IPS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Training Program Manager, MTAS
Job Titles:
- Administrative Associate, NCEL
Job Titles:
- Training Coordinator
- Training Coordinator of the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership
Adela Bonta serves as Training Coordinator of the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership (NCEL) at the University of Tennessee's Institute for Public Service. Prior to joining NCEL, Adela worked in secondary education and higher education for over 15 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in French and English from Babes-Bolyai University in Romania, a master's degree in English with a specialization in TESL from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and a master's in business administration with a concentration in human resources management from Saint Leo University in Florida. She has designed, facilitated and implemented retreats, workshops and various university programs. She loves learning and is a firm believer that effective training promotes individual growth, strengthens teams and improves organizational effectiveness. In her free time, she enjoys reading and taking long walks with her husband and their 3-year-old Golden Retriever.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Specialist, LEIC
Job Titles:
- Solutions Consultant, CIS
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Administrative Specialist II - Consulting, MTAS
I have worked at MTAS for over 35 years. My job as an administrative support person is constantly changing and challenging. The MTAS Consultants rely on me to help them help the Tennessee cities. I enjoy talking to city officials and have become friends with many of them through the years. There is probably no administrative job that I have not tackled at one time or another.
Job Titles:
- Training Specialist, LEIC
Job Titles:
- County Government Consultant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Solutions Consultant, CIS
Job Titles:
- Economic Development Team Leader, CIS
Beth Phillips leads the Economic Development Team of the University of Tennessee's Center for Industrial Services, an agency of the Institute for Public Service. Working with partners across the state, the team focuses on connecting businesses, governments, and economic development organizations with the assets of the university to grow Tennessee's economy. Phillips is also the Director of the University's EDA University Center, which leverages university resources to build regional economic competitiveness, help existing companies innovate and expand, and advance entrepreneurship and technology commercialization. Her team also manages the Tennessee Certified Economic Developer program, and coordinates its technology-led economic development efforts, including the SBIR/STTR (Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer) Assistance Center. Phillips has over thirty years' experience in economic and community development in Tennessee, including working with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to recruit new businesses to the state, support existing industry retention and expansion, and enhance community economic competitiveness. Phillips received her undergraduate degree in marketing and transportation from the University of Georgia, and her MBA from the University of Tennessee. She and her husband have two daughters and live in Knoxville, where she is active in many community organizations.
Job Titles:
- Solutions Consultant, CIS
Bill serves as the Solutions Consultant for sixteen counties in East Tennessee including Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union counties. Bill rejoined CIS in this Solutions Consultant role in July 2016. Prior to this Bill served in a variety of roles, both technical and managerial, in multiple Tennessee manufacturing companies and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Bill also spent 10-years as a Resource Consultant for UT CIS sharing his expertise in environmental, health and safety regulations, various management system standards and lean manufacturing. Bill is an alumni of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he received his bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1991.
Job Titles:
- Finance and Accounting Consultant, MTAS
Brad came to MTAS in 2012 after 5 years as the Finance Director for the City of Athens, TN. Before that he served as the Finance Director for Rhea County, TN. Previously he worked for CPA firms in the Chattanooga and Tullahoma areas. He has been a CPA since 2000. He is married to the stunningly gorgeous Beth Harris and has two incredible daughters. Hannah is 24 and lives in Pulaski, TN where she operates a video and photography business (yes, she would be happy to do your work). Katie is 12 and attends CHattanooga Christian School currently in the 6th grade. She was recently chosen by the UT College of Agriculture to star in a statewide video promoting 4-H camps. You can view the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5CDzrG2lKs&sns=em
Brad's passion is making a difference in the lives of other people - this is why he came to MTAS. In his spare time, he enjoys singing, and in August of 2014 will be inducted into the Tristate Gospel Music Hall of Fame. He spent several years touring the country singing gospel and some country music, and has performed on the Grand Old Opry and sang with artist such as Ricky Skaggs, Connie Smith, McBride and the Ride and a host of 'Gaither Homecoming' gospel singers. He is now completing a new CD (orders being taken!) and has previously been a part of several other recordings. He can be found on youtube singing with groups, but hell will freeze over before he tells you where to find these less-than-stellar performances (a cell phone 100 ft. from the stage recording a singer... PULEEEZE!) He enjoys golf as well, but realizes that playing 5 times per year is detrimental to breaking '90'.
Brad is an accomplished cook, once having co-owned a reestaurant with his sister (probably the most fun I have ever had in a job... before MTAS, of course!). He enjoys his 'Big Green Egg' and you are welcome to come over for a meal at any time.
Brad also works as a minister of music at the Wolf Creek Baptist Church in Spring City, TN. He has served in that capacity since 2001, and previously served in that role for three other churches. He sings tenor (like a full grown woman someone once said!) and enjoys singing with his wife Beth who is an incredible singer as well.
Job Titles:
- Training Consultant
- Certified County Finance Officer Training Specialist, CTAS
Brandon Marks, training consultant, started with CTAS in March 2022. Prior to joining CTAS, Brandon worked as a legislative auditor with the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury for nine years. He holds a bachelor of science in business administration with a major in accounting from the University of North Alabama. Brandon earned a master's degree in business administration from Tennessee Technological University in 2012.
Job Titles:
- Utility Operations Consultant, MTAS
Brett received a BS in Agriculture from UT in 1979. He spent 15 years farming in Loudon and Monroe Counties, 8 of those years owning and operating a Grade A dairy farm. Brett's agricultural experience uniquely qualifies him for providing biosolids land application assistance to Tennessee Cities and Counties.
Brett holds Tennessee Grade 4 certifications in Wastewater and Water Treatment and Grade 2 Collection System certification. Additional a Level 2 Certification in Industrial Pretreatment from the KY-TN Water Environment Association.
Areas of expertise include Industrial Pretreatment, biosolids land application, wastewater laboratory, wastewater treatment troubleshooting and optimization, filament identification, wastewater energy management, collection system management including infiltration and inflow investigation.
Brett has worked at MTAS 18 years and before that was wastewater plant operator a Sweetwater Utilities Board.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Specialist
Job Titles:
- OSHA Safety Consultant, CIS
Job Titles:
- Administrative Specialist I, CIS
Job Titles:
- Training Specialist, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Training Consultant, CTAS
Chris joined IPS from UT Medical Center (UTMC) where he managed operations of the IT Technical Support Center helpdesk. Before joining UTMC, he spent 21 years with Discovery Communications (formerly Scripps Networks) in a variety of roles including director of workforce systems and operations manager for information systems.
