| JULY | ARCHIVES |
Mayor Kincannon breaks down her leadership team changes and congratulates those taking on new roles!
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Becky Wade Celebrated for Service
 “Grace” was the word used most frequently to describe Becky Wade during the recent celebration of her exemplary 45-plus year career and well-earned retirement.
Wade leaves the City of Knoxville after 15 years, most of which she served as the Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development (formerly Community Development).
At her retirement party, Mayor Indya Kincannon presented a proclamation establishing June 30, 2022, as Becky Wade Day.
And a cavalcade of guests from Wade’s past spoke about their experiences working with her, both at the City of Knoxville and at KCDC, where she spent 31 years prior to coming to the City. Speakers included Phyllis Nichols, President and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League, former KCDC colleagues Art Cate, Debbie Taylor Allen and Chris Martin and former City colleagues Bill Lyons and Janna Cecil.
Their anecdotes and memories illustrated Wade’s nature as a caring community leader and an architect of affordable housing in our city.
It’s impossible to do justice to Becky’s career and the influence she’s had on so many people -- colleagues, mentees, residents and anyone who has experienced her -- yes -- grace under pressure at the countless public meetings she’s helped conduct and the major projects she’s helped guide.
Enjoy some photos from the celebration and learn more about Becky Wade’s remarkable career.
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Knoxville Welcomes New Police Chief
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'Missing Link' Greenway Creates New Transportation Options
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Careful Stewardship: Keeping Fountain City Lake Healthy
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Breakfast Serves Up Opportunities for Area Businesses
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 Heads up! You will soon be asked to change your password on your work devices and there is a good reason why.
Chief Technology Officer Mark Parker explains in this month’s Need to Know.
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KFD Announces New Public Information Officer
 Chief Stan Sharp has officially named Assistant Chief Mark Wilbanks as the Knoxville Fire Department’s new Public Information Officer.
Wilbanks is an East Tennessee native and a 23 year veteran with KFD.
“I am excited to take on this new role because I want our community to know what great things we do day in and day out,” Wilbanks said. “I work with 327 wonderful men and women, and the taxpayer deserves to know what we do, and their stories deserve to be told.”
Wilbanks is all too familiar with the stories of KFD having worked as a Health and Safety Officer, an EMS division Quality Control Officer, a Master Firefighter, and he’s a certified critical care paramedic and hazmat specialist.
Festival on the 4th Highlights
Fireworks illuminated the skies over an estimated 50,000 people in World’s Fair Park who came out to celebrate the return of the City’s Festival on the 4th.
This was the first time since 2019 that the City was able to hold its traditional Independence Day event, complete with a performance from the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.
Families also enjoyed paddle boats, axe-throwing, miniature golf, free ice cream, food vendors and more!
Thank you to everyone who helped make this day possible!
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 This month’s mystery employee has been with the City for eight months. But she’s not new to East Tennessee, having lived here for 28 years.
Her favorite food -- this time of year -- is fresh tomatoes from her garden.
She once won a prize for her pickles…at a festival dedicated to pickles.
And even if you know her fairly well, you might never guess that she eloped to Las Vegas and got married at Graceland Wedding Chapel. What?!
Can you name this City of Knoxville employee?
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 Congratulations to these City employees who celebrate milestone work anniversaries in July.
This month we are highlighting 3-1-1’s “KUDOS” program.
Whenever a caller to 3-1-1 has a “thank-you” or “compliment” for a City employee / department, 3-1-1 passes along a “kudos” award to the employee.
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 Communications wants to shine the light on the great work of our Summer in the City intern Teresa Cao.
Click below to check out her blog work on a number of City events and projects.
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CITY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT |