2025 Benchmarking Trip Resource Guide

WELCOME TO

kn ox vi ll e

contacts Alicia Gregory 270-625-1334

Kyle South 205-393-4496

SPONSORS

sponsors PRESENTING

GOLD

SILVER

TRANSPORTATION

MORE SPONSORS

sponsors WELCOME RECEPTION & DINNER

SmartBank

RESOURCE GUIDE

SouthMark Design

NONPROFIT SCHOLARSHIP

Ward Scott Morris Architecture

NETWORKING BREAK

BankFirst Buffalo Rock - Pepsi City of Northport City of Tuscaloosa

SUNDAY

suNDAY 3 - 5 pm

HOTEL CHECK-IN & REGISTRATION

5:30 pm

WELCOME RECEPTION & DINNER

7:30 pm

NETWORKING at your leisure

Marriott Knoxville Downtown | 525 Henley Street

The Vault | 531 S Gay Street

MONDAY

MONDAY 8:30 am

KNOXVILLE’S TALENT ADVANTAGE

9:30 am

NETWORKING BREAK

9:45 am

TRANSLATING RESEARCH INTO RESULTS

11:15 am

NETWORKING BREAK

11:30 am

DRIVING GROWTH THROUGH VISITORS

12:30 pm

LUNCH

1:30 pm

ELEVATING ARTS & CULTURE

Jackson Terminal | 213 W Jackson Ave.

Jackson Terminal | 213 W Jackson Ave.

Jackson Terminal | 213 W Jackson Ave.

Jackson Terminal | 213 W Jackson Ave.

2:30 pm

EXPLORE KNOXVILLE at your leisure

5:15 pm

RECEPTION

6:30 pm

DINNER & NETWORKING at your leisure

The Square Room | 4 Market Square

TUESDAY

tuesDAY 8:30 am

COLLABORATING FORCES FOR A SAFER COMMUNITY The Square Room | 4 Market Square

9:45 am

NETWORKING BREAK

10 am

LOOKING AHEAD

11 am

HOTEL CHECK-OUT & DEPARTURE

The Square Room | 4 Market Square

SPEAKERS

speakers Dustin Bainbridge unifiedtrack.com

Dustin Bainbridge is a seasoned entrepreneur and strategic leader with a proven track record of building and scaling successful software companies.

As the founder of Unified Track, Dustin is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence to improve student outcomes. Unified Track is an AIpowered student success platform that helps high school counselors identify and support at-risk students.

By integrating with a school’s Student Information System (SIS), the platform uses predictive analytics and large language models to detect early warning signs related to GPA, credit completion, attendance, and college readiness. Unified Track’s mission is to reduce student attrition and ensure that every student stays on the path to graduation and longterm success.

Charles Brandon blankbeauty.com

Charles Brandon is the Co-owner and CEO of Blank Beauty, a trailblazing cosmetics company that empowers customers to become creators.

Founded when Charles was just nineteen, the idea for the brand emerged while he was a business student at the University of Mississippi.

Blank Beauty offers fully customizable products, giving customers the power to design their favorite makeup items to reflect their personal style. With a background in marketing and finance, Charles has driven the company’s growth with a focus on innovation, user experience, and creative freedom.

MORE SPEAKERS

speakers Kim Bumpas visitknoxville.com

Kim is President of Visit Knoxville and a leader in hospitality and tourism with over 30 years of experience in hotel operations, sales, and destination marketing.

Since joining Visit Knoxville in 2001, she has helped position Knox County as the 4th highest-producing county in Tennessee for visitor spending. A University of Tennessee, Knoxville graduate with a degree in marketing, Bumpas led the launch of the Visit Knoxville Film Office, Sports Commission, and Welcome Center at the Sunsphere.

She holds both CMP and CDME designations and led Visit Knoxville’s accreditation with DMAP. Her work has earned her several honors, including the Women in Hospitality & Tourism Award and the Tennessee RiverLine Extra Mile Award.

Derrick Collins tva.com

Derrick Collins is a regional Economic Development Consultant for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), focusing on business attraction, retention initiatives, and site development programs across East Tennessee.

