Robbie Fox
Founding Member
RB Summitt II
Founding Member
Gary Wade
Founding Member
Retired Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Gary Wade has devoted his long and distinguished career to serving the citizens of Sevier County, Knoxville, Western North Carolina and Tennessee.
Justice Wade began his law practice in 1973 at a Sevierville firm that would become Ogle, Wade and Wynn. He was named City Attorney of Pigeon Forge and served as its mayor from 1977 to 1987. After retiring as mayor, he was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. In 1997, he was elected Presiding Judge of the Court. He was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court by Gov. Phil Bredesen in 2006 and served as Chief Justice from 2012 until his retirement in 2015. During his years as a judge, he authored more than 2,000 opinions on behalf of the courts he served.
Justice Wade became Dean of Lincoln Memorial University’s (LMU) Duncan School of Law in 2015. He was instrumental in helping the school achieve full accreditation from the American Bar Association and boosting enrollment by over 300%. His leadership contributed to a significant rise in the bar exam passing rate, and the school achieved sound financial footing via continued budget neutrality. He taught trial practice while at LMU and retired in 2020.
Justice Wade has held many important leadership and support positions in the American, Tennessee, Knoxville, and Sevier County Bar Associations. He is a member of the American Inns of Court and a Rule 31 Mediator as designated by the Tennessee Courts System.
He has been a life-long supporter of many of East Tennessee’s key cultural institutions, including the University of Tennessee, Museum of Appalachia, Knoxville Zoo, Leadership Sevier, East Tennessee Foundation and the Sevier County High School Foundation. Of particular interest is Justice Wade’s role as co-founder, president and board chair of Friends of the Smokies, a nonprofit organization that provides invaluable support to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He is currently its chairman emeritus.
Justice Wade and his wife have been married for over half a century. They have three grown children and six grandchildren.
Austin Williams
Chair
Hoping to make a “dent in the universe,” Austin Williams founded Compass with a vision to thoughtfully shape the future of East Tennessee through purpose-driven development. Since launching the company in 2018, he has led Compass’ growth into a fully integrated real estate development platform responsible for more than $450 million in completed and active developments across the region.
A proud Sevier County native, Austin is passionate about creating projects that solve the workforce housing crisis, make Sevierville a premier destination, and revitalize Downtown Sevierville. He remains actively involved in civic and community leadership throughout the region.
Austin is a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow, Leadership Sevier, East Tennessee Region Leadership, and Leadership Tennessee NEXT. He currently serves on the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as President of the Sevier County Quarterback Club. His leadership and community contributions have earned recognition including Sevierville Chamber Citizen of the Year and Knox News 40 Under 40.
Austin graduated from Carson-Newman University with a B.S. in Business Administration and began his career in finance before returning home to build Compass alongside his wife, Katie. Together, they are raising their children Harper, Rhett, Baker, and Emmett.
Deborah Drew
Vice Chair
Jessie Blalock
Secretary
Jessie Blalock is the Marketing Director for Old Forge Distillery in Pigeon Forge, where she leads the brand’s strategic marketing, advertising, product launches, digital presence, events, and creative direction. She oversees every aspect of the brand experience-from developing seasonal campaigns and new product releases to managing photography, videography, social media, website content, analytics, and community partnerships.
In addition to her role at Old Forge Distillery, Jessie also directs all marketing efforts for Citadel Construction and The Cherokee Group, helping strengthen their presence through community-focused initiatives, partnerships, and outreach efforts that support local growth and connection throughout East Tennessee.
A graduate of the Leadership Sevier Class of 2022, Jessie has proudly served on the Leadership Sevier Board of Directors since completing the program. She is passionate about investing in the future of Sevier County by fostering strong community connections and supporting local leadership development. She is also actively involved in multiple non-profit organizations, dedicating her time and talents to causes that support and uplift the community.
Outside of work, Jessie is married to her husband, Wes, and is a devoted dog mom to Nelly, who keeps life entertaining. She loves traveling, hitting the slopes whenever she can, enjoying the outdoors, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Doug Grote
Treasurer
Doug Grote is a management, operations, and business development leader with more than 30 years of experience overseeing sports and recreation facilities. As Regional General Manager for Sports Facilities Companies, he oversees several facilities while also serving as General Manager of Rocky Top Sports World. In these roles, he leads facility operations, financial oversight, client partnerships, and event strategy while driving strong team performance and long-term growth. Doug is a strong leader who builds high-performing teams centered on the mission of the organization, while strengthening community relationships and delivering a high-quality guest experience.
In addition to his experience, Doug holds a Master of Arts in Christian Education/Recreation from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Science from Cumberland College.
Doug has been married to Dianna for 32 years and is the proud father of two sons, Dayton and Declan. He enjoys pickleball, mountain coasters, miniature golf, and spending time with his family.
Trey Broome
Trey Broome serves as Vice President of Clinical Quality Operations at Optum, where he has spent more than a decade leading clinical programs and interdisciplinary teams within UnitedHealth Group. A pharmacist by training, Trey began his career as a community pharmacist with Walgreens in the Nashville area in 2002 and transitioned into nuclear pharmacy with Cardinal Health before joining Optum in 2015.
After a nomadic upbringing as an Army brat, Trey studied chemistry at Western Carolina University before earning his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Georgia. He married Betsy, a sweet nurse from North Georgia, that same year, and they decided to put down roots in Tennessee. Together they own and operate Hunkerdown Hollow, a lakeside farm on Douglas Lake offering unique lodging at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains, including The Lighthouse at Hunkerdown Hollow, an Airbnb “Guest Favorite” recognized as one of Tennessee’s most distinctive overnight stays. Their newest venture, Surf the Smokies, brings surf lessons to East Tennessee’s waters.
Trey and Betsy have two sons: Parker, 21, graduated from The King’s Academy and attends the University of Northwestern Ohio studying high-performance motorsports; Sawyer, 16, is a rising sophomore at Sevier County High School, where he plays lacrosse and travel club ice hockey with the Jr. Ice Bears.
Mignonne Coykendall
Mignonne is a Gatlinburg, Tennessee, business owner and community advocate with a passion for hospitality, service, and giving back to the community. Along with her husband, Logan, Mignonne is co-owner of Hospitality Solutions, a hotel management and development company based in Gatlinburg.
Beyond her work in hospitality, Mignonne is actively involved in numerous community organizations and initiatives throughout Sevier County, with a particular passion for supporting children, education, and the arts. She has served in leadership roles with the Boys & Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains, Leadership Sevier, and Pittman Center Heritage Museum and is actively involved with Gatlinburg’s Festival of Trees, a longtime holiday tradition benefiting the local community.
Mignonne and Logan are the proud parents of their two sons, Quinn and Cannon.
Kevin Griffin
Alex Johnson
Elise Massey
Jamesena Miller
Missy Norris
Pete Owens
Jana Thomasson
Kate Wojciechowski
Ken Bell
Founding Emeritus Member
Eugene Maughton
Honorary Member
Linda Ogle
Honorary Member