Job Titles:
- Grants and Training Specialist, MTAS
- Training Specialist at MTAS
Chris Shults is a grants and training specialist at MTAS. Chris joined MTAS in the Knoxville office as the Tennessee Municipal Benchmarking Project Coordinator on September 2, 2014. Chris graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a BA in political science in 2008. After completing his bachelor's degree Chris continued his education and graduated with a Master's degree in Public Administration in 2010, and received a PhD in Political Science in 2014 from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Chris' time at UTK has allowed him to participate in both the practitioner and the academic side of political science and public administration. His academic experience includes teaching various courses at the collegiate level both in the classroom and online, participating in academic conferences and working on research projects with the goal of publishing in refereed journals. His practitioner experience has consisted of gathering, organizing and analyzing data, generating state and local policy reports, and evaluating policy implementations.
Both paths have been rewarding and, as the grants and training specialist, Chris draws on both his academic and practitioner experience to develop grant proposals and develop and deliver municipal training courses.
Job Titles:
- Management Consultant, MTAS
I have been in the Fire service for 37 years. I became the first Haz Mat Inspector in the City of San Jose, Califonia. I am an OSHA outreach instructor and a Past International Association of Firefighters outreach instructor. I had a Occupational Safety Company in California, from 1990 to 2008. Relocated to east Tennessee, to be close to grandkids.
Job Titles:
- Criminal Justice Consultant
Job Titles:
- Municipal Management Consultant, MTAS
I grew up in the Washington DC. area. After high school I enlisted in the Air Force and served 21 years, living overseas in the Philippines and Germany. After the Air Force I went to work for the City of McKenzie, Tennessee as their City recorder and Finance Director. Before joining the IPS staff in 2010, I served the City of Clifton, Tennessee as their City Manager.
Job Titles:
- Management Consultant With the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Assistance Service
- Police Management Consultant, MTAS
David Moore serves as a Police Management Consultant with the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Assistance Service (MTAS), an agency within UT's Institute for Public Service. In this role, David provides assistance to municipalities across the State of Tennessee on all issues involving policing. He has served with UT MTAS since 2019.
Prior to joining UT MTAS, David spent a career with the City of Martin Tennessee Police Department beginning as a dispatcher in 1989 while attending the University of Tennessee Martin and ultimately retiring as the City of Martin's Chief of Police in 2015.
In 2015, David transition from a consulting role with Savant Learning Systems to the full time role as Vice President of the Law Enforcement Training Division known as Virtual Academy. In this role, David was responsible for product design and implementation, marketing and sales, and identifying subject matter experts and development of training to meet the needs of law enforcement across the nation.
In 2017, David joined the faculty at UT Martin as a lecturer of Criminal Justice in the Department of Behavioral Sciences. He served in this role until beginning his current role with UT MTAS in January of 2019.
David holds a Bachelor Degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin, a Master of Science Degree from Bethel University, and is a graduate of the 195 th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico Virginia. David served on the Executive Board of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP) for a decade and is a Past President of the TACP.
David lives in Martin with his wife Lisa. David has two children, two son's-in-law, and two grandchildren all living in Martin.
Job Titles:
- Senior Library Assistant, MTAS
Job Titles:
- Administrative Support Assistant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- PTAC Field Consultant, CIS
Job Titles:
- Training Consultant, MTAS
Job Titles:
- Associate at LEIC
- Training Associate, LEIC
Dereck R. Stewart serves as a teaching associate at LEIC. He came to LEIC after his retirement from the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Dereck's experience spans more than three decades where he served in or supervised every business unit within the Highway Patrol before his appointment as the 14 th Colonel of the Tennessee Highway Patrol in 2018. Dereck became the first African-American Colonel in the 90 year history of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. He has been influential in the law enforcement community as a whole-serving most recently on the Governor's Use of Force and Duty to Intervene Task Force, on the International Association of Chiefs of Police Board of Directors.
Dereck is a graduate of the Tennessee Government Leadership Program - LEAD Tennessee, the Tennessee Government Executive Institute, the FBI National Academy Session #230, the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Executive Leadership Institute (LEEDA), the FBI National Executive Institute Session #39 and the prestigious Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. He holds a Bachelor Degree from Middle Tennessee State University.
Job Titles:
- Criminal Justice Consultant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Fire Management Consultant
Job Titles:
- Accounting Specialist, CIS
Job Titles:
- Training Specialist, LEIC
Donnie Ross joined LEIC in June 2021 as a training specialist for the Community Policing Development: Rural Law Enforcement Training Center Grant. He served 15 years with the University of Tennessee Police Department (UTPD) where he finished as a lieutenant and led the Criminal Investigations Unit, Property and Evidence section, Strategic Initiatives Unit, and Records Section. He also served as the department's Internal Affairs commander, background investigator, Critical Incident Response Team commander, and Joint Terrorism Task Force Working Group member. He also spent time leading the department's Motorcycle Unit, Community Relations Unit, and K-9 Unit. He was a department instructor in defensive tactics, use of force, report writing, and arrest control. He also served as the Rape Aggression Defense coordinator training hundreds of women in self-defense strategies.
Ross is a graduate of the 255 th session of the FBI National Academy. He holds a bachelor's degree in sports management and a master's degree in sports management, both from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, and a master's of business administration from UT Martin.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Specialist II - Training, MTAS
Doug has been with MTAS since 2006. Currently an Administrative Specialist in the Training Department, he primarily works with the Municipal Management Academy and the Elected Officials Academy programs.
Doug has an undergraduate degree in Political Science and a Master's degree in Education from the University of Tennessee.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Public Service
Dr. Herb Byrd III was named UT Vice President of Public Service in January 2016. He served in the position on an interim basis beginning in September 2014.
After attending Harding College (Searcy, AR) for two years, Byrd received his bachelor's degree in Animal Science, master's degree in Reproductive Physiology and PhD in Educational Leadership, all from The University of Tennessee. Most of his professional career has been spent with his alma mater in UT Extension.
His UT career began in 1984 as an Extension 4-H agent in Monroe County. He then worked in McMinn County for seven years in Adult Agriculture & Resource Development while serving as county director. In a two-year stint away from Extension, Herb was a Vice President with Lads to Leaders, Inc. where he conducted workshops teaching adults how to teach leadership skills to youth.
After returning to UT Extension's state office in 1998, he was responsible for recruitment, personnel, and civil rights and served as Extension's affirmative action and EEO officer. In addition, he directed the Extension Evaluation and Staff Development department, organized July 1, 2003. Before his appointment as Interim Vice President of the Institute for Public Service, he was also the Human Resources Officer for the Institute for Agriculture. He served on the staff of the University of Tennessee's Leadership Institute from 1999-2019.
