People

Michael Clark has been selected as the new director of community and economic development for the town of Collierville. Clark’s first day will be Aug. 5, 2024. Clark brings more than two decades of experience in urban and regional planning, community development, and economic growth strategies to...

Don Teal has retired as police chief of Martin. Teal began his career in 1983 and has 41 years of experience with the Martin Police Department. Throughout his career, Teal has been involved in every area of the department before being named chief in 2015. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education...

Steve Bower has been named the new economic development director for the city of Kingsport. Bower served in the Tennessee National Guard as a cavalry scout from 2015 to 2021. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in public administration, both from East Tennessee State...

Rydell Wesson has retired as city manager of Dickson following 32 years of service to the city. Wesson began his career with the city of Dickson as an assistant building official in the Dickson Office of Planning and Zoning in 1988. Two years later, he returned to his hometown of Savannah to serve...

Richard Hickey, chief of police for the Brentwood Police Department, has announced his decision to retire next year after more than 34 years in law enforcement. Hickey has been with BPD since 1991 when he joined as a patrol officer. He has since served in numerous capacities including as a field...

Ryan Ewalt has been named the city of Chattanooga’s new chief strategy and innovation officer. Ewalt has been serving as the city’s chief operating officer since November 2021. Prior to that, he spent seven years at Unum and four years at Volkswagen in various project management and operations roles...

Dr. Derek Anderson has been named the new director of the Chattanooga Mayors Office of Community Health by Mayor Tim Kelly. Anderson comes to Chattanooga from San Antonio, Texas, where he has served as program director of the Bexar County Community Health Collaborative since 2022. He holds a...

Bruce Guyton, retired federal judge, has been selected as the deputy chief overseeing the Knoxville Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards. Guyton previously served as U.S. magistrate judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee for 20 years, retiring in 2022. Prior to that, he was a...

Scott Bonk has been selected as the new city recorder of Charleston following the departure of longtime City Recorder Janet Newport. Bonk is owner of Tennessee Technology Solutions, which operates in downtown Charleston. He served in the U.S. Navy’s Aviation Maintenance Administration in systems...

Brandy Bishop has been named the new city manager of Charleston after the departure of longtime City Manager Caroline Geren. Bishop had been serving as the assistant to the city manager prior to her appointment. Bishop was initially hired to help with the transition to the new Charleston City Hall...

Jeffrey Peach has been appointed interim town manager for the town of Smyrna following the retirement of longtime Town Manager Brian Hercules. Peach presently serves as the town’s attorney. Peach has also spent 28 years in municipal government, starting out with 17 years in law enforcement and seven...

Hanna Miller is the new public information officer for the city of Columbia. She will both maintain transparent communication for the city government and assist the tourism and marketing department with a variety of initiatives. She previously served as the community risk reduction and public...