others is always within our control.” While they’re busy helping businesses take back control of their marketing, Mal and her team make sure to never lack compassion for those around them.

Panel Moderators

Chris McAdoo, Director of Strategy & Engagement, KEC
Chris has spent over 20 years building businesses, forging a successful art career, and speaking all over the country on the power of creativity and challenging assumptions. Chris lives in South Knoxville, and can typically be found in the woods at Ijams Nature Center. Reach out to Chris at chris@knoxec.net

Maranda Vandergriff – Creative Director, KEC
Maranda is Creative Director at the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center. She works with The Maker City initiative to build a support network for makers, artists, and creatives in East Tennessee. A maker herself, Maranda is also the founder and artist behind Vagabondary, a line of graphic products inspired by nature + nostalgia, and more recently The Iconic Bride, a wedding stationary shop for offbeat nearlyweds. Reach out to Maranda at maranda@knoxec.net

Amelea Everett, Program Director, Volunteer East Tennessee

I am a “volunteer” in several senses: I was born at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, I’m a graduate of that same university from the Haslam College of Business, and I am now the Program Director for Volunteer East Tennessee – a program of the United Way of Greater Knoxville. Volunteer East Tennessee’s mission is to inspire service by equipping organizations and mobilizing volunteers to connect with one another and strengthen communities. My role as Program Director is to recruit nonprofit partners, serve as support for all partner staff (from ~150 organizations), coordinate corporate or group service initiatives, engage partners & volunteers through email & social media marketing, plan hallmark events, and step in wherever else I’m needed for our growing organization.

Carol Evans, Executive Director, Legacy Parks Foundation

Carol brings over 25 years experience in marketing, public relations and event management to the leadership position of the Legacy Parks Foundation. During her tenure at Legacy Parks the foundation has raised over $11 million for parks, trails and open space. Carol’s prior experience includes establishing corporate marketing initiatives for the Scripps Networks and developing marketing and fundraising campaigns for multiple clients while with several public relations firms. Carol served as the first marketing director for the UT Lady Vols and led the marketing and communications efforts of the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and the Dogwood Arts Festival. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Georgia and a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Tennessee.

Cierra Bussard, Event Coordinator, Fun with Friends Knoxville

Cierra is originally from Silverdale, WA and went to Washington State University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication with an emphasis in Sports Management. She went on to receive her Master of Science in College Student Affairs with a concentration in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. During graduate school, she landed a Graduate Assistantship in Career Development where she created a career initiative for student veterans to help them secure jobs and internships. She moved to Knoxville, TN after being offered the Disability, Veteran, and Inclusion Initiatives Career Coach position at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She just recently made a career change and is now the Industrial Recruiter at Aerotek. In her free time, she enjoys being an event coordinator for Fun with Friends Knoxville, playing soccer, and cooking!

Panel Moderators:

Bailey Rose and Emily Stevens, Founders, New2Knox

Bailey is the newest to Knoxville, finally journeying from Texas to the Scruffy City in early 2019 and taking Knoxville by storm! She’s a big fan of local coffee, her adorable fur children, and discovering hidden gems at thrift stores. If you need someone to straighten your crown (or first find you a crown at said thrift store), Bailey is your girl!

Emily has called Knoxville home since her days at the University of Tennessee. She’s a big fan of everything from the fast-paced world of real estate to the low-key world of brewery fun runs (especially if those things are happening in North Knox). If you need someone to root you on, help you out, and then celebrate you big afterwards, Emily is your girl!

Speakers:

Ashleigh Christian, Director of Investor Development, Knoxville Chamber
Lina Kornmeyer, Market Executive, Bank of America Knoxville – Presenting Sponsor

Booth Andrews, Founder and CEO, The Booth Andrews Company, LLC.

Booth Andrews is a public speaker, entrepreneur, lawyer, strategist, business mentor and consultant who holds a vision for what people, organizations, and communities can become. She is the Founder and CEO of The Booth Andrews Company, LLC which helps build individual and organizational well-being for sustainability and impact in response to the mental health and burnout crisis. Booth is also Of Counsel at Morehous Legal Group where she works primarily with start-ups and not-for-profit organizations; trainer and consultant for the Alliance for Better Nonprofits; and a leader and mentor for the Women in Entrepreneurship Knoxville group, a program of the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center. Booth has three children who are her heart, and she loves fresh flowers, riding her road bike, swimming, naps, screened in porches, and barbells. You can hear more from Booth on the Freedom from Empty podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Audible or follow her on Facebook and Instagram @theboothandrews.

Caitlin Ensley, Senior Director of Education and Outreach, Mental Health Association of East Tennessee

Caitlin has her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and has worked at MHAET since 2014. With a family history of mental health issues, Caitlin has a passion for working with youth and decreasing mental health stigma. She works primarily with the Mental Health 101 program, which is a free youth education program that has been offered since 2000 and serves over 100 Tennessee schools and 30,000 students during the school year and gives students the tools and information needed to make a difference in their own life or the life of a friend. She has also worked with many community groups during her time at MHAET to educate the community to better prepare them to address any mental health issues and improve the health of our community.

Samantha Lane, Productivity Coach and Creator of Origami Day

Samantha Lane is a time management guru, with past work in public relations, higher education, and wellness. In 2014, she experienced a life-changing surgery that shifted her perspective on life. After years of juggling full-time careers and passion-based side-hustles, Samantha started Origami Day to help others bring balance to their busy lives. Samantha holds a BS degree in Public Relations from the University of Tennessee and an MBA from King University. When she is not helping others make the most of their time, Samantha spends her days enjoying life with her loved ones.

The Knoxville Chamber will be hosting three in-person programs between now and June 2022 for the young professional crowd. Summit attendees will receive early bird access to tickets. Stay tuned for details!