Kimberly Lauth (Executive Vice President) has spent her adult life as a nonprofit professional and consultant working for a variety of organizations.  She holds the CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) designation from CFRE International and has been published in the Journal of Healthcare Philanthropy. She is Immediate Past President of the Smoky Mountain Planned Giving Council and has served on the boards of the Knoxville Chapter of the American Marketing Association and Character Counts - Knoxville/Knox County.  She joined ETVMA in April 2006.

Kimberly believes the work of ETVMA creates an excellent character development opportunity for East Tennessee youth.  It is work she does in honor of her grandfather, Hubert G. Diggs, Sr., who was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his heroic service in WWII.  


Frank H. Akers, Jr. currently serves as the Associate Laboratory Director for National Security at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) managed by UT Battelle, LLC.  In this capacity, he is responsible for managing a focused research and development portfolio that includes nonproliferation and threat reduction, arms and export control, homeland security, and counter terrorism technologies for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Energy.  Dr. Akers also coordinates ORNL activities with the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies with a mission involving national security, homeland security, law enforcement, and public safety.  Additionally, Dr. Akers is the Chairman of the Army Science Board.

After retiring as a Brigadier General from the United States Army and prior to joining UT-Battelle, Dr. Akers served as Vice President, Advanced Technologies, for BWXT Y-12, L.L.C., and Lockheed Martin Energy Systems.  In those positions, he had leadership and management responsibilities for business units with a technical focus that included the National Prototype Center, Advanced Computing Technologies (ACT), Advanced Infrastructure Management Technologies (AIMTech), National Security Program Office (NSPO), and Oak Ridge Centers for Manufacturing Technology (ORCMT).

During his more than 30 years of distinguished military service, Dr. Akers held numerous prominent positions, including: Chief of Staff for the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg; Assistant Division Commander (Operations), 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations (G 3), XVIII Airborne Corps during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm; Director of Operations (J 3), Joint Special Operations Command;  and Chief of Staff, 82d Airborne Division.  Senior-level commands include 2d Battalion, 9th Infantry, 2d Infantry Division, Republic of Korea; 1st  Battalion, 504th  Parachute Infantry, 82d Airborne Division; 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division; and Deputy Commander, United States Army Combined Arms Training Activity, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  His multiple combat tours include service in the Republic of Vietnam, Grenada. Panama, Southwest Asia, Haiti, and numerous special operations activities.

Dr. Akers is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and Duke University (PhD and MS); he also holds a graduate degree in Military Arts and Sciences and has attended several executive development courses at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Michigan, and the Center for Creative Leadership.

Dr. Akers and his wife Carole currently reside in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and have three grown children: Jennifer, Kathryn, and Frank H. III.


Joe R. Alexander was raised in Loudon, Tennessee. He attended Loudon High School, completed two years of college, served three years of active duty in the military service, and returned to East Tennessee State University to earn a Bachelor of Science degree. He entered the US Army as a Private in 1966, graduated from Infantry Officer Candidate School in 1967 and was among the first officers assigned to Company A of the Vietnam era 3rd Battalion 506th Airborne Infantry 101st Airborne Infantry Division.

Joe was a member of the 3-506 Airborne Infantry for eighteen months. As a rifle platoon leader during the 1968 Tet Offensive, he was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star with "V" device and Purple Heart. After his service in Vietnam, Joe Alexander joined the Tennessee Army National Guard as a citizen soldier and served in numerous command and staff positions including military intelligence, signal, artillery and Commander of the 1st and 2nd Squadrons of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment. He retired as a Colonel after almost 30 years of combined service in the active Army, Tennessee National Guard and Reserves.

Joe and his wife Rikki, live in Knoxville Tennessee. He is the Secretary/Treasurer of Off Road Equipment Parts, Inc located in Alcoa, Tennessee. Rikki is a schoolteacher at West Valley Middle School located in Knoxville, Tennessee.


Joe Bailey is President and CEO of Bailey and Associates, a Public and Governmental Relations consulting business specializing in hands on legislative advocacy at the federal and state level.

Mr. Bailey has been involved in mainstream national politics since 1984 serving in a number of capacities for President Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush including White House and Campaign Advance work. He also received  appointments at the US Dept of Agriculture and US Dept of Energy in 1984 and 1988.

In 1994, Joe joined the Tennessee Valley Authority as Washington representative. Joe managed annual appropriations, congressional hearings, board member confirmations, and was responsible for major legislative initiatives. In 1998, he became Valley Relations Manager in Knoxville.

Joe was elected to Knoxville’s City Council for a second 4 year term in 2007. He serves on a number of boards and is actively chairing numerous ad hoc committees for the City.

