People

Tom Witherspoon is retiring as the water and sewer services director for the city of Johnson City after more than 44 years of public service. Witherspoon began his career with the city as a civil engineer in 1981. He was named assistant director of the water and sewer services department in 1982 and...

Vernon Gerth is retiring as Franklin’s assistant city administrator for community and economic development after 18 years of service to the city and more than 40 in local governments. Gerth joined the city of Franklin in January 2007 as the first assistant city administrator for community and...

David White, alderman for Farragut’s Ward 2, died Aug. 21, 2025, at the age of 80. A native of Farragut and 1964 graduate of Farragut High School, White worked as a machinist at Y-12 in Oak Ridge before beginning a 40-year career in commercial and residential real estate development. He was elected...

Eric Dougherty has been selected as the next chief of the Johnson City Police Department and will begin his service with the city in November following the retirement of current Chief Billy Church. Dougherty has more than three decades of law enforcement experience, joining JCPD in 1993. He most...

Dale Biggerstaff has been selected as the new director of public works for the city of Brentwood. Biggerstaff has more than 29 years of experience in leading and managing public water utilities and previously worked as the operations superintendent for the Brentwood Public Works Department. A native...

Kristeen Duren has been selected as the new city manager for the city of Clifton, taking over from City Recorder Samantha Haines who had held the position as interim city manager since April. Duren has spent a decade as a dietician at Wayne Care Nursing Home and Wayne Medical Center as well as her...

Todd Smith, city administrator for the town of Greeneville, has been appointed to the Governor’s Homeland Security Council by Gov. Bill Lee. Smith will represent the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) on the 22-member council. Smith was selected both because of his leadership in municipal government...

Stevan Pippin has been appointed as the seventh member of the Brentwood City Commission following the resignation of former Commission Susannah Macmillan. Pippin will hold the position for the remainder of the term, which ends in May 2027. Pippin has resided in Brentwood for 44 years and is an...

David Travis has been unanimously selected as the full-time city administrator for Dickson. Travis has been serving as acting city administrator for a year after the retirement of previous City Administrator Rydell Wesson. Travis began his career with the city of Dickson in April 1995 as a part-time...

Tonya Travis has been selected as the new finance director for the city of Brentwood. Travis is a certified municipal finance officer and has more than 23 years of experience in public finance. Travis will take over the role from Karen Harper, who plans to retire in early 2026 and will be working...

Kelly Lancaster has been selected as the new human resources director for the town of Nolensville. Lancaster has more than three decades of experience in both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining the town of Nolensville, Lancaster spent ten years as director of talent management for the...