Byrd is co-author of THE Beef Cattle fIRM™ record-keeping software released through UT. Extension awards he has received include the Outstanding Young Agent, Achievement and various communication awards. For work in the community, he has received Chamber of Commerce Young Man of the Year, a McMinn County Commission Resolution of Honor and Commendation, and was honored with Herb Byrd Day at the Mid-East Tennessee Regional Fair. Herb is an active member of the Clinton Church of Christ, is board president of Teenage Christian Camp, and has worked with medical mission teams in several South and Central American countries with Latin American missions. He serves on the boards of Hillbrook Christian Association, Pathway Lending LLC, Tennessee Center for Performance Management (TNCPE) and is on the advisory panel for the UT System Executive Leadership Institute.
Byrd has been married to Resa since 1981. They have three children: Kristin Cole, Heather Reeves and Resa-Marie. Herb and Resa are working hard to fulfill a grandparent's duty to thoroughly spoil six grandchildren. That is reported to be his favorite job yet. He enjoys woodworking, fly fishing along with tying flies and building fly rods, and any other outdoor activity.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of the TN Language Center
- Executive Director, TLC
Dr. Janice Snow Rodríguez is the Executive Director of the TN Language Center (formerly the TN Foreign Language Institute). She holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration and M.A. in Spanish Literature. Dr. Rodríguez has been employed by TLC (formerly TFLI) since 1999, and is credited with researching and recommending a certification program for court interpreters for the State of Tennessee, adopted by the TN Administrative Office of the Courts. She is the Title VI Coordinator for the Institute, works on the TN Supreme Court's Access to Justice Committee for Interpreter Issues, and is a board member for the Metro Nashville Police Department's El Protector Program, and recently completed a six-year commitment as a Commissioner and Chair for the Metro Nashville Human Relations Commission.
Holding a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University and certified as a Cross-Cultural Health Care Program Trainer, she has conducted numerous cultural awareness and diversity seminars for social services, medical and law enforcement agencies. She also serves as adjunct faculty for Tennessee State University's (TSU) College of Public Service and Urban Affairs, teaching Human Resources, Organization Theory & Assessment, and Employment Law. She serves on TSU's advisory committee for International Education.
She is member of or professionally affiliated with a variety of organizations and associations including Sister Cities Nashville, the Japan-America Society of Tennessee, TN Latin American Chamber, Nashville Hispanic Chamber, Global Nashville Project, the Global Chamber of Nashville, Williamson County Chamber and the Nashville Chamber of Commerce.
Job Titles:
- Director of Organizational Improvement for the Institute for Public Service
Dr. Macel Ely serves as the Director of Organizational Improvement for the Institute for Public Service. Most recently he served as Executive Director of the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership (NCEL) at the University of Tennessee's Institute for Public Service. The purpose of the NCEL is to provide training and professional growth to leaders at all levels, from the emerging supervisor to the experienced senior executive. Prior to coming to serve in this role, Dr. Macel Ely, served as training manager for the University of Tennessee's Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS). During that time, Dr. Ely oversaw multiple training programs including the Municipal Court Clerk Program, Elected Officials Academy, Municipal Management Academy, Municipal Administration Program and the Certified Municipal Finance Officer programs.
Job Titles:
- Solutions Consultant Team Leader, CIS
Dwaine Raper leads the Solutions Consultant Team at the University of Tennessee's Center for Industrial Services(CIS). CIS is an agency of the Institute for Public Service, and the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partner Center serving the state of TN. The CIS Solutions Consultant Team provides industrial extension services throughout the state of TN, working with manufacturers and industry partners, helping them improve performance and profitability, and to grow. Before joining CIS in 2007, Dwaine gained 15 years of manufacturing operations and supply chain management experience with manufacturing companies in the automotive and electronics industries. Dwaine holds two business degrees from East Tennessee State University (MBA and BBA). He also maintains supply chain management related professional certifications; Certified Production and Inventory Manager (CPIM) and Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), both from APICS - The Association for Operations Management.
Job Titles:
- Consultant III, Legal, MTAS
Job Titles:
- Finance and Accounting Consultant, MTAS
Job Titles:
- Administrative Specialist, CIS
Job Titles:
- Information Resources Manager
- Information Resources Manager, MTAS
- INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
I am always looking to connect people with the information and assistance they need.
Whether it is people inside MTAS or Tennessee city staff or elected officials, I am here to assist through research, reference, and knowledge management.
Job Titles:
- Property Assessment Consultant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Management Consultant
- Municipal Management Consultant, MTAS
Gary is a Management Consultant based out of the Nashville office. He works with 44 cities, mostly in upper Middle Tennessee including cities in Stewart, Houston, Montgomery, Dickson, Cheatham, Robertson, Sumner, Wilson, Trousdale, Macon and Smith Counties, along with the City of Columbia. Gary came to work for MTAS in September, 1999 and has lived in Hendersonville more than 14 years. Prior to coming to MTAS Gary worked in Illinois cities for nearly 14 years, moving from the Chicago suburbs of Elmhurst to Streamwood as an Assistant to City Managers; to Forsyth and Dwight where he was the Village Administrator. Prior to entering the City Management profession Gary spent four years in the private sector.
Gary has both his Bachelors in Political Science and Masters in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University. Until retiring recently Gary spent many hours and years as a youth and High School Wrestling coach. Being a youth coach allowed Gary to develop a skill set for coaching and facilitating meetings with elected officials.
Job Titles:
- Solutions Consultant, CIS
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Solutions Consultant for the Upper Cumberland Region
- Solutions Consultant, CIS
Gordon is a senior level manager with experience managing and growing customer relationships, leading project teams to exceed customer, contractual, and corporate requirements, and creating and managing project schedules, resources, and financials. He has 5 years of Supply Chain Management experience coupled with 24 years of Project and Program Management. He has experience across a variety of industries, Automotive, Medical, Aerospace, Defense, Consumer and Industrial Elecronics.
Gordon is the Solutions Consultant for the Upper Cumberland Region. He helps companies and communities succeed, grow and create high quality jobs.
Job Titles:
- Information Specialist, CIS
Hannah supports the Institute for Public Service and its six agencies in the strategy, brainstorming, creation, production and implementation of graphic design and digital resources. She helps promote the mission and statewide impact of the Institute for Public Service through strategic electronic and print communication. Hannah graduated from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 2014 with BFA in Graphic Design.