Prior to joining TVA, Collins served as President and CEO of the Jefferson County Chamber, where he led regional business outreach, workforce development and site marketing efforts. His community-centered background gives him a deep understanding of industry needs and local economic dynamics. Collins earned his bachelor’s degree from Carson Newman University, where he studied Mass Communication and Media.

He’s now based in Morristown, TN.

MORE SPEAKERS

speakers Lt. Angelia Daniels knoxsheriff.org

Lt. Angelia Daniels joined the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in 1994 after earning a B.S. in Marketing and Management from the University of Tennessee.

She began her career in corrections and later attended the Regional Law Enforcement Academy in 1996. She served in Transportation, Criminal Warrants, and as a School Security Officer. In 2011, she became a Cyber Investigator and was promoted to Detective, conducting over 350 investigations and completing over 600 hours of cyber training.

In 2018, she helped establish the Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU), which supports KCSO with technical investigations and outreach. She became the DIU Unit Lead in 2019 and was promoted to Sergeant 2 in 2021.

Dr. Shaun Gleason ornl.gov

Dr. Shaun S. Gleason is Director of Partnerships at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), overseeing technology transfer, commercialization, economic development, and research security. He has 34 years at ORNL, previously leading strategic initiatives in quantum, AI, and institutional computing, and serving as interim Associate Lab Director for Computing. He also directed two R&D divisions focused on cyber resilience and computational sciences.

Shaun holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee. He co-founded ImTek, Inc., a medical imaging company later acquired by Siemens. He holds 10 patents and has over 120 publications. He is a AAAS Fellow and Senior Member of IEEE. MORE SPEAKERS

speakers Gary Human tnecd.com

Gary Human is East Tennessee Regional Director for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

He oversees activities in a 16-county region, supporting business recruitment, expansion, and problem resolution. He has worked for the state since 2004 and previously served as a business development consultant.

Prior to TNECD, he held roles with the Roane Alliance and the Roane County Industrial Development Board. He earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Tennessee Tech and is a 1996 Leadership Roane County graduate. He lives in Roane County.

Sgt. Donny Huskey knoxvilletnpolice.gov

Sgt. Donny Huskey has 23 years of law enforcement experience with the Knoxville Police Department and holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He is assigned to the Central Downtown District and serves as the department’s special events coordinator.

He has worked with the City’s Office of Special Events for over 10 years and leads active shooter training for officers and civilians. Donny holds multiple instructor certifications in active attack response, terrorism prevention, disaster response, and tactical medicine. He is a fan of Tennessee football, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Boston Celtics.

MORE SPEAKERS

speakers Mayor Glenn Jacobs knoxcounty.org

After a Hall of Fame career as a professional athlete and a few decades as a small business owner, Glenn felt called to run for Mayor of Knox County to help others reach their full potential.

In 2017, Glenn answered the call to serve and was overwhelmingly elected Mayor of Knox County in 2018. As Mayor of Knox County, he has demonstrated strong leadership and a focus on telling the rest of the world what Knox County citizens already know: Knox County is the best place to live, work, and raise a family. He remains committed to creating opportunities for everyone to thrive in an engaged and vibrant community by prioritizing jobs, education, and recreation.

Troy Lane

safety.utk.edu Troy Lane is Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Safety at the University of Tennessee.

He previously served as UT’s Chief of Police and has over 30 years in law enforcement, including service as Chief of Police at the University of Wyoming and leadership roles at Kansas State University.

A U.S. Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm, Lane holds a bachelor’s in Management and a master’s in Criminal Justice. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and other advanced leadership programs. He has held leadership roles in multiple law enforcement associations and taught criminal justice at several universities.

MORE SPEAKERS

speakers Lauren Longmire knoxvillechamber.com

Lauren Longmire is a native Knoxvillian and graduate of the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business, receiving a BS in Marketing with a collateral in Supply Chain Management.

As vice president of economic development for the Knoxville Chamber, Lauren focuses her time on business expansion and attraction. Prior to that, Lauren served as the director of regional enhancement, working specifically in the talent retention, talent attraction, and workforce development fields.