Joe Bailey is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee. He is married to Miechelle, and they have one daughter, Reagan. They are members of the Laurel Church of Christ.


Michael T. Crawford came from DeFuniak Springs, Florida, and graduated with a Master’s degree from the University of Tennessee. He immediately began his military career which included 21 years of active and reserve duty and retired in 1993 with the rank of Lt. Colonel, USAR.

Mike owns The Crawford Agency specializing in insurance and investments since 1973. A member of the Knoxville Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and Million Dollar Round Table, life and qualifying, for 26 years. He has served as advisor with various insurance and investment companies in formulating product releases and agent representation. Past President of the Knoxville Track Club during the beginning of the Expo 10,000 and a 35 year member, past President and Life Member of the Reserve Officer’s Association, member of ETMAC, Board of ETVMA, and Distinguished Past-President of both the East Knoxville Kiwanis Club and Kiwanis Club of Knoxville where he has been a member for 31 years with perfect attendance. He and his wife Mary are members of Church Street United Methodist Church.


Captain William T. Eichhorn was born September 23, 1965 in Frostburg, Maryland.  He was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the United States Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Class upon graduation from Frostburg State College (Economics and Spanish) in 1987.  Upon completion of The Basic School (7-87) and Infantry Officers Course, Captain Eichhorn’s first Fleet Marine Force assignment was with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, Camp Pendleton, CA.  Until 1991, Captain Eichhorn served in the billets of 3rd Platoon Leader, Weapons Platoon Leader and then Company Executive Officer with Lima Company, 3/9 and deployed to Honduras and Operation Desert Shield/Storm.  From April 1991 until April 1992 Captain Eichhorn served as Commander, Alpha Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division.  His last active duty tour was as the Executive Officer of Recruiting Station, Jacksonville, FL from 1992 until 1995.  He regained his commission as an officer of Marines in 2004 and deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, as a battalion adviser to the 2nd BN, 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Division from January 2005 until September 2005.  He completes his second stint as a Marine when he resigns his commission in May 2006.  His professional schools include Mountain Warfare Training, Bridgeport, CA, Naval Gunfire Liaison and Naval Dive School.   He has been nominated for the Bronze Star for his service in Iraq. 

In his civilian career, Captain Eichhorn has been the regional operations manager of a national recruiting firm and the regional development director for a national non-profit organization.  He now serves as a registered representative for Rather & Kittrell Capital Management in Knoxville.  Married to the former Beth Marie Miller, the Eichhorns reside in Maryville, TN and have three children, twins Catherine and Caroline, 12, and Blake, 9.


Fred Forster is from Maryville and is president and chief executive officer of the Blount Chamber Partnership.  He holds the rank of Air Force major general (retired) and is a former commander of the 134th Air Refueling Wing at McGhee Tyson Air Base and chief of staff of the Tennessee Air National Guard.


Jennifer Holder is vice president and manager of marketing and corporate communications for First Tennessee's East TN Market with responsibility for regional marketing and sponsorships, community relations and charitable giving, and public relations.  A graduate of Leadership Knoxville, she is an ardent community supporter serves on the boards of 91.9, Inc. (WUOT), Beck Cultural Exchange Center, Central Business Improvement District, City of Knoxville Public Assembly Facilities, UT Alumni Association's Board of Governors, UT Alumni - Knox Co. Chapter, Friends of Literacy, and Hillcrest-Beverly Foundation.  She is currently the chair of the UT Alumni Association's Women's Council and co-chair of fund raising campaigns for YWCA of Knoxville and Hillcrest-Beverly Foundation.  She serves on committees for Knoxville Museum of Art and YWCA of Knoxville.  Her honors include Top Young Professional of Knoxville (2004), First Tennessee Golden Circle (2004 and 2006), Locander Award for Outstanding Chapter Service - Knoxville Chapter, American Marketing Association (1999), Junior League of Knoxville 2004-2005 Outstanding Community Involvement Award, and YWCA 2005 Volunteer of the Year.  A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville with a BA in College Scholars, she also earned an MBA from UT-Knoxville.


Donald W. Lawhorn lives in Knoxville and is vice president, sales, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.  He served as an enlisted paratrooper with the Army’s 82d Airborne Division (1971-74), earned a commission through ROTC at Carson-Newman College and served again as a military police officer (1971-74) and with Knoxville’s 489th Civil Affairs Battalion including stints in Saudi Arabia and Iraq (1990-91) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (1996).


