What is your vision for Knoxville 10 years from now?

An environmentally healthy, thriving community that is diverse and inclusive, where the cost of living remains affordable and social systems and government systems are working properly to support all citizens.

What is Knoxville’s Best Kept Secret?

The unexpected breathtaking mountain views throughout the city and county. For instance, the Cherry Street exit, Elm & Virginia Ave descent, and the panoramic view from Regions Bank in Bearden. It reminds me to pause and remember “our” mountains are steadfast even if the moment I see them is fleeting.

What would you do to strengthen Knoxville?

Improve access to mental health care, affordable housing, meaningful DEI programs, eliminate any food deserts in the city, & expand/create programs that directly improve the conditions of communities in poverty.

What is your favorite Knoxville memory?

My wedding in December 2012 at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens.

What is your favorite book or what book is currently on your nightstand?

I consume most books via the Audible app – reading about 35 or more a year. In physical form right now I am reading several Gardening Books, “A Year in Flowers” by Erin Benzakein is leading the pack.

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor, and who was that mentor?

The most formative lesson though was from my mother. When riding horses if you got bucked off it was a non-negotiable that, “you have to get back on the horse” – immediately. This lesson has woven itself through my life, popping up in my work ethic, my resiliency, and my ability to accept and thrive in times of difficult change. Even when I got knocked down, or when the odds seemed impossible at the time, I fought to stay on the “figurative horse’s back.”

What advice would you give to your 16 year old self?

You don’t have all the answers, trust your gut and truly work on loving yourself.