Communities
Chancellor’s Associates
The Chancellor’s Associates program brings together local business and community leaders to learn more about the university, provide feedback to university administration on an array of important topics, and serve as key advocates and supporters to enhance the university’s reputation in the greater-Knoxville area and beyond.
The Chancellor’s Associates program began in 1972, and since that time, the university and the community have greatly benefited from the relationships developed through this program.
Leadership
Nicki Collett is the Chair of the program for the 2026-27 academic year. Nicki is the Senior Director of Advancement for the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville.
David McMillan (‘92) is the Chair-Elect of the program for the 2026-27 academic year. David is the President of PYA Accountants and Advisors in Knoxville.
Linda Sullivan (’93, ’94) is the immediate-past chair of the program for the 2026-27 academic year. Linda is a community leader and volunteer in Knoxville.
Membership
Nominations for the 2027 new member class of Chancellor’s Associates will open in January 2027. At that time, nominations may be completed here.
Chancellor’s Associates members serve three-year terms. Nominations are accepted each year, and approximately 30 new members are selected to join each new member class by a committee of current members.
The Chancellor’s Associates meet one morning per month during the academic year (September through May). University representation at each meeting includes the chancellor, vice chancellors, deans, UT students and other campus leaders.
Questions? Contact Eric Haag – Executive Director of Alumni Relations
- Nicki Collett – Chair
- David McMillan (‘92) – Chair-Elect
- Linda Sullivan (’93, ’94) – Immediate-Pat Chair
Michelle Amelse
Amelse and Edmonds CPAs
Owner and President
Callie Archer
Junior Achievement of East Tennessee, Inc
President
Ursula Bailey
Law Office of Ursula Bailey
Attorney
Gregory Coleman
Milberg, Coleman, Bryson, Phillips & Grossman
Senior Partner
Manny Cummings
Dell Inc.
Account Executive, East Tennessee
Houston Daughtery
Cannon & Cannon
President/CEO
Jessica Doppelt
PigeonForge.com, LLC
Owner, Founder & CEO
Ron Feinbaum
PYA, PC
Chief Marketing Officer
Colby Fleming
Pilot Travel Centers
Director of Strategy & Execution
Erin Freeman
Ackermann Marketing & PR
Senior Vice President
Mark Hamm
Petra Capital Partners / Centerline Healthcare Partners/ The Vein Company
Partner & Executive Chairman
Trudy Hughes
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Chief Executive Officer
Rachel Hurt
Arnett, Baker, Draper & Hagood, LLP
Partner
Shannon Jackson
Knox County Schools
Executive Director of College and Career Readiness
Parinda Khatri
Cherokee Health Systems
Chief Executive Officer
Pierce LaMacchia
K Brew, Bishop & Co.
Owner & CEO
Buck Lewis
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell
Partner
Rachel Lokitz
Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)
Chief Legal and Risk Officer
Drew McKenna
One Knox SC
Managing Partner
David McMillan
PYA, PC
Managing Principal of Consulting and Firm Chief Financial Officer
Ryan McNally
Appalachian Title Company, Long, Ragsdale & Waters, P.C.
President
Dani Miller
Lauderdale Design Group
Principal/Owner
Liz Nother
Goodwill Industries-Knoxville, Inc.
President/CEO
Carey Parker
LHP Capital
Chief Executive Officer
Carol Seamons
Spark Innovation Center and Community Volunteer
Director of Engagement
Charley Sexton
MoxCar Marketing + Communications
Partner and Chief Creative Officer
Ed St. Clair
(Retired) Y-12 Lockheed Martin
Director of Engineering for Lockheed Martin
Professional Project Services Consultant
Charles Swanson
City of Knoxville
Law Director
Blake Valentine
United Way of Greater Knoxville
Chief Financial Officer
Lauren Vassallo
Knox County Criminal Court, 6th Judicial District
Criminal Court Jury Coordinator
Ellie Whitesell
Ambius
Account Executive
Angie Wilson
UT Knoxville Division of Enrollment Management
Director of Campus & Community Partnerships
Anthony Wilson
University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine
Chair of Family Medicine; Chief of the Division of Family Medicine
Hal Bibee, Jr.