Mike Miller is a Knoxville native and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and the Tennessee Air National Guard.  Director of operations for the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City, Mike is a public affairs consultant in the fields of media relations, editorial services and major special events. He spent 29 years in Washington, D.C., as a journalist and public affairs consultant before returning to Knoxville. He served a stint as a war correspondent in South Vietnam and was editor of the President’s Commission report on the Pan Am 103 terrorist bombing over Lockerbie Scotland. He holds a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University.


Robert L. Minter, Jr. is a Supplier Diversity Coordinator for Knox County Government Purchasing Division. He is a graduate of Austin High School, and he attended Knoxville College. His military background includes service in the Infantry (AIT) Fort Polk, LA (Tigerland), Vietnam September 1967-September 1968, and six months at Fort Hood, TX. His decorations include: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service w/2 bronze Service Stars, Combat Infantryman Badge, Valorous Unit Award, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

He is active in the community having coached Grasshopper football for the Baby Roadrunner for 11 years, served as Austin East PTSA president for 5 years, and been recognized by the East Tennessee Chapter National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Award.


Robert P. Murrian was graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a B.S. and from the University of Tennessee College of Law. After leaving the Naval Academy, he served  in the submarine force while on active duty and therafter served in the reserves until 1979.  He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander, USNR. He served as a law clerk to The Honorable Robert L. Taylor, United States District Judge, and was in private practice until 1978 when he was appointed to the position of United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District Tennessee. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Tennessee College of Law and a Fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation. He is a member of the Honorary Societies of Phi Kappa Phi and The Order of the Coif. He served 24 years as a United States Magistrate Judge, performing a variety of duties in the areas of criminal and civil law.

He retired from the federal bench in February of 2002 and has developed a practice focusing on mediation, arbitration, special master assignments and the area of employment/labor law. He is an approved mediator and arbitrator in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee and is a Rule 31 listed mediator (general civil), Tennessee Supreme Court. Judge Murrian is listed in the alternative dispute resolution section of The Best Lawyers in America, 2005-2006.


John B. Romeiser was born in Washington, D.C., and spent most of his early years in Memphis, Tennessee. He attended Colgate University and was graduated with a double major in French and English. He then obtained the Master's and Ph.D. degrees in French at Vanderbilt University. Currently, John B. Romeiser is Professor of French at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he formerly served as department head. He is the editor of the recent books, Beachhead Don: Reporting the War from the European Theater, 1942-1945 and Combat Reporter: Don Whitehead's World War II Diary and Memoirs, both published by Fordham University Press.

Romeiser first became interested in veterans issues and the history of World War II when he organized and directed the Normandy Scholars Program in 1992. The program culminated with a summer study tour in Normandy, France, where students and faculty visited the landing beaches, cemeteries, and met with veterans from Great Britain, France, Germany, and the U.S. He has since escorted veterans and family members on tours of the World War I and II battlefields in France. Although he is not a veteran himself, his late father, George C. Romeiser, served with the First Armored Division in North Africa and Italy during World War II, completing his Army career as a Major.

He and his wife, Carole, live in Knoxville, Tennessee. Carole is a librarian at Gresham Middle School. They are members of St. John's Lutheran Church. They have two sons, Wes and Greg.


Wes Stowers grew up in Chattanooga and graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1976. He served twelve years on active duty throughout the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East as a Fighter Pilot and Instructor Pilot. He served ten more years in the Air Force Reserve and retired in 1998 as a lieutenant colonel. He is chairman of Stowers Machinery Corporation, the Caterpillar heavy equipment and engine distributor for East Tennessee, and he serves on numerous business and charitable boards in the Knoxville community. Stowers holds a Masters Degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He and his wife Liz are members of Sacred Heart Cathedral and have two daughters, Lisa and Rachel.


