Business

EDUCATION |  A.A., Belleville (Illinois) Area College, 1972 (General Studies)
B.S., Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, 1974 (American History/Government)
M.P.A., University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1983  (Public Administration)
WORK HISTORY 1975-1976  |  Illinois Department of Conservation
1976-1985  |  Nebraska Department of Roads
1985-1988  |  City of West Bend, Iowa
1988-1994  |  City of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
1994-2001  |  City of Maryville, Missouri
2001-Present  |  UT MTAS, Tennessee

Favorite Books: A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole,
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – Hunter S. Thompson
Favorite Music:    Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan
Favorite Movie:   Dr. Strangelove

Linda serves as Administrative Coordinator for the CIS Knoxville office.

Lori serves as Accounting Specialist for the IPS Knoxville office.

Misty Bean joined the LEIC in 2008 as an Accounting Assistant to provide fiscal support for the center’s staff. She is responsible for all accounting duties related to the National Forensic Science Institute grants and its accounts receivable records, as well as the Regional Community Policing Institute (RCPI) grants involved with law enforcement and community training services.Bean began her career at the University of Tennessee in October 2003 in Mail Services as a Senior Postal Clerk. Her duties there included mail sorting and delivery and processing of incoming and outgoing mail. She transferred to Graphic Arts Service in July 2005 as a Work Order Coordinator. Her duties there included entering job specifications and assisting customers with various printing decisions.

Sharee began working with MTAS in July, 2012 serving as a Finance & Accounting Consultant in the west Tennessee grand division. She is stationed on the campus of UT-Martin. In addition to providing consulting services for municipalities, she is one of the trainers with the Certified Municipal Finance Officer (CMFO) Program. Prior to coming to work with MTAS, Sharee worked for 22 years as a financial & compliance auditor with the State Comptroller’s Office, Division of Local Government Audit. She has nearly 30 years of combined experience working in financial related areas of state, county, and city government and has worked with multiple law enforcement agencies including DAG, TBI, FBI, BATF, and the US Attorney’s Office. She received her Bachelor of Professional Accounting degree from Mississippi State University in 1987 and has recently completed the UT-Martin Masters of Business Administration program with a banking and finance emphasis. She holds licenses and certifications as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA); Certified Governmental Financial Manager (CGFM); and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). Sharee makes her home in Martin with an 14 year old shih-tzu named Lucy that was adopted after being rescued from a puppy mill. She claims the title of world’s most fabulous aunt to her niece and nephew and in her spare time enjoys cooking, hosting the perfect party, reading, watching football, everything beach-related, and listening to really excellent music with a penchant for smooth jazz and R&B.

Donna serves as Accounting Specialist for the CIS Nashville office.

Sherri  joined Institute for Public Service, Central Office January 2, 2007 as an Administrative Assistant. She relocated to MTAS November 5, 2012 to provide administrative support in  accounts payable. Sherri received a Paralegal Degree in May 2006.  Sherri was born in Northern Indiana and in 1969 her family relocated to Ft. Davis, Texas and then later to El Paso, Texas.Clarence and  Sherri married February 17, 1976.  The Brown family moved to Knoxville in 1988.  Clarence and Sherri have  two daughters, (Kimberly and Rebecca), a son-in-law, (Jeffry), two grandsons, (Jacob and Jax), one granddaughter, (Karin).Sherri enjoys reading,  knitting and different kinds of needlework.  Disc Golf and bicycling provide her with much needed exercise.

Ralph has primary responsibility in the finance area for cities in Middle Tennessee and has written numerous publications dealing with finance related topics for distribution to municipal officials statewide.  In addition, he has co-developed and taught several finance courses for municipal officials in various educational programs sponsored by the University of Tennessee.  Before coming to MTAS, Ralph served eight years as the Secretary/Treasurer for the City of Lawrenceburg.  In 1998, he was named “Clerk of the Year” by the Tennessee Association of Municipal Clerks and Recorders (TAMCAR).  His experience prior to employment in the public sector includes general administration and engineering.  Ralph is a Certified Government Finance Manager and has an MBA in Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology from the University of Memphis. Ralph has two daughters, Kathryn Cross and Audrey Keown.  He also has one grandson, Liam, the son of Audrey and Grant Keown.

Dana grew up in the Washington DC. area.  After high school he enlisted in the Air Force and served 21 years, living overseas in the Philippines and Germany.  After the Air Force he went to work for the City of McKenzie, Tennessee as their City recorder and Finance Director.  Before joining the IPS staff in 2010, Dana served the City of Clifton, Tennessee as their City Manager.

Sherri serves as Financial Specialist for the CIS Nashville office.

