KUB

Cheryl Ball	Ball is the Chief Policy Officer for the City of Knoxville which includes leading policy initiatives for the continued progression of City goals, and community advancement through outreach across the diverse composition of residents, stakeholders, community partners, and businesses. Prior to joining the City, Cheryl led the Community Schools initiative for Great Schools Partnership and then Knox Education Foundation. She has worked equally in the private and non-profit sectors, has owned and operated her own company, and has strong relationships in the local and regional community. Her community leadership has spanned a wide variety of charitable and professional organizations. Cheryl earned an MBA from University of Tennessee and has a bachelor’s degree in communications media/public relations with a minor in marketing from Appalachian State University. She is Accredited in Public Relations (APR) through the Public Relations Society of America. Cheryl loves to explore the outdoors, garden, and travel. She currently resides in South Knoxville with her husband, Jonathan.
Isaac Collins	Collins is a proud lifelong Union County native and serves as the Service & Operations Manager for Bobcat of Knoxville & Bobcat of Chattanooga. In addition to this panel, Isaac serves on the City of Maynardville Commission, the City of Maynardville Planning Commission, the Union County Planning Commission, the Tennessee College of Applied Technologies Knoxville and Anderson County Advisory Councils, and Work Based Learning Committees for area high schools.
Tiki Dixon	Dixon holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Mr. Dixon has more than 36 years of experience, including his 22 years of service in the U.S. Army where his duties included serving as an Inspector General (IG) (responsible for organizational inspections, investigations, and audits), maintaining the chemical accident response program for the U.S. Army located in North America, and training personnel how to defend and deploy nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Since retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, he has managed engineering and environmental remediation services projects, particularly for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). As a Vice President within a Fortune 500 engineering company, he managed the operational implementation of programs up to $50M and 150 personnel. Currently, Mr. Dixon is retired from commercial work and is enjoying life as a pastor of Oak Grove AME Zion Church.
Misty Goodwin	Goodwin is Chief Programs Officer for the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee where she serves as an advocate for low-income individuals and families. She has more than 22 years of management experience and currently oversees a staff of more than 70 people in 10 different federally funded programs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Tennessee. Goodwin has served on multiple boards and panels, including Project HELP, the Mayor’s Roundtable on Homelessness, the Affordable Housing Fund Advisory Committee, the Office on Housing Stability, and the Knoxville-Knox County Homeless Coalition.
Laura Johns	Johns is the Senior Manufacturing Director for Coatings Materials with Dow Chemical. She is originally from North Carolina, and graduated from NC State University with a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Johns has been with Dow for 24 years in multiple locations, including Charleston, WV, Freeport, TX, and now Knoxville. Johns and her husband Jay have two children and enjoy spending time outdoors and traveling.
Claudia Mata	Mata is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico and has been part of the Knoxville community for almost 23 years. She became a leader in the community to advocate for more resources that she saw were lacking in the Hispanic community. Over the last 7 years, Claudia has been on the frontlines of creating a more welcoming Knoxville for everyone. In August of 2020, she became Centro Hispano de East TN's first Information and Referral Coordinator, helping Hispanic families across East TN access vital resources available to them to be able to fully participate in our community. Later, she became the Housing Coordinator for the Emergency Rental Assistance program through Centro Hispano and the Knox County government, which aimed to provide housing assistance for the Hispanic community. She then served as a Mobility Mentor in partnership with United Way and the Department of Human Resources. Claudia currently serves as Centro Hispano’s Senior Resource Coordinator, overseeing the Information and Referral Coordinator, Housing Coordinator, Civic Participation Coordinator, and Mobility Mentor.
Amy Midis	Midis grew up in Houston, Texas and moved to Knoxville in 1997.  Amy’s service to her community includes serving as President of Forest Heights Neighborhood and as a member of Bearden Village Council, City of Knoxville’s Public Property Naming Committee, Stakeholder’s Advisory Committee for Recode Knoxville and the Neighborhood Advisory Council. Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from Texas A&M and a master’s in business administration (MBA) from the University of Tennessee. Amy is a Financial Analyst at Covenant Health and an outdoor enthusiast who competed in 5 Ironman Triathlons including qualifying and completing the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii (2008).