Job Titles:
- Solutions Consultant, CIS
Job Titles:
- County Government Consultant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Municipal Management Consultant, MTAS
Honna Rogers grew up in Northeast Georgia. She graduated from Piedmont College in Demorest, GA with a Bachelors of History degree and from the University of Tennessee with a Masters in Public Administration. She previously worked for the City of Sevierville and as a Post Graduate Management Fellow with UT-MTAS. While at MTAS she worked with the cities of Cleveland, Athens, East Ridge, and Signal Mountain and the SE TN Development District and the Athens Utility Board. Honna spent five years as the Town Manager of Signal Mountain, TN before returning to UT-MTAS. Honna and her husband, Joshua, reside in Signal Mountain with their two children.
Job Titles:
- Authority Commissioner / Member American Institute for Certified Planners
Job Titles:
- Office Manager ( Former )
Job Titles:
- Database Consultant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Training Specialist, LEIC
Job Titles:
- Training Coordinator, LEIC
Job Titles:
- Program Enrichment Manager, LEIC
Jeff Lindsey joined UT's Law Enforcement Innovation Center (LEIC) Team in January 2016 as the Program Manager. In the Program Manager's role he is responsible for ensuring all of the LEIC's offerings, to include the National Forensic Academy, leadership, and specialty courses, are highly effective and relevant to the needs of law enforcement practitioners. Lindsey came to the LEIC after a 26 year career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During his FBI career, he served in a variety of investigative, tactical, training, senior leadership, and program/project management assignments in the field, as well as within headquarters entities. He had been an active FBI-certified instructor in several areas throughout his career since 1990. Of note, Lindsey served as a Supervisor, Instructor, and Program Manager in the FBI Academy's Physical Training and Firearms Training Units and the Leadership Development Institute. Prior to entering on duty with the FBI in 1989, Lindsey served as a Deputy Sheriff with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and as an Airborne-Ranger qualified Military Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army.
In addition to being a graduate of several FBI leadership and executive development courses, Lindsey is a graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff residence course and the U.S. Army War College Defense Strategy Course. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Carson - Newman College, a Master of Military Studies Degree from the Marine Corps University, and a Doctor of Philosophy of Education with a specialization in Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University. His dissertation research focused on the leadership development needs of rising law enforcement leaders.
Job Titles:
- Leadership Programs Manager of the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership
- Program Manager, NCEL
Jeff Stiles serves as the Leadership Programs Manager of the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership (NCEL) at the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service. Jeff Stiles served the citizens of Knoxville as an officer with the Knoxville Police Department for 28 years, retiring as a Captain. During his career, he served as a patrol officer, patrol sergeant, patrol lieutenant, police academy instructor, supervisor of the Field Training Program, Organized Crime Unit supervisor, Training Director, and Commander of Tennessee's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. He also served as a member of the Department's Special Operations Squad (SWAT) for 20 years. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. He is also a graduate of the Southeastern Command and Leadership Academy and the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy (Class 256). He completed his Master's Degree in Business Administration in 2014. For nearly 25 years, Jeff has facilitated and managed training sessions for local, state, and federal government employees, as well as numerous private companies across the nation. In his free time, he enjoys camping and hiking. He is married to Amy and has three children and three grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Program Administrator, American Job Center One Stop Program
Job Titles:
- Career Advisor, American Job Center One Stop Program
Job Titles:
- Property Assessment Consultant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Training Consultant, MTAS
Johanna joined the University of Tennessee's Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) in June 2018 as a training consultant. She is responsible for the Municipal Management Academy in East Tennessee and the Elected Officials Academy across the state. She joined MTAS after spending 10 years with UT System Human Resources in Employee & Organizational Development, where she held several positions including learning manager and trainer. In those positions, Johanna was responsible for managing a small staff of trainers and administrative staff; developing and delivering courses and program curricula; coordinating multiple conferences; and developing and overseeing a statewide training delivery plan. In addition to her time at UT, she worked as an adjunct instructor at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville.
Johanna holds a master's degree in adult education and a bachelor's in psychology, both earned at UT Knoxville. She is certified to administer and interpret the LIFO Life Orientations® and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® instruments. She also holds certifications to deliver FranklinCovey's Leading at the Speed of Trust™ and The 5 Choices to Extraordinary Productivity™.
Job Titles:
- Public Works Consultant, MTAS
John Chlarson has over 30 years' experience in a wide variety of engineering applications, having worked for government, industry, and private consulting. He established and ran a materials testing laboratory approved by the Corps of Engineers and the Department of Energy. He has also been the engineer in responsible charge for engineering offices for firms in both Tennessee and Kentucky. Mr. Chlarson was also a City Engineer, responsible, among other things, for a comprehensive Storm Water Management Program. He has had extensive experience in the design, review, and implementation of storm water control structures and measures.
John Chlarson was the lead in MTAS's role as the prime contractor for the Tennessee Department of Environments and Conservation's EPA Construction Stormwater Initiative Grant to develop selection criteria and training programs for stormwater Qualified Local Programs. John assisted Robert Haley, (former) Assistant Manager of the Permit Section of the Division of Water Pollution Control, in developing Tennessee's first Phase II Permit and NOI, and the Annual Report. John also worked with Sidney J. Hemsley, J.D., in co-authoring a statewide Model Stormwater Ordinance and a statewide Model Stormwater Utility Ordinance for municipalities in the State of Tennessee. John has also assisted in the presentation of several previous Phase II classes across the State of Tennessee. He is actively involved in monitoring developments in the NPDES Phase II permit regulations, and is the lead contact on Phase II for the Municipal Technical Advisory Service.
Job Titles:
- Municipal Court Specialist, MTAS
John is the Human Resource Management Consultant for cities and towns in the Middle TN grand division. He holds a bachelor's in management from Trevecca Nazarene University and a master's in human resource management from the University of Connecticut, as well as senior level certifications from IPMA-HR, SHRM and HRCI.
John has over 30 years of experience in management and human resources, with over a decade in local government in Tennessee. He has also worked in the transportation, automotive manufacturing, defense manufacturing, and consulting industries. Prior to joining MTAS, John served as the Human Resources Director for Portland, TN and White House, TN.
Job Titles:
- CCFO Program Manager, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Executive Director, CTAS
Jon Walden, executive director, has been with UT CTAS since October 1993 as administrator of information technology. He was named executive director on December 1, 2021. Jon served as interim executive director from May 1, 2020 to November 30, 2021. Prior to serving as Interim executive director, Jon served as manager of information technology & environmental services from October 2002 until May 1, 2020. Before joining UT CTAS, he was a programmer analyst with Columbia State Community College. Jon holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Tennessee State University and a master of arts in leadership and public service from Lipscomb University.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Support Assistant II, MTAS
Job Titles:
- Information Technology Administrator, MTAS
Justin O'Hara is the Information Technology Administator for MTAS. He has been with MTAS for 15+ years. Justin is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and has 30 years of experience in the technology profession. He has worked in higher education, banking, retail, and various small businesses. He specializes in network administration, network security, and infrastructure design. He uses Microsoft Intune for PC management as well as Bomgar as a remote connection tool.
