Pull up a chair and pour yourself some coffee, because we’ve got news worth sharing.
The Leadership Blount Class of 2027 is officially official. Let’s Be Blount is thrilled to introduce this crew to you, and this is a bigger deal than it might look at first glance.
So go on and scroll a little slower than usual. These folks earned it.
Intentional Betterment through Dialogue and Shared Experience
Leadership Blount got its start back in 1990 with a simple, stubborn idea: that a community gets stronger when it takes its current and emerging leaders, sits them down together, and inspires them toward a lifetime of actually showing up. Not the ribbon-cutting kind of showing up. The roll-up-your-sleeves-and-fix-what’s-broken kind.
Thirty-some years later, that idea has grown into a body of over 1,000 graduates, a genuinely recognized group of dedicated leaders committed to the future of this county. Leadership Blount intentionally pulls together people from diverse backgrounds and walks of life in an intentional effort to bring different perspectives to one table so that our community can be better and more whole.
This happens over a year where classmates come together for a full day once a month to learn about Blount County’s industries, healthcare, education, and public services. Small groups also require to meet and address specific problems that our county faces. Many of these small group or whole class projects have become longstanding beloved community initiatives, including:
The Trinity Dental Clinic (’05), was started to help people find relief from dental pain and find hope and restoration that comes with full dental health. Since it’s founding, Trinity Dental Clinic has administered over 27,000 patient visits.
Shop with a Cop – Back in 2000, Leadership Blount alumni became the main source of volunteers for this one, and the Class of ’00 got it rolling. This past December, the partnership celebrated its 25th year. Twenty-five years of showing up. Let that sink in.
The Big BBQ Bash (’07) – Still firing up the smokers and still helping the McNabb Center to this day.
The Blount County Youth Court (’13) – A class helped establish it, giving young people a real stake in justice right here at home.
The Cherokee Health garden in Alcoa (’23), The downtown Maryville arboretum (’25), and The Alcoa Boys & Girls Club garden (’25)
Leadership Blount classes have historically made lasting impacts and we look to this class to make its mark on the future of Blount County.
Beyond The Flagship Program
Leadership Blount is a volunteer-run, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, guided by a Board of Directors and an Executive Director, with a whole crew of dedicated alumni pitching in on committees. It has grown into several programs, each doing its own kind of good work:
Leadership Blount: the flagship. A dynamic, issue-driven curriculum where class members build relationships, sharpen their leadership skills, and go toe-to-toe with the toughest issues facing Blount County.
Rising Leaders: the launchpad. Built for early-career professionals who work, play, or live in Blount County, this six-month, half-day program zeroes in on the skills that actually move the needle: personal leadership, communication, relationship building, conflict resolution, and more. The goal is to develop people who don’t just clock in, but thrive within their organizations. Twenty participants are selected each year. Read about this year’s inaugural class.
Discover Blount: the friendly front porch. An introduction to everything this area has to offer, connecting people to local resources and showing them where they can jump in.
The Leadership Roundtable: the brain trust. Ten alumni, nominated each year, who sit down quarterly with elected officials and community leaders to wrestle with today’s issues and dream up tomorrow’s vision.
None of it happens without the businesses and employers all over Blount County who back these programs and give their people the time to lead. So consider this a tip of the hat to them, too.
The Class of 2027
You didn’t come here for the history lesson. You came to meet the folks. And what a group they are.
Without further ado, Let’s Be Blount is honored to introduce the Leadership Blount Class of 2027. Get to know them. You’ll be seeing these names around this county for a long while.