Robert A. Tiebout, U.S. Marine Corps, Lt. General, Retired, was born August 11, 1938 in Urbana, Illinois. He graduated from Memphis  State University with a B.S. degree and was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1961. Upon completion of The Basic School at Quantico, VA., General Tiebout attended the Combat Engineer Officer School at Camp Lejeune, NC. During 1967, he deployed to Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division, where he served as Company Commander of “A” Co., 9th Engineer Battalion and Battalion Operations Officer. Returning to the states in 1968, he was assigned to the 2nd Engineer Battalion to serve as the Support Company Commander, Division Engineer and Battalion Training Officer. In 1969, General Tiebout was ordered to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., and assigned duties as Engineer Monitor, Officer Assignment Section of the Personnel Management Department. From 1972 to 1973, he attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff  College, and was then assigned to the 3rd Marine Division where he served with the 3rd Engineer Battalion as the Operations Officer. Through the 1970s General Tiebout served various stateside assignments and was promoted to lt. colonel in 1978. From 1980 to 1981, he was a student at the Naval War College and upon graduation transferred to Camp  Pendleton, California where he served as G-4 of the 1st Force Service Support Group and Commanding Officer, 7th Engineer Support Battalion. He then served as the Base Facilities Maintenance Officer, 1982-1984. General Tiebout returned overseas to serve as the Commanding Officer of Range Company, Camp  Fuji, Japan. During 1986, he assumed duty as the Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Engineer School. While serving in this capacity, he was selected for promotion to brigadier general in December, 1987. Upon promotion in 1988 he served as Commander, Defense Electronics Supply Center, Defense Logistics Agency, Dayton Ohio from 1988 to 1990. During 1990 General Tiebout was assigned as the Program Manager MAGTF C2 and Deputy Commanding General, Marine Corps Research, Development and Acquisition Command, Quantico,  VA. In May, 1991 he was promoted to major general and assigned duty as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Research, Development and Acquisition Command (renamed Marine Corps Systems Command). General Tiebout was nominated by the President for appointment to lieutenant general on March 12, 1992, and was assigned as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations and Logistics.


Randy Tyree was born in Carthage (Smith County), Tennessee. He received his B.S. from Middle Tennessee State University and his law degree from the University of Tennessee. He served in the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1965.

Randy Tyree spent ten years in law enforcement with federal, state, and local agencies, including the FBI, Tennessee Law Enforcement Planning Agency, and the Knoxville Police Department. During this time, he conducted Operation Aquarius, the first undercover sting operation against drug dealers in Tennessee.

He served as mayor of Knoxville from 1976-1983 and was the first elected mayor to serve two consecutive terms. He is currently on leave from his law practice, Morrison, Tyree & Dunn, P.A., and is serving as Special Assistant to Commissioner Jim Neely, Dept. of Labor and Work Force Development, with the Bredesen administration in Nashville.

His recent civic activities include the Florence Crittenton Agency, American Legion Post 278, and the Knoxville Rotary Club. He and his wife Mary Pat are members of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church. They have four children, Nicole, Scott, Ryan, and Chad.


Susan D. Ward currently serves as Economic Development Assistant with the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce.  As such, she assists in the recruitment of companies to the Knoxville and Innovation Valley in order to build the economic prosperity of the region.  She also manages the Tennessee Scholars program, which is designed to promote academic rigor among the county’s high school students, and coordinates the Economic Development and Agribusiness committees.  Susan also serves as secretary for the East Tennessee Military Affairs Council, which works to promote support for local military units and veterans.  She was graduated from Tusculum College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management in 1995.

Ms. Ward was born in Tampa, FL, and raised in Texas.  After two years of college she elected to enlist in the Texas Air National Guard in January 1988 and was sent to basic training in San Antonio where she graduated as an Honor Graduate.  She completed technical school in Gulfport, MS, as an administrative specialist and moved to Montgomery, AL, soon afterwards.  While in Montgomery, Ms. Ward was assigned to the 187th Fighter Wing where she worked full-time in the orderly room of the maintenance squadron, managing records and training traditional guardsmen in file maintenance. 

Ms. Ward accepted a temporary duty assignment with what is now the Training & Education Center at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in 1989.  After a 6-month tour she accepted a full-time position with the unit where she worked with the Noncommissioned Officer Academy as an administrative specialist.  During this time she served as the primary point of contact for the Order of the Sword ceremony, which honored Col (Ret) Edmund C. Morrissey and had over 800 guests and dignitaries in attendance.  She routinely coordinated graduations, awards banquets and dinings-in for 500+ military and civilian guests, conducted orientation seminars for up to 240 students and designed programs for various events.

Ms. Ward was selected as the administrative support person for the Quality Management Branch where she was responsible for establishing all records and database systems for the new branch.  She developed training materials for a variety of courses and these materials were adopted by both the Air and Army National Guard Bureaus. 

As the Quality Branch moved to Washington, D.C., Ms. Ward moved to the Continuing Education branch as a course developer and instructor.  In this role she developed training materials including lesson plans, training guides and evaluations and instructed a variety of quality management courses.  She instructed and co-authored the Instructor Certification Program and scripted a training video on 360-degree feedback.  She graduated the Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Tyndall Air Force Base as a Distinguished Graduate and the USAF Academic Instructor School in 1993.  Ms. Ward left the military in January 1997.

Ms. Ward’s military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award with device, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon/Rifle, NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with device and Air Force Good Conduct Medal with device.

Ms. Ward lives in Farragut with her four children.