Job Titles:
- County Government Consultant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Codes Administrative Specialist, MTAS
Job Titles:
- Municipal Finance Training Specialist, MTAS
Job Titles:
- Director of External Funding
Job Titles:
- CCFO Program Coordinator, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Career Advisor, American Job Center One Stop Program
Job Titles:
- Economic Development Specialist, CIS
- UT CIS As an Economic Development Specialist
Kathy Barber joined UT CIS as an Economic Development Specialist in October 2017. Her primary focus is to manage the Asset Based Planning initiative, working with rural communities across the state to leverage community assets for economic development.
Kathy gained her experience and passion for economic development while serving six years at the Oak Ridge Economic Partnership as Existing Industry Manager and Economic Development Project Manager for the Oak Ridge, TN community. She was also actively involved in workforce development, tech-led economic development, and promoting entrepreneurship, as part of the regional initiative - Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley.
Kathy grew up in the metro area of Denver, CO and earned her BS degree in Business Administration - Marketing from the University of Northern Colorado. She is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Oak Ridge.
Job Titles:
- Finance and Accounting Consultant, MTAS
Kay graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting. She has been licensed as a certified public accountant since 1993 and a certified government financial manager since 1996. Kay earned her Master of Business Administration in 2010 from the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Kay has over 30 years of experience in the government accounting, auditing, and financial reporting industry. She has worked at the Comptroller's Office of State Audit, Metro Nashville/Davidson Co. Internal Audit, Alexander Thompson Arnold PLLC public accounting firm and currently is consulting municipal finance officials for MTAS.
Kay has been married to Richard for over 30 years and they have two daughters, Rachel and Alyssa. Rachel graduated from UT Martin's vet tech program with a Bachelor of Science degree and is a Licensed Veterinary Technologist. Alyssa graduated from UT Martin with a degree in health and human performance. Alyssa is pursuing a career as a physical therapy assistant.
Job Titles:
- Resource Program Manager
- Solutions Consultant, CIS
Keith Groves, Resource Program Manager, joined The University of Tennessee, Institute for Public Service - Center for Industrial Services in March of 2005. The Center focuses on strengthening manufacturing in Tennessee to secure jobs for the citizens of our state.
Prior to joining the Center for Industrial Services, Keith worked in retail sales for 11 years and in manufacturing for 16 years. During the 16 years in manufacturing, he became involved in Lean Manufacturing and has worked extensively in Lean Manufacturing since 1995. In 2006, Keith worked in the development of a new program for the center called Business Transformation. This is a holistic approach to moving businesses into the future with the tools to increase their ability to compete in a global market and improve profitability.
In 2011 Lean for Government was a program implemented in State Government to focus on improving processes and to train state employees on Lean Methodologies, Keith has been the core deliverer for this process.
Job Titles:
- Training Specialist, NCEL
Job Titles:
- Energy and Environmental Team Leader, CIS
Job Titles:
- Training Consultant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Municipal Codes Coordinator, MTAS
Kelley joined MTAS (Knoxville) on November 4, 2013, as the Codes Coordinator. Prior to this, she worked as a paralegal in a private litigation law firm, focusing primarily in the areas of insurance defense and plaintiff personal injury/medical malpractice. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from UTK in 1990. To compliment this, she obtained her paralegal certification in 2005, as well as her advanced certification in 2006. She is very active in, and past president of, the Smoky Mountain Paralegal Association, and co-instructs the certified paralegal exam prep course through SMPA.
Job Titles:
- County Government Consultant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Solutions Consultant, CIS
Kenny Smith has more than 25 years of manufacturing experience in both Textiles and the Bearing Industry holding Quality Assurance positions from Quality Engineer, site level Quality Manager and multi-site Director of Quality. From 2004 through 2015, he helped launch NN Inc's Continuous Improvement (CI) program in their Erwin, TN factories that reduced manufacturing costs by approximately 2.5% of sales annually. Kenny is trained in the skills of lean manufacturing and TPM and is an ASQ certified Black Belt in 6-Sigma. He has taught these skills to students in Italy, Slovakia, China and multiple sites around the US and participated in many rapid deployment teams to help troubleshoot for the root cause of specific problems and eliminate or improve these problems.
In 2015, Kenny came to work for the Center for Industrial Services as a resource, helping the factories in Northeast Tennessee. In 2016, he began working full time for the University as the Solutions Consultant for Region 9, Northeast Tennessee.
Job Titles:
- Director for the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services
- TCED Director, CIS
Kim Denton serves as the Tennessee Certified Economic Developer (TCED) Director for the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services. The TCED Program provides quality training, continuing education and professional development opportunities for economic and community development practitioners and community leaders.
Denton came to the university in 2014 as Associate Director in the UT Office of Corporate & Foundation Engagement, which connects industry and foundation partners to opportunities in research, innovation, technology and economic development. Denton also served as Associate Director of Corporate Relations in the UT Haslam College of Business, where she built a corporate engagement program and managed corporate partnerships.
Prior to coming to UT, Denton spent 15 years as President/CEO of the Oak Ridge Economic Partnership leading the economic development efforts for greater Oak Ridge. She previously served as Marketing Director for Tennessee's Resource Valley (now ETEDA) and as Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications for PHP Companies (now Humana).
Denton is past chair of the Tennessee Economic Partnership, past president of the Tennessee Economic Development Council and currently sits on the CDFA Tennessee Advisory Committee and Blount Mansion Board of Directors.
Denton earned her B.S. in Marketing Communications from the University of Florida and is a Certified Economic & Community Developer. She is married to Dennis Denton, an account manager with WW Grainger, and enjoys sports, travel and antiques.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership
- Executive Director, NCEL
Kim Harmon serves as the Executive Director of the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership (NCEL) at the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service. A Tennessee native, Kim Harmon previously served thirty years with the State of Tennessee with the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration (F&A), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and the Tennessee Department of Revenue. As the Inspector General of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) in F&A from 2018 to 2022, Kim led OIG to identify and investigate TennCare recipient fraud by conducting timely, thorough, and accurate investigations. From 2001 to 2018, Kim worked at TBI, initially as a Special Agent investigating Medicaid provider fraud for ten years and then as the Special Agent in Charge for the TBI Training Division. Kim began her state service with Revenue as an auditor and then Special Agent. Kim graduated Carson-Newman College in 1987 with a BS in Accounting, and in 2017 with a Master in Public Service degree from Tennessee State University. Her leadership training includes TGEI, TGMI, LEAD, TBI Leadership Academy, Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange, and FBI LEEDA trilogy. She is married to a funny, hardworking, and smart man named Randy. She enjoys laughing with her family which includes two daughters, a son-in-law, and a very special grandchild.
Job Titles:
- Training Coordinator, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Environmental GIS Consultant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Manager of Legal Services, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Multimedia Creative Manager
Kristy Keel-Blackmon joined IPS in January of 2022 as the multimedia creative manager. A graduate of the University of South Carolina's School of Visual Arts and Design, Kristy brings over a decade of experience in graphic design, photography and communications to the Institute.
She is a published author with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and her photography has been featured across the UT System and with Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Center for American Progress, the Department of Energy, and beyond. Her design work can also be found across the UT System and at a local and national scale.
Kristy is passionate about creative problem solving in written, verbal, and visual communications and about serving her community. When not at work, she can often be found volunteering with her local nature center, animal shelter, or graphic design groups.
Job Titles:
- Solutions Consultant, CIS
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator I, CIS
- HUMAN RESOURCES
I have a Bachelor's degree in Organizational Management from Tusculum College and over twenty years of administrative experience in several areas including accounting, customer service and finance. My broad background has prepared me well for the challenges of a fast-paced work environment. My previous work experience includes positions with TVA, and Smurfit Stone Container Corporation where I held a number of positions of increasing responsibility. Each of these positions provided me with the experience necessary to succeed as an employee of the University of Tennessee. I have the desire and the ability to work well with a diverse population of all levels and my strong communication skills make it easy for me to build lasting relationships with those I serve.
Job Titles:
- E - Media & Information Specialist, CTAS
- Media & Information Specialist, CTAS
- Media and Information Specialist
Liz Gossett, E-Media and Information Specialist, joined CTAS in September 2012. Prior to joining CTAS, Liz was a research associate for the Tennessee Department of Transportation's Long Range Planning Division. She is originally from the Atlanta area and received a bachelor of science in 2007 in urban policy studies and a bachelor of arts in sociology in 2005, both from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Liz received her Master of Science in Information Science from The University of Tennessee in May 2015.
Job Titles:
- Municipal Finance Training Specialist, MTAS
Job Titles:
- Productivity Consultant, CIS
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Management Consultant
- Emergency / Fire Management Consultant
Job Titles:
- Executive Director for the Municipal Technical Advisory Service
- Executive Director, MTAS
Margaret Norris is the Executive Director for the Municipal Technical Advisory Service, housed in the Institute for Public Service at the University of Tennessee. She has been with MTAS since 2001. She served as a municipal management consultant for 16 years before becoming the executive director in 2017.
Prior to joining MTAS, Margaret once worked for the agency as a graduate intern. Her other experience includes work in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Kansas City, Missouri; South Pittsburg Tennessee; and Lumberton, North Carolina. Titles she has held include records manager, post graduate intern, finance director and city manager.
Margaret graduated Magna Cum Laude from UTK with dual degrees in Psychology and Spanish and she earned a master of public administration from UTC. She served as the Executive Director of the Tennessee City Management Association from 2004-2008. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Tennessee City Management Association, the National Association of Parliamentarians, and the International City/County Management Association.
Job Titles:
- Consultant With the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Studies
- Consultant, CIS
Martha Kelley serves as a Performance Improvement Consultant with the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Studies, currently focusing on process improvement projects for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
She also consults with a variety of business, non-profit, medical, and educational organizations. Current projects include: facilitating the Physician Leadership College of the Tennessee Medical Association, conducting teamwork and supervisory training for the Army Corps of Engineers, and serving as a consultant in strategic planning and change management for the Center for Nonprofit Management. She also has advised and continues to facilitate updates for the strategic planning processes at the East Tennessee College of Pharmacy, Anderson University, and Hardin Simmons University. In 2010-2011, she developed a centralized training plan for the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and served as project manager for the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence annual conference.
In 2007-2010, she worked with Rhodes College in Memphis, TN as they engaged in a re-engineering of student services using continuous improvement principles. Her duties included fostering teamwork, teaching classes in facilitation, customer service, and strategic planning, as well as working with staff in process improvement and their own professional development.
Previously she served as Director of Executive Learning Networks at Belmont University's Center for Professional Development. She designed programs, coordinated and directed professional development opportunities for various corporate and government groups, including senior leadership teams.
During her Belmont tenure she served as Belmont's Executive Assistant to the President, Assistant Vice President of Administration and Planning, Director of Quality Research, and Registrar. Her experience in these areas afforded her insight into organizational development and leadership of initiatives that improved the university's internal operations.
She served on Belmont's Senior Leadership Team and was actively involved in the development of the university's strategic plans. She established systems for collecting the "voice of the customer" and for the communication of summative and trend data to the Belmont community. Her work in facilitating the operational phase of Belmont's innovative "Belmont Central," a one-stop student service center, contributed to the university winning the 1997 RIT/USA Today Award for exceptional teamwork.
Her favorite assignment was the development and leadership of the university's "Lighten Up" team, a team focused on having fun in the workplace.
Job Titles:
- Career Advisor, American Job Center One Stop Program
Job Titles:
- Accounting Specialist, CIS
Job Titles:
- Training Specialist, LEIC
Job Titles:
- County Government Consultant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Administrative Specialist II - Consulting, MTAS
Job Titles:
- County Government Consultant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- LEIC STAFF Member
- Business Manager, LEIC
Job Titles:
- Resource Program Manager, CIS
Job Titles:
- Administrative Specialist II - Codes, MTAS
Nancy Gibson has been working at MTAS for eight years in the Municipal Codes Department. She works with cities and consultants regarding municipal codes and charters. Her duties include reviewing ordinances and compiling lists for inclusion in codes, producing new codes (and revisions) and compiling updates of existing municipal codes for cities. This includes markup, proofreading and all correspondence related thereto.
