Every great city needs people who know what’s going on, who care about their neighbors, and who are willing to step up when it counts. Knoxville is growing fast, and as much as we all love our scruffy little city, it doesn’t run itself. So how do you get plugged in?
Since 1993, Introduction Knoxville has offered a backstage pass to the city. Participants in the six-week program get an insider’s look at Knoxville’s history, culture and institutions, meeting the people who keep things moving and figuring out how they can be part of the action. It’s one of several programs under the Leadership Knoxville umbrella, designed to help people step into leadership roles and feel more at home in their own city, whether they’ve been here for six weeks or six generations.
A Pathway to Engagement
I recently sat down with Samantha Lacy, Leadership Knoxville’s director of strategic partnerships & engagement, at their office on Market Square. In addition to working for the organization, she’s been through Introduction Knoxville herself.
When a former employer encouraged her to do it a few years ago, Samantha wasn’t exactly thrilled. After all, she knew the city like the back of her hand and has the kind of personality that could make friends in a grocery store checkout line. Did she really need an “introduction”?
“I went in with a bad attitude,” Samantha admits. “I thought, ‘I don’t have time for this—I’ve been through this program 8,000 times by osmosis.’ But I ended up having the best time and making incredible connections. Now, I’m a huge advocate. Whether someone is new to Knoxville, stepping into a leadership role, or just looking to get more involved, it’s the perfect program.”
With three sessions offered annually—winter, spring and fall—each class welcomes around 50 participants from a variety of professional and personal backgrounds. Once a week across six weeks, they spend a few hours diving into Knoxville’s history, institutions and key industries through field trips, tours, speaker sessions and facetime with area leaders.
Samantha points out that the pandemic changed how people engage with their communities. It’s never been easier to stay glued to a screen, get lost in a doom-scroll spiral, and assume someone else will handle things. But strong communities don’t build themselves—they need people who are willing to step up, plug in and make things happen.
“Leadership Knoxville never paused during the pandemic—we kept convening people safely because we saw it as our responsibility,” Samantha says. “If we weren’t creating spaces for difficult conversations and community-building, who would?”
The program is an entry point into Knoxville’s civic and cultural fabric. “Some participants are excited to dive in, while others might be ‘voluntold’ to be there,” Samantha says. “Our goal is to make sure that by the end of the six weeks, even the skeptics don’t want it to end.”
Professional Development Meets Civic Connection
Introduction Knoxville relies on program support from a variety of sectors, from education and nonprofits to finance and government. For the Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB), Introduction Knoxville serves a dual purpose.
“KUB is always looking for ways to provide employees with learning and development opportunities,” says Cortney Harris, creative content & media relations team lead at KUB. “But beyond that, we’re a community-centered organization, so we value any opportunity for employees to engage with the broader Knoxville area and learn about local initiatives.”
As part of the program, KUB presents alongside TVA about their roles in Knoxville’s infrastructure. “Because KUB plays such a big role in the Knoxville community, it’s a great fit for us to share what we do, not just as a utility provider but also in areas like environmental stewardship and community engagement,” Cortney says.
For many businesses, sponsoring an employee to go through Introduction Knoxville is a win-win. The $2,250 tuition is often covered through professional development budgets, with limited scholarships available for nonprofits. Beyond career growth, the program deepens employees’ ties to the city—boosting retention, recruitment and long-term engagement.
“Intro Knox is a great way for our employees to feel more connected to the local community overall. Knoxville has such a vibrant local scene, but people can get stuck in their routines,” Cortney says. “Through Intro Knox, employees get to step outside their bubble, learn about local businesses, both big and small, and see Knoxville from a whole new angle. It’s a really hyper-local experience that helps people feel more engaged and invested in the city.”
A Fresh Perspective on a Familiar City
For Joey Staats, vice president and principal architect at Johnson Architecture, Introduction Knoxville was a chance to see his city in a whole new light.
Joey had lived in Knoxville for nearly two decades when the firm nudged him to go through the program. He was in conversations about moving into a management role, and Introduction Knoxville seemed like a smart way to expand his professional network.
“I had been here for 18 years, but I’d never done anything like this,” Joey says. “It was an eye-opening experience—a fresh perspective on a city I thought I already knew.”
One moment that stuck with him was walking through the interior courtyard of the Howard H. Baker, Jr. U.S. Courthouse, through an interior courtyard he had never noticed before. “I came back to my office the next week and asked if anyone had ever been there. They were like, ‘Of course.’ But there were places that I had never even seen in downtown Knoxville before.”
The program also deepened his understanding of local issues and opportunities, from education and history to economics and urban development. Sessions included presentations from the UT Haslam College of Business, Knoxville Botanical Gardens and a sneak peek at the plans for the new multi-use stadium from the Boyd family.
“You can’t cover everything in six weeks, but they were really intentional about the topics they chose,” he says. “I walked away with a much broader understanding of what’s happening in Knoxville.”
Aside from rediscovering his city, the program expanded his professional circle. “I still keep in touch with a few of my classmates,” he says. “We might get lunch, and I’ve even made some great work connections with civil and landscape groups we hadn’t traditionally collaborated with. Now I actively reach out to them for project proposals.”
Building the Future of Leadership
Leadership Knoxville’s programs include a continuum that reaches all ages and career levels. From their flagship Leadership Knoxville to Youth Leadership Knoxville, Leadership Knoxville Scholars, Encore for retirees, and Connect Knox, which focuses on civic solutions, the organization’s goal is to develop leaders at every stage.
“Our mantra is ‘Every leader—a servant leader,’” Samantha says. “Great cities don’t just happen—they’re built by engaged, informed leaders.” Knoxville needs people who are willing to step up, whether that’s serving on a nonprofit board, running for office, or simply getting involved in their neighborhood.
Samantha says, “The work we do is critical—we’re not curing cancer or saving puppies, but we’re equipping people with the skills and connections to support those causes. Knoxville has over 4,000 nonprofits. Would they all still be here without the leadership pipeline we’ve built? Maybe. But our alumni play a significant role in sustaining them.”
Leadership Knoxville provides a roadmap to engagement. For those looking to get involved, Introduction Knoxville is a powerful first step.
“If I can leave people with one thing, it’s that Intro Knox isn’t just for newcomers,” Joey says. “Even if you’ve lived here a long time, reevaluating and rediscovering the city is a valuable experience. I’d highly recommend it to anyone considering Leadership Knoxville or just looking for a fresh take on how cool Knoxville is.”
Registration is now open for the Spring 2025 Introduction Knoxville session (Wednesdays, March 26 – April 30). Visit the Leadership Knoxville website for more information.