MEET THE TEAM
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VICKI BAUMGARTNER
Program Manager - Trails & Gardens
Photography by Caroline Trotter for the Scout Guide Knoxville
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE TEAM
ASHLEIGH CHRISTIAN | PRESIDENT
Knoxville Chamber
JAMIE DAVIS | TREASURER
Knoxville Utilities Board
KATHY BROWN | SECRETARY
UTK Dept. of Public Health (Retired)
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KASSANDRA RICHARDSON | INCOMING PRESIDENT
The Trust Company of Tennessee
ERIC BOWEN | IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Johnson Architecture
KYLE BASILA | AT-LARGE
Realty Executive Associates
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
RHEA CARMON
Rhea Sunshine Poetry
BROOKE CARPER
EventShop, Inc.
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ELIZABETH CARROLL
TVA
AMIE COHORST
Northwestern Mutual
DYLAN JONES
BoldSquare
BOBBY MCCARTER
Jackson Central Group
MARIA MCHALE
East TN Realtors Association
DREW MCKENNA
One Knoxville Sporting Club
ADRIAN PEARCE
WVLT-TV
ALFONSO CRUZ
Spray-Net Knoxville
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JESSICA EMERT
ORNL Federal Credit Union
RICK EMMETT
Emmett Consulting, LLC
ROSS GOODMAN
First Bank
DOGWOOD ARTS CO-CHAIRS:
Since 1961, two esteemed community leaders have been chosen each year to serve as ambassadors for Dogwood Arts. This longstanding tradition began alongside the inaugural Dogwood Arts Festival, following the planting of the first Dogwood Trail in 1955.
2025 Co-Chairs: Eddie Mannis & Cory Dickson
As Dogwood Arts prepares to commemorate ‘Seven Decades in Bloom’ in 2025, we are honored to welcome Mannis and Dickson into this prestigious leadership role, entrusting them with the responsibility of championing our legacy and guiding our vision for the future.
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In their capacity as Co-Chairs, Mannis and Dickson will serve as official ambassadors for Dogwood Arts, advocating for and supporting our year-round calendar of events and programs. Their leadership and extensive community involvement will be instrumental in furthering our commitment to promote and celebrate the art, culture, and natural beauty of East TN.
EDDIE MANNIS
PRESTIGE CLEANERS
WM HENRY
Eddie Mannis brings a wealth of experience to the position, having previously served as Dogwood Arts Co-Chair in 2006 alongside Brenda McSpadden and as Board President after that. In addition to these roles, he also co-founded the Art in Public Places Sculpture Exhibition with Bart Watkins in 2007. After working for years to help preserve the organization through some challenging years, he is excited to be returning to the organization as it is thriving to help continue the upward momentum.
CORY DICKSON
DICKSON MEDIA & EVENTS
Cory Dickson’s history with Dogwood Arts dates back to the 1990s when she performed during the opening ceremonies of the 1999 Dogwood Arts Festival Market Square. Over the years, she has remained actively involved with the organization, supporting its initiatives through sponsorship with Dickson Media & Events via the Alternative Bottle Project and clients like Dollywood. Her deep-rooted passion for the arts and commitment to community engagement will play a key role in her work as Co-chair this year.
PAST CO-CHAIRS:
1961 | Jim Talley | Goldsby Timberlake |
1962 | Harley Hallock | Virginia Hubbell |
1963 | Jim Dick | Missy Dickey |
1964 | George Nalley | Joan Rose |
1965 | Jack Kress | Mary Gillespie |
1966 | A.C. Massingill | Susan Brackney |
1967 | John Reese | Susan Greer Tisdale |
1968 | Fred McCallum | Marion Elmore Sterling |
1969 | Chili Dean | Betsy Roberts |
1970 | Jim Alesander | Nancy Gill |
1971 | Paul Slayden | Mary Seals |
1972 | Bruce Carson | Connie Baker Carson |
1973 | Robin Snyder | Margie Jones |
1974 | Paul Sherbakoff | Peggy Addicks |
1975 | Neal Culver | Cynthia Payne |
1976 | Bill Felton | Lynda Kennedy |
1977 | Bo Shafer | Betty Salsbery Campbell |
1978 | Steve Maynard | Priscilla Siler |
1979 | Jack Hardin | Beverly Lamb |
1980 | Tom Potter | Nancy Gettlefinger |
1981 | Walter Wise | Dian Cudahy |
1982 | Bob Eldridge | Barbara Apking |
1983 | John Hurley | Sue Clancy |
1984 | George Archer | Carole Pattinson |
1985 | Dale Keasling | Ann Julius |
1986 | Oscar Wise | Glee Carley |
1987 | Bill Tapp | Susie Fogle |
1988 | Colby Reeves | Gail Guy |
1989 | Dave Buckingham | Jeanne Eskew |
1990 | Mike Butler | JoAnne Witherspoon |
1991 | John Clark | Judie Luna |
1992 | George McCord | Becky Duncan Massey |
1993 | Gary Prince | JoAnn McCallen |
1994 | Steve Queisser | Judi Pedas |
1995 | Ben Cox | Rose Moseley |
1996 | Bobby Denton | Linda Workman |
1997 | Congressman John J. Duncan | Eleanor Sergent |
1998 | Charlie Daniel | Nancy Thompson |
1999 | Terry Miller | Jane Blakenship |
2000 | Dale Workman | Linda Powell |
2001 | Jed Dance | Nancy Wolfe |
2002 | Tom Ballentine | Ann Pope |
2003 | R. Larry Smith | Pat Murphy |
2004 | Larry Smith | Laurel Osborn |
2005 | Rip Creekmore | Susan Wyatt |
2006 | Eddie Mannis | Brenda McSpadden |
2007 | Bob Paylor | Dorothy Smith |
2008 | Terry Tjaarda | Terry Turner |
2009 | Alvin Nance | Maureen Bosch |
2010 | Mike Hammond | Jean Greer |
2011 | Brandon Clarke | Janet Testerman |
2012 | Mickey Malonee | Hallerin Hill |
2013 | Ken Lowe | Joan Cronan |
2014 | Bert Bertelkamp | Janet Testerman-Crossley |
2015 | Bob Thomas | Erin Donovan |
2016 | Eric Botts | Holly Hambright |
2017 | Dino Cartwright | Jennifer Holder |
2018 | Dino Cartwright | Jennifer Holder |
2019 | Clarence Vaughn III | Ashleigh Christian |
2020 | Mike Berry | Robin Wilhoit |
2021 | Mike Berry | Robin Wilhoit |
2022 | Bobby McCarter | Evetty Satterfield |
2023 | Adrian Pearce | Shanna Browning |
2024 | Kyle Basila | Kassandra Richardson |
2025 | Eddie Mannis | Cory Dickson |