Job Titles:
- Solutions Consultant for the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services
- Solutions Consultant, CIS
Norma Wilcox is a Solutions Consultant for The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services. Ms. Wilcox is responsible for promoting the resources of UT CIS to business and industry in the Upper Cumberland Region of Tennessee. Ms. Wilcox previously worked with the Small Business Development Center at The University of Central Missouri counseling small businesses on marketing and promotion. She also helped create and manage MoPAL( Missouri Product Assistance Laboratory) at UCM. MoPAL provided quality measurement services for product design and development for small businesses. Her industrial experience was with The General Electric Company as a Sales Engineer for the motors and motor control division and with The Eaton Corporation as a product application coordinator. Ms. Wilcox graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. She also holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from The University of Central Missouri and was awarded the Lucas F. Sterne Outstanding MBA Graduate Student Award
Job Titles:
- Accounting Specialist, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership
- Training Coordinator, NCEL
Patrick Mills serves as Coordinator of the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership (NCEL) at the University of Tennessee's Institute of Public Service. Before coming to NCEL, Patrick Mills served as Training Coordinator for University of Tennessee's Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS). While at MTAS, Mills coordinated events statewide for the many programs MTAS offers. Mills has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Tennessee. He is an active member of the Association for Talent Development (ATD). Patrick Mills is from Maryville, Tennessee; he is an active member in the community and in his free time, loves being outdoors, traveling and playing golf.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director for the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services
- Executive Director, CIS
Paul Jennings serves as Executive Director for the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UTCIS). UTCIS, an agency of the UT Institute of Public Service, has the mission is to deliver solutions that help Tennessee businesses grow, succeed and create high quality jobs. CIS solutions address business growth, performance, regulatory and sustainability concerns and opportunities. Jennings has held positions with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, University of Memphis and Columbia State Community College. He holds a BS from University of Evansville, MPA from Indiana University, and PhD from Tennessee State University.
Job Titles:
- Management Consultant, MTAS
Job Titles:
- Training Consultant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Police Management Consultant, MTAS
Job Titles:
- County Government Consultant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- LEIC STAFF Member
- Executive Director, LEIC
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director for MTAS
Rick Whitehead is the assistant director for MTAS and works in the Knoxville office. Before being appointed to the assistant director position in November 2012, Rick served as a municipal management consultant for MTAS. As a field consultant, he worked an assigned territory in southwest Tennessee that included all of the cities located in Chester, Hardeman, Haywood, Fayette, Humphreys, Perry, Shelby, and Wayne Counties. Rick has been with MTAS since February of 2004.
Prior to joining MTAS, Rick served as a city manager in Tennessee and as a city attorney and city manager in Alabama. In addition to his experience in municipal government, Rick has professional degrees in public administration and law from Auburn University and the University of Alabama. He is a member in good standing of the Alabama State Bar and is currently licensed to practice law in Tennessee.
Job Titles:
- Customer Service Specialist, CIS
Job Titles:
- Administrative Specialist, MTAS
Sherri joined Institute for Public Service, Central Office January 2, 2007 as an Administrative Assistant. She relocated to MTAS November 5, 2012 to provide administrative support in accounts payable. Sherri received a Paralegal Degree in May 2006. Sherri was born in Northern Indiana and in 1969 her family relocated to Ft. Davis, Texas and then later to El Paso, Texas.
Clarence and Sherri married February 17, 1976. The Brown family moved to Knoxville in 1988. Clarence and Sherri have two daughters, (Kimberly and Rebecca), a son-in-law, (Jeffry), two grandsons, (Jacob and Jax), one granddaughter, (Karin).
Sherri enjoys reading, knitting and different kinds of needlework. Disc Golf and bicycling provide her with much needed exercise.
Job Titles:
- Financial Specialist, CIS
Stephanie Allen OHara joined MTAS staff in the Knoxville office as a legal consultant on January 1, 2010. Stephanie graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a bachelor's in business administration. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she interned with the U.S. Congress and Philip Morris USA. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence and Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. While in law school, Stephanie interned with Oak Ridge National Labs; Former Judge James Beckner, Third Judicial District Criminal Court; Chancellor Telford Forgety, Jr., Fourth Judicial District; Judge Benjamin Strand, Jefferson County General Sessions; as well as several law firms. Prior to joining MTAS as a legal consultant, Stephanie served as a judicial clerk to Justice Sharon Lee on the Tennessee Supreme Court and Tennessee Court of Appeals.
Job Titles:
- Utility Operations Consultant, MTAS
Steve has a Grade IV Water Treatment License, Grade IV Wastewater Treatment License and a Grade II Distribution License from the State of Tennessee. Prior to being employed at MTAS, Steve worked 17+ years for the Jackson Energy Autority in Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment and Natural Gas Supply Acquistion and Managment. He started working for MTAS September 1, 1998 and is based in West Tennessee but serves the entire state.
His Bachelor of Science is from the University of Memphis with a dual major. ()Vertebrate Zoology and Chemistry)
Job Titles:
- Fire Management Consultant, MTAS
Steven Cross is a Fire Management Consultant with the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS). After serving more than 30-years in local and state government, he joined MTAS on July 9, 2017. His duties include providing technical assistance and consulting services for municipal, county, and state governemnt leaders in areas of leadership and fire rescue department and emergency services management as well as serving as a resource for state-wide professional associations.
Steven joined the fire service as a municipal firefighter in 1986. He served for over 27 years with the Columbia Fire Department, the last 17 years as Columbia's Deputy Fire Chief and Fire Chief. Prior to joining the University of Tennessee, Steven served in the Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office's Fire Fighting Personnel Standards and Education Commission.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Fire Science Administration from Waldorf University in Forrest City, Iowa
Associate of Science in Fire Science Administration from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Alabama
Technical Certificate in Fire Science from Volunteer State Community College in Gallating, Tennessee
Emergency Medical Responder from the State of Tennessee
Fire Officer Level IV IFSAC / ProBoard from Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Job Titles:
- Information Specialist III
Susan joined the Institute for Public Service in January 2008 after spending three years serving as a communications manager with Scripps Networks. A native of Roanoke, Va., she graduated from East Tennessee State University with a bachelor's degree in communication (journalism). She also worked as a reporter with The Mountain Press newspaper in Sevierville, account executive with two Knoxville public relations agencies and as public relations director/assistant general manager with a minor league hockey team. She received her master's degree from ETSU in 2015.
Job Titles:
- Public Service Professional, Economic Development
Job Titles:
- Administrative Specialist, CIS
Job Titles:
- Training Specialist for the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership
- Training Specialist, NCEL
Since 2019, Tanya has served as a Training Specialist for the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership (NCEL) at the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service. Prior to joining the university, she served the State of Tennessee for 15 years in the Departments of Health, Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities, and Correction. Tanya has earned a bachelor's degree in Industrial Electronics, a master's degree in Business Administration, and a graduate certificate in Public Administration/Executive Leadership from Tennessee State University. She is a recent graduate of the Certified Public Manager program as well as a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory, and serves as an Executive Coach. Tanya has volunteered as a tnAchieves mentor for over five years and is a board member for two organizations - a local comprehensive health center as well as a nonpartisan organization established to engage, encourage and endorse qualified women to be elected to public office. She is a member of the Junior League of Nashville where she has worked on the Needs of Nashville and Advocacy committees, and currently serves as the Chair of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Education and Events. A native of Nashville - Tanya resides there with her husband, Andrayus, and their four beloved children.