21st Mortgage Corporation
Chief Financial Officer
Joel Christopher
Knoxville News Sentinel
Executive Editor
Ryan Dobbs
BarberMcMurry Architects
President
Jon Dockery
LeConte Wealth Management
Partner
Warren Dockter
East Tennessee Historical Society
CEO/President
Nikki Elliott
Partner & CFO | Elliott Advisory Group
CPA
Leslie Elmore
Elmore, Stone & Caffey, PLLC and Blink Lash & Beauty Bar, LLC
Firm Administrator/Owner
LeeAnn Foster
Team Foster Strategy
Head Coach/Chief Energy Officer
Britton Garrett
iO Urology
Founder and CEO
Jill Green
Green Meadows Partners
Co-Founder
Michael Grider
Foothills Strategies
Owner
Hannah Hopper
Emerald Youth Foundation
Chief of Staff
Howie Howington
Cool Beans, SoKno Taco, Central Flats & Taps, Sevier Ave. Burger Company
Owner
Sherry Jenkins
Dogwood Arts
Executive Director
Ellie Kittrell
East Tennessee – Community Design Center
Executive Director
Samantha Lacy
Leadership Knoxville
Director, Strategic Partnerships & Engagement
Aaron Love
Kiewit Nuclear Solutions
Vice President of Nuclear Engineering
Barry Mathis
Vitruvian Health
VP and Chief Technology Officer
Bridget Mounger
Pinnacle Financial Partners
Senior Vice President
Christy Overton
Former Elementary School Teacher and Community Volunteer
Mark Pancratz
Axiom Wealth Management – Northwestern Mutual
Managing Director, Partner, Private Wealth Advisor
Chris Parrott
FirstBank
Senior Vice President/Regional Marketing Manager
Taylor Phipps
A Step Ahead Foundation of East Tennessee
Executive Director
Sam Pittenger
Harrison Construction
VP and General Manager, Ready Mix Concrete Division
Tim Reynolds
Second Presbyterian Church
Pastor/Head of Staff
Hancen Sale
Reworld
Director of Federal Government Relations
Christy Seals
Knox County Schools
College & Career Specialist
Mark Taylor
Dominion
Chief Executive Officer
Grady Vanderhoofven
Three Roots Capital
President & CEO
Jason Wakley
Pilot Flying J
Director – Cooler & Grocery
Kenyon Warren
UT Federal Credit Union
President/CEO
John Winters
Kramer Rayson LLP
Partner in Law Firm
Andy Adams
Summit Medical Group
Partner, Internal Medicine Physician
Tavis Bailey
Printing Image
Owner
Shea Bane
American Heart Association
Development Director
Tyler Boldin
Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee
Chief Executive Officer
Jessica Boone
UT Medical Center
CRNA – Nurse Anesthetist
Lauren Bowman
Cherokee Distributing
Vice President
Shanna Browning
First Century Bank
Community Outreach Manager
Lavonda Cantrell
Hillcrest Healthcare
VP of Hillcrest Healthcare Foundation, and Director of Marketing
Lindsay Cates
The Trust Company of Tennessee
Vice President, Marketing and Strategy
Jim Caughorn
Graphic Creations
President
Dasan Dix
Pinnacle Financial Partners
Treasury Management Manager
Jennifer Enderson
Emory Valley Center
President
Anne Fitz Templeton
The Maker City & Knoxville Entrepreneur Center + Knox County Board of Education
Director of Maker Initiatives + District 2 Board Member
Maury Ford
Jessup & Associates
Executive VP of Sales and Operations
Brooke Greene
Bush Brothers & Company
Chief Financial Officer
Scott Hamilton
Parkwest Medical Center
VP and Chief Financial Officer
Roger Harb
HP Video Production Services & Studios
General Manager
Rusty Harmon
SmartBank
Senior Vice President, Private Banker
Anne Hewitt
UT Federal Credit Union
Chief Retail Officer
Susan Hubbard
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Lab Deputy for Science and Technology
Sarah Keith
District Attorney General’s Office, Seventh District
Assistant District Attorney General
Indya Kincannon
City of Knoxville
Mayor
Yvonnca Landes
The Landes Team/Realtor and
Turning Knox Rental/CEO
Brian Light
ML Trinity Group LLC/President
Boda LLC/Member
Sweetgrass Investments LLC/Member
Jennifer Marler
PetSafe Brands
Vice President, Market Strategy & Planning
Trey McAdams
State Farm
Agency Owner
Paige Parrott
Slamdot Web Design
Digital Sales Manager
Brooke Phillips
Brooke Phillips Designs / Alchemy Lounge & Cigar, Bertie Rose Cafe’,Harold’s Bar, the Royal Spud
Owner & Principle Designer / Owner & Creative Director
Bert Robinson
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Senior State Director, Government and Community Relations
Culver Schmid
Baker Donelson
Office Managing Shareholder
Kasey Sliger
Cosmetic Dentistry of Knoxville
Owner/General Dentist
Bill Street
Zoo Knoxville
President & CEO
Jolyon (JD) Sullivan
Image Matters, Inc.
President
Lance Taylor
ByLT
Partner and Chief Sales Officer
Glenn Thackston
The Vol Network
Executive Director
Brent Trentham
TSG Financial Advisors/Ameriprise Financial Company
CEO
