MEET THE TEAM
.jpg)
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)
.jpg)
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.
%20copy.jpg)
ELIZABETH CARROLL
TVA
ALFONSO CRUZ
Spray-Net Knoxville
CORY DICKSON
Dickson Media & Events
_edited.jpg)
JESSICA EMERT
ORNL Federal Credit Union
RICK EMMETT
Emmett Consulting, LLC
ROSS GOODMAN
First Bank
DYLAN JONES
BoldSquare
MARIA MCHALE
East TN Realtors Association
DREW MCKENNA
One Knoxville Sporting Club
ADRIAN PEARCE
WVLT-TV
ROBIN THOMAS
Consultant
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.
2026 Co-Chairs: Lisa Wiles & Matthew Cummings
Dogwood Arts is honored to welcome Wiles and Cummings into this prestigious leadership role, entrusting them with the responsibility of championing our legacy and guiding our vision for the future.
​
In their capacity as Co-Chairs, Wiles and Cummings will serve as official ambassadors for Dogwood Arts, advocating for and supporting more than 20 programs and events produced by the organization throughout the year. Their leadership and extensive community involvement will be instrumental in furthering Dogwood Arts’ commitment to fostering creativity, cultural enrichment, and civic pride.
LISA WILES
THE MORTGAGE GALLERY
Lisa Wiles is a Knoxville native, owner and Mortgage Advisor for the Mortgage Gallery, and proud Vol for Life who believes deeply in the power of community. She has spent her career serving East Tennessee while staying closely connected to the people and places that make it special. From mentoring student athletes to supporting downtown Knoxville’s growth and local nonprofits, Lisa is passionate about giving back in meaningful and lasting ways.
As Co Chair of Dogwood Arts, Lisa is excited to help expand opportunities for people of all ages to connect with their community through art, nature, and service. She believes there should always be ways for kids and families to volunteer, explore, and develop a deeper appreciation for the beauty and creativity of our region. Lisa looks forward to working alongside Dogwood Arts to celebrate what makes East Tennessee unique and to inspire the next generation to care for and invest in the place they call home.
MATTHEW CUMMINGS
PRETENTIOUS GLASS & BEER CO.
Matthew Cummings operates a glassblowing/sculpture studio and brewery in the Old City neighborhood of Knoxville, TN.
Matthew received a Bachelor of Fine Art from Centre College and a Masters of Fine Art from Illinois State University; one of the oldest glass programs in the US. Matthew leads a multifaceted life, alternating between contemporary art, product design, beverage production, photography, music, and illustration, allowing each to influence the other.
On the Art side, he has exhibited nationally including SOFA Chicago and Glass Weekend at Wheaton. As for product design, Matthew is an industry-leading designer for craft beverage glassware design, founding Pretentious Glass Co in 2012, and the award-winning Pretentious Beer Co in 2016. The combination of these many worlds leads to glassware designs that are sculpturally based and take into account the physical act of consumption; and Art objects that take into account the viewer and everyday interaction with the sculpture.
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 |