Kyle Anderson
Company/Organization: Farm Bureau Insurance of TN
Title/Position: Insurance Agent
Hometown: Maryville, TN
Education: Maryville High School; East Tennessee State University
Community/Professional Affiliations:
Coram Deo Baptist Church – Elder; A Secret
Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee – Board of Directors; Blount County Public
Library – Library Trustee; Blount County Chamber of Commerce – Member –
Former Board of Directors; Blount County Young Professionals – Member – Former
Chair; Blount County Parks & Rec – Basketball Player-Coach
David Barrett
Company/Organization: 134th Air Refueling Wing, Tennessee Air National Guard
Title/Position: Commander, 134th Mission Support Group
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
Education:
The Military College of South Carolina, The Citadel (B.S. Civil
Engineering;) The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (M.S. Civil Engineering;)
United States Army War College (M.S. Strategic Studies)
Community/Professional Affiliations:
Registered Professional Engineer – State of Tennessee;
The Citadel Alumni Association – Lifetime Member;
Youth Leader – Knoxville First Church of God;
Volunteer Stroke & Turn Official for local Swim Teams
Holly Bennett Clark, AMP
Company/Organization: Clarkmore Lending powered by Edge Home Finance
Title/Position: Mortgage Loan Originator
Hometown: Greenville, Texas
Education:
University of Arkansas
Accredited Mortgage Professional designation by Mortgage Bankers Association
Community/Professional Affiliations:
Membership Chair & Future Leaders I committee member – Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association
2026 Knoxville Mortgage Bankers Association president circle award winner
2026 TNMBA Mortgage Banker of the year award winner
Title/Position: Director of Manufacturing/Plant Manager
Hometown: Lafayette, IN
Education: BS Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University
Community/Professional Affiliations:
Certified Six Sigma Green Belt
volunteers locally at Community Food Connection, Second Harvest and Habitat for Humanity
helps with local youth sports
licensed pilot
enjoys boating on local lakes with his family
Carissa Blackwell
Company/Organization: State of Tennessee Department of Health
Title/Position: Blount County Health Director
Hometown: Alcoa, TN
Education:
Alcoa High School-Diploma
Colorado Technical University Master’s and Bachelor’s-Healthcare Management
Community/Professional Affiliations:
Alcoa City Schools Foundation-Board Member
Blount Benefits, Street Outreach Services- Volunteer
Jackson Blankenbeckler
Company/Organization: Senior Helpers
Title/Position: Director of Business Development
Hometown: Maryville, TN
Education: A.S., Pellissippi State Community College and East Tennessee State University (undergraduate Studies)
Community/Professional Affiliations:
Blount County Senior Action Committee Member
Blount Count Health Initiative Member
Blount County Senior Resource Network Member
Blount Partnership Chamber Ambassador
Praise Lutheran Church of Maryville
PJ Parkinson’s Support Group Facilitator
Beau Branton
Company/Organization: Vienna Coffee Company
Title/Position: Director of Operations
Hometown: Maryville, TN
Education:
Maryville High School
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Maryville College
Master of Arts, Government, Johns Hopkins University
Community/Professional Affiliations:
Downtown Maryville Alliance Committee Member
Maryville College Blount County Alumni Association Board Member
Derek Brawner
Company/Organization: Northwestern Mutual
Title/Position: Financial Advisor
Hometown: Huntsville, TN
Education: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Community/Professional Affiliations:
Clark’s Grove Church — Cub Scout Pack leader and Adult Sunday School teacher
F3 — Active member and peer leader in leadership and fitness initiatives emphasizing accountability and service
Blount County Chamber Early Education Task Force Member
KARM Men’s Leadership Association (KMLA)
University of Tennessee Herbert College of Agriculture Alumni Council Member
Kelsey Love Caughron
Company/Organization: Clayton
Title/Position: Team Member Experience Program Manager
Hometown: Alcoa
Education: University of Tennessee Knoxville
Community/Professional Affiliations:
PTO Vice President of Alcoa Intermediate School
PTO Social Media and Graphics at Alcoa Elementary School
PTO Social Media and Graphics at Alcoa Middle School
Program Owner for recognition programs within Vanderbilt Mortgage and Silverton Mortgage.
Pamela Coleman
Company/Organization: McNabb Center
Title/Position: Assistant Director of Development
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
Education:
M.A. Social Entrepreneurship, Carson Newman University
B.A. Psychology and Religion, Carson Newman University
Karns High School
Community/Professional Affiliations:
Big BBQ Bash Event Coordinator
Fellowship Church
Junior League of Knoxville
Elizabeth Ek
Company/Organization: Stride
Title/Position: Program Manager
Hometown: Toledo, Ohio now Alcoa, TN
Education: BS, M.Ed.