Job Titles:
- Training Specialist, LEIC
Tim Schade Joined UT's Law Enforcement Innovation Center (LEIC) Team in August of 2017 as a Training Specialist with emphasis on the numerous courses facilitated and conducted by the LEIC and the National Forensic Academy (NFA). Tim came to LEIC with over 28 years of crime scene and forensic experience with the Knoxville Police Department. He is a Certified Latent Print Examiner through the IAI and has testified in numerous courts at various levels. He has also served on the Search and Rescue Team.
Tim has performed training for the Knoxville Police Academy and the Citizens Police Academy. He has also been a trainer for the NFA since 2001, taught DNA classes and train the trainer classes for DNA training. He also taught classes for LEIC in Forensic Applications to Bio-Terrorism, Forensic Training for the U.S. Air Force, Forensic Applications in Corrections, Crime Scene Management and Operations, Forensic Applications to Domestic Violence and Campus Sexual Assault, Forensic Photography, Latent Print Identification, and Latent Print Development.
Tim has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from San Diego State University, a Bachelor of Art Degree in Political Science from the University of Tennessee, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration also from the University of Tennessee.
Job Titles:
- Workforce Development Consultant, CIS
Tim's passion for helping people discover their potential has been a primary motivator over a career that includes 17 years in manufacturing and 10 years focusing exclusively on workforce and workplace development. Five years were spent in the nonprofit sector helping establish new development programs for marginalized audiences and studying the complexities of the greater workforce development system. In 2017, Tim joined UTCIS to assist Tennessee manufacturers with workplace development strategies. In support of these efforts, he facilitates training in problem solving, leadership development, and continuous improvement activities for internal workforce development systems. Tim earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Tusculum College and from the University of Tennessee, a master's degree in Educational Psychology focused on adult education.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Manager
Job Titles:
- HR and Operations Manager
- Human Resources & Operations Manager for the Institute for Public Service
Tomi Rogers currently serves as the Human Resources & Operations Manager for the Institute for Public Service (IPS). Before joining IPS, she served as an Extension Specialist in Extension within the University of Tennessee's Institute of Agriculture. She joined UT in 2001 as an intern in human resources and has gradually been afforded opportunities to grow her career as a human resources professional. Tomi received her BS in Human Resource Development and her MS in Human Resource Management, both from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Learning and Leadership from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.
In addition to her career with the University of Tennessee, she has worked for companies such as TEAMHealth, Amazon.com, and the University of South Carolina. One of her passions is helping other individuals grow through professional and personal development from topics such as leadership and supervisory skills, communication, customer service, mediation, mentoring, and strategic planning. She considers herself fortunate to have been afforded countless opportunities to share her passion of personal and professional development with others.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Support Assistant
Job Titles:
- Finance and Accounting Consultant, MTAS
Job Titles:
- Accounting Consultant
- Finance
Job Titles:
- Training Specialist of the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership
- Training Specialist, NCEL
Trent Clagg serves as a Training Specialist of the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership (NCEL) at the University of Tennessee's Institute of Public Service. Originally from Idaho, Trent Clagg has been involved in service and leadership for several years. He is the product of three generations of leaders and speakers. He is a graduate of Lee University earning a degree in Communications, with an emphasis in Telecommunications. Later on he received his Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University. He married Mary Hamilton in 2000, and they moved to Lenoir City, TN. In 2002, he accepted the position as the Manager of the Clayton Performing Arts Center at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, TN. After serving almost ten years, Trent accepted a position at Lincoln Memorial University to work in the Assessment department and successfully aided the Carter and Moyers School of Education in attaining the honorable National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Accreditation (NCATE). Trent has served in multiple leadership capacities in his career including a local non-profit where he has served as a motivational speaker since 2006. He has been a featured speaker at several camps in the Pacific Northwest as well as many venues in East Tennessee. He enjoys spending time with his family, discovering the outdoors, and horseback riding. Trent and his wife Mary have three beautiful daughters, Abby, Annabeth, & Amelia.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Specialist
Job Titles:
- Procurement Consultant, CIS
Job Titles:
- Health and Safety Team Leader, CIS
Job Titles:
- Municipal Management Consultant, MTAS
Warren Nevad has over 25 years' experience in municipal management in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Since 1999 he has served as a Municipal Management Consultant for the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS). He provides technical assistance to 48 cities in Tennessee. Warren received his master's degree in public administration from Florida Atlantic University in 1992. He also earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Georgia in 1987. Prior to coming to MTAS he served as City Manager in Sugar Hill (Gwinnett County) Georgia, Assistant Village Manager for Golf, Florida and Finance Director in Pahokee, Florida. In 2008, he cofounded the Tennessee Renewable Energy & Economic Development Council (TREEDC) along with the University of Tennessee President Emeritus Dr. Joe Johnson and mayors from Ducktown, Crossville, Gainesboro, Graysville, Tennessee. He also is creating a similar renewable energy network in the Philippines. He is a frequent speaker and presenter at renewable energy conferences and workshops Warren Nevad has over 25 years' experience in municipal management in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Since 1999 he has served as a Municipal Management Consultant for the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS). He provides technical assistance to 45 cities in Tennessee. Warren received his master's degree in public administration from Florida Atlantic University in 1992. He also earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Georgia in 1987. Prior to coming to MTAS he served as City Manager in Sugar Hill (Gwinnett County) Georgia, Assistant Village Manager for Golf, Florida and Finance Director in Pahokee, Florida. In 2008, he cofounded the Tennessee Renewable Energy & Economic Development Council (TREEDC) along with the University of Tennessee President Emeritus Dr. Joe Johnson and mayors from Ducktown, Crossville, Gainesboro, Graysville, Tennessee. He also is creating a similar renewable energy network in the Philippines. He is a frequent speaker and presenter at renewable energy conferences and workshops.
Job Titles:
- Communications Specialist, CTAS
Job Titles:
- County Government Consultant, CTAS
Job Titles:
- Training Specialist of the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership
- Training Specialist, NCEL
Will Porter serves as a Training Specialist of the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership (NCEL) at the University of Tennessee's Institute of Public Service. Prior to joining NCEL, Will worked in Training & Development and Human Resources roles at both Encompass Health and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). In these roles, Will coordinated training activities, assisted with leadership development programs, and served as a resource in employee development and coaching. Will received a bachelor of Business Administration from Auburn University and obtained a Master of Public Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). In his free time, Will enjoys spending time outdoors, tennis, and reading.
Job Titles:
- Training Consultant, MTAS