Amy Nolan	Nolan is Vice President of Regional Enhancement for the Knoxville Chamber, where she oversees the organization’s initiatives that seek to drive regional economic prosperity by improving the business climate, infrastructure, talent availability and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Before joining the Chamber as its Vice President of Public Policy in 2016, Amy served for 10 years as the publisher and editor of the Greater Knoxville Business Journal. She also worked as then-Mayor Bill Haslam’s press secretary during his first term. She is a member of the Sycamore Institute’s Community Council and the Executive Women’s Association. She is also a graduate of Leadership Knoxville’s Class of 2013.
Dr. John Nolt	Dr. Nolt is Professor Emeritus in Philosophy at The University of Tennessee and a Research Fellow in the Energy and Environment program of the Howard Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy. Dr. Nolt graduated with his Ph.D from Ohio State University and began his academic employment with The University of Tennessee in 1978. Throughout his career, Dr. Nolt has published numerous books, articles, and briefs discussing environmental matters, logic, intergenerational ethics, formal value theory, and more. With his environmental ethics and animal welfare courses, Dr. Nolt worked with numerous organizations on student service learning projects including Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Center, Zoo Knoxville, Ijams Nature Center, and Friends of the Smokies. Dr. Nolt serves on the Executive Committee of the Harvey Broome Group of the Sierra Club. In 2024, Dr. Nolt was the Schweitzer Fellow in environmental ethics at Cambride University.
Dr. Stephen Smith	Dr. Smith has 30 years of experience affecting change for the environment. Since 1993, Dr. Smith has led the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) as its Executive Director. Under Dr. Smith’s leadership, SACE has grown to be a premier voice for clean energy issues in the region. Dr. Smith currently serves on the State of Tennessee Energy Policy Council and on the Knoxville Mayor’s Climate Council. He also serves on the board of Floridians for Solar Choice. Dr. Smith holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Kentucky Wesleyan College. In 2009, he and his family commissioned a 7.1-kilowatt rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system on their Knoxville home.
Brian Strutz	Brian Strutz, along with his wife Jessica, are the owners of the wildly busy downtown restaurant, A Dopo Pizza, and partners at the beloved Potchke. In 2021, Strutz was recognized as a member of the Knox News 40 under 40. He has served on the board of Nourish Knoxville and chair of the Knoxville Independent Restaurant Coalition. Strutz has a passion for the small business community in Knoxville as he believes the culture of our city is best defined by the people who live, work, and take risks here.
Janet Testerman	Testerman, a Knoxville native, is the CEO of Young-Williams Animal Center, the largest municipal nonprofit animal welfare organization in Tennessee. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, and Master of Arts in strategic communication from American University in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining the local nonprofit animal welfare organization in 2016, she spent nearly a decade in communications as manager of internal communications for Scripps Networks Interactive and earlier as executive editor of E.W. Scripps’ custom publications, Knoxville Magazine and skirt! Magazine. Before returning to her communications background, Janet owned and operated Testerman Cooperative Catering, a full-service, off-premise catering company for nearly eight years. Janet was elected to Knoxville City Council, At-large, Seat B in 2019, and has served on numerous boards including, Truist Bank Community Advisory Board, Metropolitan Drug Coalition, Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation (now Visit Knoxville), Bijou Theatre, Dogwood Arts, Leadership Knoxville and Young-Williams Animal Center for five years prior to joining the organization full time.
Yassin Terou	Terou is owner of Yassin’s Falafel House, a staple of downtown Knoxville with locations in West Knoxville and Alcoa. In 2018, Yassin’s Falafel House was recognized by Reader’s Digest and Good Morning America as the “Nicest Place in America”. In 2022, Terou was recognized as a member of Knoxville News Sentinel’s 40 Under 40. Terou describes himself as an America Syrian man who loves his community and is honored to serve on the Community Advisory Panel.
Wes Willoughby	Wes Willoughby is the Director of Utilities & Energy Services, Facility Services at The University of Tennessee. His previous roles at the university include Assistant Director of Utilities & Energy Services and General Superintendent of Plumbing.
Keira Wyatt	Wyatt is a native of Knoxville and Executive Director and Co-Founder of C.O.N.N.E.C.T. (Community Organizations Networking Neighborhoods Encouraging Change Together) Ministries, a faith-based organization since 2006. Mrs. Wyatt is a licensed Clergy with the A.M.E. Zion Church; She earned an MS from Johnson University in Ethics and Leadership and a BA in Psychology from the University of Tennessee. She is Retired from Philp Morris USA as a Territory Sales Manager after 20+ years of service and currently owns Wyatt’s Classic Caterers (since 1996). She has previously served on various boards including Leadership Knoxville Curriculum Committee (2016-2020), Come to the Waters, a youth summer camp program (2020-2022), Girl Talk (2012-2013), Community Advisory Board Atlantic Capital Bank (2016-2019), Johnson University Community Advisory Board-Park City Project (2009-2011), Founding Member of East Tennessee Reentry Collaborative (2011-Present) and Help House (2009-2011).

Account Heading

Community Advisory Panel Members