Board of Commissioners

Appointed members of the board

Cynthia Gibson - Chair

cynthia.gibson@kub.org

Cynthia Gibson is General Counsel at Bush Brothers & Company, where she is responsible for board governance matters, legal and external affairs, business development, and is responsible for managing the company’s sustainability/ESG initiatives. Previously, Gibson was an executive at Scripps Networks Interactive where she was responsible for legal and business affairs, board governance, government affairs, and internal audit. She is also on the board of directors of The Trust Company of Tennessee, a privately held financial services firm. Gibson holds a Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia. She is a member of Leadership Tennessee, Class VI and Leadership Knoxville Class of 2013. She has been named among the Best Lawyers in America, received the Lizzie Crozier French Women’s Leadership Award, and was a Trefoil Society Honoree by the Girl Scouts. Active in the philanthropic community, Gibson has served on many nonprofit boards, including the United Way of America, the United Way of Greater Knoxville, The Episcopal School of Knoxville, Zoo Knoxville, and the Knoxville Area Urban League. Gibson and her husband live in downtown Knoxville with their three children and love family travel and outdoor activities.

 

 

Claudia Caballero - Vice Chair

claudia.caballero@kub.org

Claudia Caballero is President and CEO of Centro Hispano de East Tennessee. This nonprofit empowers the Latino community through education, workforce development, youth and family engagement, and resource referral services. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Catholic University of Honduras and an MBA from Vanderbilt University’s Owen School of Business. Caballero serves on numerous boards and committees, including the East Tennessee Development District, Knox Education Foundation, and Knoxville Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of Conexión Américas’ Mosaic Fellowship Class of 2018, the 2019 Class of Leadership Knoxville, and Class VII of Leadership Tennessee. She received the YWCA Emerging Leader Award, the Young Professionals of Knoxville Outstanding Young Professional Award, VIP Knoxville’s 2020 list of VIP Women, and the 2019 Knox.biz list of 40 Under 40.

 

 

Ron Feinbaum

ron.feinbaum@kub.org

Ron Feinbaum is the Chief Marketing Officer at PYA PC., a professional services firm based in Knoxville, TN, with offices in Nashville, Atlanta, Tampa, Charlotte, Kansas City, and Helena, MT. The firm serves clients across the entire country, providing expertise in areas such as accounting, consulting, and advisory services. Before joining PYA PC, Feinbaum was a member of Boldsquare, Inc., a multi-disciplined strategy and communications practice. He spent over 23 years at Scripps Networks Interactive in various roles, including Senior Vice President and General Manager of Consumer Products and Home Promotions. In this role, he negotiated contracts and developed marketing and promotional efforts for major digital initiatives like the HGTV Dream Home. Feinbaum holds an Executive MBA from the University of Tennessee. He has also served on several local and national boards, both corporate and nonprofit, including Random Acts of Flowers, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation.

 

Kathy Hamilton

kathy.hamilton@kub.org

Kathy Hamilton is a CPA (inactive) and an active member of the Leadership Knoxville Facilitation Group. She has previously served as the Chief Operating Officer for HealthCare 21 Business Coalition; Vice President of Finance, Administration, and Human Resources for the Shelton Group; Chief Financial Officer of DoubleJay Creative; Director of Finance at Connex South; and Finance Director of Knox County Government. Hamilton has a B.S. in Business from the University of Tennessee. A graduate of Leadership Knoxville class of 1993, Hamilton currently serves on the board of directors of several organizations including Leadership Knoxville, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, The YWCA Foundation, WDVX, and as Treasurer for the Executive Women’s Association. In Addition, Hamilton is a University of Tennessee Chancellor’s Associate. 

 

 

Celeste Herbert

celeste.herbert@kub.org

Celeste Herbert is an attorney with Herbert, Meadows & Wall and has over 42 years of experience practicing as an attorney. Herbert is also a Rule 31 Listed Mediator. She holds a B.S. and a J.D., both from the University of Tennessee and is a graduate of the Leadership Knoxville class of 2006. She served on the Business Court Docket Advisory Commission and currently serves as a hearing officer for the City of Knoxville Civil Service Merit Board and the Beer Board. She previously served on the boards of YWCA of Knoxville and Tennessee Valley, Leadership Knoxville, and as President and Vice President of the Executive Women’s Association. In addition, she served on the Board of the Tanasi Girl Scout Council for many years and was awarded the Thanks Badge, one of the highest honors for adults in Girl Scouts. Herbert joined KUB's Board in 2013 and has previously served as Board Chair.

 

 

Phyllis Nichols

phyllis.nichols@kub.org

Phyllis Nichols is the retired President and Chief Executive Officer of the Knoxville Area Urban League. She joined the Urban League in l994, following a career in public education and private business, and was appointed CEO in 2000. During her time as CEO, she expanded the Urban League impact to serve over 11,000 individuals and families annually through programs to provide a skilled and diverse workforce, increase and retain homeownership, support economic and small business development, gain certification of the affiliate as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), and advocate for equity and excellence in education for students of color. Nichols is a graduate of East Tennessee State University, The University of Tennessee, Leadership Knoxville class of 2003, and Class V of Leadership Tennessee. She has also received numerous awards and recognitions, including the “Be More” Person of the Year by East Tennessee Public Television, the UT College of Communications Diversity Award, the 2016 Lizzie Crozier French Leadership Award, the 2022 Jim Haslam Business Leadership Award, and the YWCA of Knoxville Tribute to Women Awards. Nichols was also recognized by The Tennessee Human Rights Commission and the Knoxville NAACP for her advocacy for civil rights and social justice.

 

 

Dr. Craig Pickett Jr.

craig.pickett@kub.org

Dr. Pickett serves as the Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he oversees all inclusive excellence programming, DEI-specific recruitment/retention initiatives, employee resource groups, and training and development for an organization of 8,000 employees. In addition, Dr. Pickett serves as a DEI Consultant and works with institutions, non-profits, and organizations throughout Knoxville and East Tennessee to promote inclusive excellence, authenticity, and a greater sense of belonging for stakeholders. Dr. Pickett earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Davidson College in 2008 before earning his master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2010. He completed his PhD in Higher Education Administration from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in August of 2022. He serves as the incoming Chair-Elect for Girl Talk, Inc., Vice Chair for the Knoxville Area Urban League National Achievers Society, and Vice President of the Knoxville Area Urban League Young Professionals. Furthermore, he serves as member of the Alpha Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and a Deacon at Overcoming Believers Church.

 

 

KUB Commissioner Selection Process

The selection process for Commissioner on KUB’s Board begins in August. The online application and more information will be available at that time.