Wendy was born and raised in Michigan but has lived in Tennessee since 1980. She spent most of her career working as a controller in various manufacturing facilities in the Nashville area until she came to work for UT in 2009.

Mike serves as County Government Consultant for the CTAS Martin office.

Thaddeus serves as Business Manager for the IPS Knoxville office.

Brad came to MTAS in 2012 after 5 years as the Finance Director for the City of Athens, TN. Before that he served as the Finance Director for Rhea County, TN.  Previously he worked for CPA firms in the Chattanooga and Tullahoma areas.  He has been a CPA since 2000.  He is married to the stunningly gorgeous Beth Harris and has two incredible daughters. Hannah is 24 and lives in Pulaski, TN where she operates a video and photography business (yes, she would be happy to do your work). Katie is 12 and attends CHattanooga Christian School currently in the 6th grade.  She was recently chosen by the UT College of Agriculture to star in a statewide video promoting 4-H camps. You can view the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5CDzrG2lKs&sns=em Brad’s passion is making a difference in the lives of other people – this is why he came to MTAS. In his spare time, he enjoys singing, and in August of 2014 will be inducted into the Tristate Gospel Music Hall of Fame.  He spent several years touring the country singing gospel and some country music, and has performed on the Grand Old Opry and sang with artist such as Ricky Skaggs, Connie Smith, McBride and the Ride and a host of ‘Gaither Homecoming’ gospel singers. He is now completing a new CD (orders being taken!) and has previously been a part of several other recordings.  He can be found on youtube singing with groups, but hell will freeze over before he tells you where to find these less-than-stellar performances (a cell phone 100 ft. from the stage recording a singer… PULEEEZE!) He enjoys golf as well, but realizes that playing 5 times per year is detrimental to breaking ’90’. Brad is an accomplished cook, once having co-owned a restaurant with his sister (probably the most fun I have ever had in a job… before MTAS, of course!).  He enjoys his ‘Big Green Egg’ and you are welcome to come over for a meal at any time.Brad also works as a minister of music at the Wolf Creek Baptist Church in Spring City, TN. He has served in that capacity since 2001, and previously served in that role for three other churches. He sings tenor (like a full grown woman someone once said!) and enjoys singing with his wife Beth who is an incredible singer as well.

Margaret Norris is a Municipal Management Consultant for the Municipal Technical Advisory Service, housed in the Institute for Public Service at the University of Tennessee.  She has been with MTAS for fourteen years, having spent the first five at the Nashville office before transferring to the Knoxville office.  Prior to joining MTAS in 2001, Margaret once worked for the agency as a graduate intern.  Her other experience includes work in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Kansas City, Missouri; South Pittsburg Tennessee; and Lumberton, North Carolina.  Titles she has held include records manager, post graduate intern, finance director and city manager. Margaret graduated Magna Cum Laude from UTK with dual degrees in Psychology and Spanish and she earned a master of public administration from UTC.  She served as the Executive Director of the Tennessee City Management Association from 2004-2008.  She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Tennessee City Management Association, the National Association of Parliamentarians, and the International City/County Management Association.

Robin serves as Executive Director of the UT County Technical Advisory Service.

Kay serves as Finance Program Manager III for the MTAS Martin office.

Mary Kate serves as Accounting Specialist for the CIS Nashville office.

Gail came to the IPS chief business officer position in March 2011 after 17 years of experience in the UT Controller’s Office as assistant controller where she specialized in sponsored project administration and accounting, financial reporting and analyses, IRIS, and training. Gail received a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in accounting from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and is a certified public accountant. Gail grew up on Fort Loudon Lake in Lenoir City where she enjoyed swimming and water skiing. Gail has numerous hobbies including reading, walking, traveling, home improvement projects, and gardening. Her fiance, Wayne, is professor of music and director of bands at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX so she spends quite a bit of time traveling to Texas. Gail has an 18 year old calico cat named Babe who is totally deaf and sleeps all the time. Gail’s brothers and parents live in Lenoir City and Loudon.

Dale was born in NW Iowa, moved to Wheaton, IL (about 40 miles from Wrigley Field) for high school & junior college. He moved to Tennessee in 1970 to attend Bryan College in Dayton, TN. He flew to Alaska in 1979 for a 6-month trip which lasted 11 years! Google “One Man’s Wilderness, Dick Proenneke” to understand why he stayed so much longer. Meeting Dick, adventuring all over this beautiful state, working in the oil industry as an accountant, and promoting concerts were his passions. His kids warn visitors not to ask him about Alaska, promoting concerts, bamboo, or zoysia grass so consider yourself warned! He also loves doing volunteer work for Remote Area Medical.