Board
Chair Gary Emerson: currently is a Regional Vice President for Primerica, the largest diversified financial services company in North America. Primerica is a company that focuses on helping families become properly protected, debt free, and financially stable. Gary obtained his B.S. (Chemistry) degree from Alcorn State University. Gary managed laboratories 6.5 years and 10 years respectively for two companies. He obtained his Series 6, 63 and 26 investment, insurance, variable annuity and legal licenses in April 1989. He opened his Primerica office in January 2001 and manages 17 agents and 4 investment specialists. Gary serves as a board member for two non-profit, community service organizations, Socially Equal Energy Efficient Development (SEEED) and Locked Down on the Outside (LDO). His hobbies include fishing, hunting, gardening, basketball, travelling, and deep study of the Bible. Gary is married to Laschinski and has one son in his first year of college.
Serves through 2012.
Vice President J.D. Jackson: Evangelist to people in Knoxville’s low-income urban center for 5 years; Has a special connection to people in Walter P, Taylor Homes (One of Knoxville’s largest housing project and most crime-ridden neighborhood). Has owned his owned automotive business and is currently working as finance manager for Westside Honda.
Serves through 2012.
Treasurer Laurel Bowen: Age 53; Technical communicator; Owner of TBC Solutions Inc. (a federal contractor producing government publications) and Web Haven (web design and hosting for local businesses); active in the Society for Technical Communications (Webmaster), Entrepreneurs of Knoxville (Director of Operations), and Business and Professional Women.
Serves through 2012.
Secretary Patricia Bell: BA in Computer Science/Business from Maryville College; currently President of Grants for the Greater Good, a company that does research, writes grants, and does nonprofit startups for various nonprofit organizations in the East Tennessee area. She has worked at various companies utilizing her writing and computer skills to further the goals of her clients. She is a graduate of Leadership Blount class of 2010. She is a member of American Association of University Women, Maryville Branch, and the League of Women Voters of Blount County, where she also serves on the Board of Directors for both of these organizations. She enjoys computer gadgets and reading. She is married to Virgil and they have three grown children and two still living at home. She also has three beautiful grandchildren, Melissa, Ethan, and Benjamin. Serves through 2013.
Sterling Henton: Currently owner Straitline Entertainment since 1995, which works with BET, MTV, and VH1 on various projects and television shows; Attended UT on a football scholarship and was a freshman All America Quarterback in 1987, with 2 Southeastern Conference champion wins and 4 bowl game wins; played professional football; received MBA from Columbia University in 2002; VP Marketing Southeast Region Warner Brothers; Senior Business Analyst for International Profit Associates.
Serves through 2012.
Arron Bond: Young adult.
Serves through 2012.
John Cockerille: Co-owner Tenant’s Choice, which is renovating deteriorating homes in urban Knoxville; Licensed contractor; Instrumental in getting Step Up on a firm foundational basis – it is a highly successful Florida program to provide construction job training for low-income people.
Serves through 2012.
Emanuel Dixson:
Serves through 2013.
Michael Fuller: Real estate agent with Wood Properties since 1996 and is involved in general brokerage in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area. Mr. Fuller deals primarily with local and institutional investment groups in the sale and acquisition of income properties in the office and office flex sectors. His other activities include acquisition of land for commercial development for a variety of clients including The Development Corporation of Knox County and Covenant Health. In 2005, Mr. Fuller's sales and leasing volume topped $30,000,000. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, majoring in marketing. After college, Mr. Fuller received his affiliate broker's license and began his experience with Barnett and Weiskopf Development, with responsibilities in construction oversight as well as coordinating tenant relations for several freestanding medical outpatient facilities, including an 18,000-square-foot facility for the Veterans Administration in Knoxville. In addition to medical office space, he was also engaged in the managing and leasing of over 300,000 square feet of strip shopping centers located throughout East Tennessee. An active member of the Knoxville CCIM member chapter, Mr. Fuller has completed the course work for the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation of the Commercial Investment Real Estate Institute.
Serves through 2013.
Greg Gilbert: a 12 year veteran of the real estate industry beginning after graduating from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He began in the residential sector and progressed from resale to new construction representation. He partnered in his own full service brokerage company, which specialized in development. Mr. Gilbert was responsible for the company’s operations and deliverables, including product development, sales strategy, marketing management, market research, and training. His ability to anticipate trends and develop business growth strategies has made him a leader in the industry. Mr. Gilbert is active in many local charitable organizations as well as the National and Tennessee Association of Realtors.
Serves through 2013.
Annette Gomberg: Joined Sustainable Future in June of 2009. As Director of Community Empowerment, she is responsible for grant writing, web development and event planning. Annette graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.A. in History in 2004, with Post Industrial Revolution as her focus. As an Assistant Teacher at the Montessori Children's House of Hyde Park, Annette enhanced her ability to communicate effectively with all ages, create and execute lesson plans, and coordinate large events. Having managed the opening and daily needs of two new restaurants, she is also accustomed to facilitating the organization of new businesses. Annette is recently graduated from a Yoga Teacher Training course and also enjoys hiking, kayaking and live music.
Serves through 2013.
Jeffery Carter: Jeffery Carter is the Architectural Designer/Owner at Residential Design Source, LLC. He has over 20 years of residential and commercial design experience producing construction documents for a variety of projects. Prior to establishing his own design company, he worked as an Architectural Designer for (15+) years with Barge, Waggoner, Sumner, and Cannon, Inc. a multi discipline engineering, architectural, and planning firm. Jeffery also has a background in interior and mechanical design with previous employment at Designers Alliance, Inc., Gleman Engineering Co., and Gee and Jenson, E.A.P., Inc. Jeffery holds an A.S. degree in Computer Integrated Drafting and Design from Pellissippi State Community College. He attained the designation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) with the United States Green Building Institute in 2009. Jeffery enjoys spending time with family, music, and outdoor activities, including hiking, boating, and motorcycles.
Serves through 2013.
Jim Gray: Retired. He has worked as an Operations Supervisor in several aspects of the US Census in both 2000 and 2010; as an assistant in a lobbying firm, and as the Director of Public Access Computer Labs for the Knox County Clerk. Since arriving in Knoxville in 1995 he has worked as a political operative and community activist while pursing economic research. Besides serving as Chair of the Knox County Democratic Party for three years, he produced – and sometimes hosted – for eleven years Democratic TeleVision, a weekly talk and call-in program on Community Television. In the more distant past, Jim has been a high school teacher, an auto loan originator, a bookstore manager, a distance-learning associate for Empire State College, a county CETA administrator, and a syndicated television critic among other jobs.
He recently participated in a series of seminars on population issues held in Baltimore and Washington, DC. Jim is currently managing a campaign for City Council in Knoxville and pursuing research in biophysical economics. He has undergraduate degrees in both English and Business Administration, and has done graduate work in both Policy Analysis and Economics.
Serves through 2013.
Dr. Steven Waller: Assistant professor, UT Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies. Research focus is on capacity building and sustainability strategies for non-profit recreation and sport organizations, recreation investment as a catalyst for community development, mentoring.
Serves through 2013.
Staff
Executive Director Stanley Johnson: BA in Business Administration from Knoxville College; Managed, 1995 owned and operated an automobile dealership; Managed a youth program for Tribe One Youth Ministry in Knoxville’s inner city since 2007 to early 2009; Currently a member of Knoxville- Knox County Metropolitan Planning Committee.
Social Justice Coordinator Joshua Outsey:Age 25.
Program Director Alana Hibbler: Graduate of UT School of Architect.