Community/Professional Affiliations:
The Morning Cup, Toastmasters
Foothills Community Players
Brooke Everett
Company/Organization: Alcoa City Schools
Title/Position: Health Science Program Instructor, Alcoa High School
Hometown: Maryville, TN
Education:
William Blount High School, Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Education Specialist degree from Lincoln Memorial University
Community/Professional Affiliations:
Clark’s Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church – Elder – Pianist – VBS co-director – Women’s Ministry President
Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee – Board Member, Education Committee member
Scouting America – Adult Volunteer
Soul Train Ministry – Volunteer
Lads 2 Leaders – Volunteer
Krysti Franklin
Company/Organization: J. Danforth Mercantile/The Landmark and Massey Properties
Title/Position: Managing Partner for JDM/The Landmark, Design for Massey Properties
Hometown: Olathe, KS
Education:
John F. Kennedy High School diploma
Sacramento City College courses with continuing professional coursework in Interior Design and Artificial Intelligence applications for Interior Design.
Grace Galyon
Company/Organization: ICC International
Title/Position: Director of Marketing
Hometown: Maryville, TN
Education:
William Blount High School
Pellissippi State
Tusculum University
Community/Professional Affiliations:
Blount Co. Habitat for Humanity – Construction Couture Committee Member & Judge, Past Participant
United Way of Blount County – Clay Shoot Committee
EASA (Electrical Apparatus Service Association)
Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival & Games – Past Vice President & Board Member
Kyle Harris
Company/Organization: Maryville City Schools
Title/Position: Principal, Maryville Academy
Hometown: Maryville, TN
Education:
BA, Maryville College
MS, University of Tennessee
Ed.S., Lincoln Memorial University
Community/Professional Affiliations:
Springbrook Vineyard Church
Little League coach
Dr. April Herron
Company/Organization: Blount County Schools
Title/Position: Chief of Elementary Instruction
Hometown: Fresno, Ca & Louisville, TN
Education:
William Blount High School 2002
TN Tech University: Bachelors in Elementary Education 2006
Lincoln Memorial University: Masters & Educational Specialist Degrees in Instructional Supervision 2008-2009
University of Tennessee: Teaching Endorsements in K-8 & 6-12 Special Education
Doctorate in Educational Leadership 2025
Community/Professional Affiliations:
Foothills Church Partner, FC Students Volunteer, TAASE Board of Directors 2025 East Region Representative
Governors Academy of School Leadership (GASL) Mentor
LMU Education Advisory Council Member
Jina Holtzclaw
Company/Organization: Clayton Homes / Netforge Technology Solutions
Title/Position: Sr Network Engineer / Founder
Hometown: Walland, TN
Education:
ITT Technical Institute – AAS in Computer Networking Systems
Certified Range Safety Officer (RSO)
First Aid/CPR/AED certified
Community/Professional Affiliations:
Vice President on the Board of Directors for the FBI Knoxville Citizens Academy Alumni Association
Women in Tech
Knoxville Technology Council
Knoxville Technology Alliance
Blount County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy alumni
McGhee Tyson Airport Aviation Academy alumni
volunteer mentor helping students explore careers in technology
Stacey Hoxworth
Company/Organization: Blount County Schools
Title/Position: Principal-Porter Elementary School
Hometown: Millersburg, Ohio
Education:
1988-1994-United States Navy
1998 Johnson University — B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies
1999 Johnson University— M.Ed. in Education
2010 Lincoln Memorial University — Ed.S. in Instructional Leadership
Community/Professional Affiliations:
National Association of Elementary School Principals, TOSS (Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents)
Blount County Schools Administrators Association
Little River Watershed Association
Janet Hudson
Company/Organization: LifeWave
Title/Position: 3 Star Director
Hometown: Born in Munich Germany while my Dad was stationed there. Maryville has been my hometown since 1999. It is the longest I’ve lived anywhere.