Dr. Brett Malone tnresearchpark.org

The UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm announed Dr. Brett Malone’s appointment as President and CEO of the Cherokee Farm Development Corporation in September 2024. He brings over 20 years of leadership in research and commercialization, most recently serving as President and CEO of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, where his visionary leadership transformed a 200-acre campus into a thriving research ecosystem. Under his direction, the center saw a 50% increase in revenue within three years and expanded its footprint to key research hubs across Virginia, including partnerships with the prestigious Thomas Jefferson National Lab. Dr. Malone is known for uniting public, private, and academic sectors to drive innovation. His experience aligns with the UT Research Park’s mission to support research and commercial partnerships.

MORE SPEAKERS

speakers Asst. Chief David Powell knoxvilletnpolice.gov

Assistant Chief David Powell joined the Knoxville Police Department in 1998. He was promoted to Assistant Chief in March 2024 and Deputy Chief in October 2022 after previous stints as both a Captain and Acting Deputy Chief over the Management Services Bureau. Prior to that, Powell also served as the Field Operations Bureau’s West District Commander.

John Turner

knoxvillechamber.com John Turner serves as the Director of Business Attraction for the Knoxville Chamber, where he focuses on business recruitment, strategic industry targeting, and site development throughout Knoxville and Knox County.

In this role, Turner leads efforts to attract high-wage jobs and investment to the region, with a particular focus on key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, energy, mobility, security, and life sciences. His responsibilities also include supporting regional partners, and managing outreach to site selectors, corporate executives, and institutional investors.

Before joining the Knoxville Chamber full-time, Turner interned at the chamber for several years, giving him a broad understanding of the regional ecosystem and opportunities facing growing companies. John is a graduate of the University of Tennessee (Go Vols!) where he studied Economics.

MORE SPEAKERS

speakers Grady Vanderhoofven 3rootscapital.org

Grady Vanderhoofven is the Founder, President & CEO of Three Roots Capital, with over 25 years of experience in company creation and financing. He previously cofounded Meritus Ventures and Southern Appalachian Fund, which raised $53 million and invested in 16 companies across Appalachia, creating over 500 jobs.

In 2016, he launched Three Roots Capital, a certified CDFI and CDE focused on investing in low-income areas. The organization has raised over $200 million, deployed $163 million in capital, and received $95 million in New Markets Tax Credits.

Katie Wiley

studentsuccess.utk.edu Katie is the Director for Employer Development at UT’s Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration in the Division of Student Success. Her main responsibilities include with organizational functions including organizing and executing job fairs, creating and maintaining employer relationships, and overseeing our job and event posting platform, Handshake.

Before she was in her current role, Katie was the Assistant Director for Employer Development after time spent as a Career Coach for the Tickle College of Engineering in CCDAE. She was also an academic advisor in industrial engineering and the hall director of Fred D. Brown Jr. Residence Hall.

MORE SPEAKERS

speakers Liza Zenni

knoxalliance.com Liza Zenni’s career in arts administration spans nearly twenty years. Since 2002 she has served as Executive Director of the Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville, a membership-driven organization of artists, arts and culture organizations, historic homes, and arts aficionados in the eleven counties of East Tennessee.

Liza has performed as an effective advocate on behalf of East Tennessee’s arts and culture industry and is the Board President of Tennesseans for the Arts.

Kensey Zimmerman studentsuccess.utk.edu

Ms. Zimmerman has worked for Knox Education Foundation and Project GRAD Knoxville since 2013 as a college / career coach and team leader assisting in the oversight of postsecondary programming at Fulton High School. She also has taught Public Speaking as an adjunct teacher through Knox County Schools in 2016-2017.

Ms. Zimmerman received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies and a Master of Science in Communication and Information with a concentration in Communication Studies from the University of Tennessee.

ATTENDEES

attendees Councilman Anwar Aiken

David DuBose

aaiken@cityofnorthport.org

david.dubose@townsquaremedia.com

City of Northport

David Allred

STAMP Idea Group

Alyson Baxter

The University of Alabama alyson.baxter@ua.edu

Ben Baxter

The University of Alabama ben.baxter@ua.edu

Maj. Michael Baygents

Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa

Russell DuBose

PHIFER Incorporated

russell.dubose@phifer.com

Shelby Gandy

The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama shelby@westalabamachamber.com

Barkley Garrett

The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama barkley@westalabamachamber.com

Tuscaloosa Police Department

Lee Garrison

Dan Blakley

lee@fralan.com

The University of Alabama

The Frazer Lanier Company, Inc.

djblakley@ua.edu

Jheovanny Gómez

Rep. Ron Bolton

jheovany7@aol.com

Alabama House District 61

Jalapeños Mexican Grill

ronaldbolton1@gmail.com

Erica Grant

Councilman Lee Busby

grante2@yahoo.com

City of Tuscaloosa

Tuscaloosa City Board of Education

lbusby@tuscaloosa.com

Alicia Gregory

Capt. Lachlan Chronister

alicia@westalabamachamber.com

Tuscaloosa Police Department

Ashley Crites

City of Tuscaloosa

acrites@tuscaloosa.com

Brian Davis

Tuscaloosa County PARA bdavis@tcpara.org

Stephen Dethrage

Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa

stephen.dethrage@townsquaremedia.com

Neal DiChiara

Harwood Real Estate

neal@harwoodrealestate.com

Heather Dill The Alamite

The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama

Brian Groeschell SmartBank

brian.groeschell@smartbank.com

Richard Harwood

Harwood Real Estate

richard@harwoodrealestate.com

Amy Henderson

Kentuck Art Center & Festival aechols@kentuck.org

Mike Henderson

Kentuck Art Center & Festival mhenderson@tuscco.com

Paul Jackson

U.S. Postal Service

hdill@thealamite.com

MORE ATTENDEES

attendees Carl Jamison

Dr. Richard Rush

cjamison@jmf.com

rrush@tuscaloosa.com

JamisonMoneyFarmer PC

City of Tuscaloosa

Julie Jamison

Severn Sanders

Donny Jones

ssanders@tuscaloosa.com

West AlabamaWorks!

Tuscaloosa Police Department

donny@westalabamachamber.com

Marcel Scheeff

Katrina Keefer

mscheeff@ttlusa.com

DCH Health System

katrina.keefer@dchsystem.com

Claude Lake

Shelton State Community College

TTL, Inc.

Exa Skinner

Kentuck Art Center & Festival eskinner@kentuck.org

clake@sheltonstate.edu

Kyle South

James Leitner

kyle@westalabamachamber.com

Professional EOS Implementer

james.leitner@eosworldwide.com

Blake Madison Rosen Harwood

bmadison@rosenharwood.com

Susan Madison

Way, Ray, Shelton & Co., P.C.

Case McNeill

Right Space Commercial case@rightspacecre.com

Jordan Morris

Ward Scott Morris Architecture jmorris@wardscottmorris.com

Ellen Potts

Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa ellen@habitattuscaloosa.org

Jasmine Rainey Visit Tuscaloosa

jrainey@visittuscaloosa.com

The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama

Ryan Stallings SmartBank

ryan.stallings@smartbank.com

Jill Stork

Alabama Power

jsstork@southernco.com

Dennis Stripling

West Alabama Regional Commission dennis.stripling@westal.org

Dr. Karen Thompson-Jackson Temporary Emergency Services thinkhill@aol.com

Tera Tubbs

City of Northport

ttubbs@cityofnorthport.org

Glenda Webb

City of Northport

Matt Ray

gwebb@cityofnorthport.org

matt@embprosystems.com

Hays Webb

Nikki Ray

hwebb@tuscco.com

EatMyBeats, Inc.

EatMyBeats, Inc.

nikki@embprosystems.com

Brandon Ringer Ringer Wilks Co.

Tuscaloosa County District Attorney’s Office

Ashley Williams

Kentuck Art Center & Festival awilliams@kentuck.org

info@ringerwilks.com

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