MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

Frances Adams-OBrien'
Information Resources Manager, MTAS
865.974.9842 | 1610 University Ave., Knoxville, TN 37921-6741frances.adams-obrien@tennessee.edu
I am always looking to connect people with the information and assistance they need.
Whether it is people inside MTAS or Tennessee city staff or elected officials, I am here to assist through research, reference, and knowledge management.
_________________________
Master of Science in Information and Library Science, 1989, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology and Psychology, 1986, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, NC

Steven Cross
Fire Management Consultant, MTAS
615.532.7108 | 226 Anne Dallas Dudley Blvd., Suite 606, Nashville, TN 37219steven.cross@tennessee.edu
Steven Cross is a Fire Management Consultant with the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS). After serving more than 30-years in local and state government, he joined MTAS on July 9, 2017. His duties include providing technical assistance and consulting services for municipal, county, and state governemnt leaders in areas of leadership and fire rescue department and emergency services management as well as serving as a resource for state-wide professional associations.
Steven joined the fire service as a municipal firefighter in 1986. He served for over 27 years with the Columbia Fire Department, the last 17 years as Columbia’s Deputy Fire Chief and Fire Chief. Prior to joining the University of Tennessee, Steven served in the Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office's Fire Fighting Personnel Standards and Education Commission.
EDUCATION
- Bachelor of Science in Fire Science Administration from Waldorf University in Forrest City, Iowa
- Associate of Science in Fire Science Administration from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Alabama
- Technical Certificate in Fire Science from Volunteer State Community College in Gallating, Tennessee
- Emergency Medical Responder from the State of Tennessee
- Fire Officer Level IV IFSAC / ProBoard from Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS
- Chief Fire Officer designation (CFO), Commission on Fire Accreditation International
- Internationsl Association of Fire Chiefs
- Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association
- Tennessee All Hazards Incident Management Team
- Public Entity Risk Management, Insurance Institute of America

Dana Deem
Municipal Management Consultant, MTAS
731.881-7567 | 474 Clement Hall, 210 Hurt St., Martin, TN 38238dana.deem@tennessee.edu
I grew up in the Washington DC. area. After high school I enlisted in the Air Force and served 21 years, living overseas in the Philippines and Germany. After the Air Force I went to work for the City of McKenzie, Tennessee as their City recorder and Finance Director. Before joining the IPS staff in 2010, I served the City of Clifton, Tennessee as their City Manager.

Chuck Downham
Management Consultant, MTAS
615.532.6827 | 226 Anne Dallas Dudley Blvd., Suite 606, Nashville, TN 37219-1804chuck.downham@tennessee.edu

John Grubbs
Hr Consultant, MTAS
615.532.6827 | 226 Anne Dallas Dudley Blvd., Suite 606, Nashville, TN 37219john.grubbs@tennessee.edu
John is the Human Resource Management Consultant for cities and towns in the Middle TN grand division. He holds a bachelor’s in management from Trevecca Nazarene University and a master’s in human resource management from the University of Connecticut, as well as senior level certifications from IPMA-HR, SHRM and HRCI.
John has over 30 years of experience in management and human resources, with over a decade in local government in Tennessee. He has also worked in the transportation, automotive manufacturing, defense manufacturing, and consulting industries. Prior to joining MTAS, John served as the Human Resources Director for Portland, TN and White House, TN.

Pat Hardy
Municipal Program Management Consultant, MTAS
423.854.9882 | 2112 North Roan St., Johnson City, TN 37601pat.hardy@tennessee.edu
Pat grew up in New Jersey and attended East Tennessee State University earning undergraduate and graduate degrees (in City Management). He worked in the city management profession in Big Spring, Texas and in Blue Earth, Minnesota. Pat came to MTAS in 1989 working as a General Management Consultant in the Nashville office. He spent about 4-5 years there and has been in the Johnson City office since then. Pat is there with Rick Hall from CTAS and Dwaine Raper and Kenny Smith from CIS. He serves the cities in upper East Tennessee as a General Management Consultant.
Pat lives in Elizabethton and is married to Bonita Hardy. They have two "great" kids, Frank and Evelyn Esther, and two "superb" grandkids, Liliana Maria and Alex (pictured at right on a bike ride). For kicks Pat enjoys building (he built a house for his daughter - after 4 1/2 years of work), occasional golf (he claims to be no good), occasional fishing (here too he claims to be no good), camping, and occasional guitar or mandolin playing (you guessed it, he claims to be no good). Pat attends Hopwood Christian Church and trys to stay involved there as much as possible. He occasionally takes ballroom dance lessons with his wife. Again, he claims to be no good but because he gets to dance with his wife for an hour each week, he says "it's great."
All in all Pat loves life, and very much enjoys and appreciates his job and working with the IPS family.

Brad Harris
Finance and Accounting Consultant, MTAS
423.775.3577 | 3389 New Union Road, Dayton, TN 37321brad.harris@tennessee.edu
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 reestaurant 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.

Elisha Hodge
IPS Consultant III, Legal, MTAS
615.532.6827 | 226 Ann Dallas Dudley, Suite 606, Nashville, TN 37219
Gary Jaeckel
Municipal Management Consultant, MTAS
615.253.4814 | 226 Capitol Blvd Suite 606, Nashville, TN 37219gary.jaeckel@tennessee.edu
Gary is a Management Consultant based out of the Nashville office. He works with 44 cities, mostly in upper Middle Tennessee including cities in Stewart, Houston, Montgomery, Dickson, Cheatham, Robertson, Sumner, Wilson, Trousdale, Macon and Smith Counties, along with the City of Columbia. Gary came to work for MTAS in September, 1999 and has lived in Hendersonville more than 14 years. Prior to coming to MTAS Gary worked in Illinois cities for nearly 14 years, moving from the Chicago suburbs of Elmhurst to Streamwood as an Assistant to City Managers; to Forsyth and Dwight where he was the Village Administrator. Prior to entering the City Management profession Gary spent four years in the private sector.
Gary has both his Bachelors in Political Science and Masters in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University. Until retiring recently Gary spent many hours and years as a youth and High School Wrestling coach. Being a youth coach allowed Gary to develop a skill set for coaching and facilitating meetings with elected officials.

David Moore
Police Management Consultant, MTAS
731-881-7057 | 474 Clement Hall, 210 Hurt St., Martin, TN 38238david.moore@tennessee.edu
David Moore serves as a Police Management Consultant with the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Assistance Service (MTAS), an agency within UT’s Institute for Public Service. In this role, David provides assistance to municipalities across the State of Tennessee on all issues involving policing. He has served with UT MTAS since 2019.
Prior to joining UT MTAS, David spent a career with the City of Martin Tennessee Police Department beginning as a dispatcher in 1989 while attending the University of Tennessee Martin and ultimately retiring as the City of Martin’s Chief of Police in 2015.
In 2015, David transition from a consulting role with Savant Learning Systems to the full time role as Vice President of the Law Enforcement Training Division known as Virtual Academy. In this role, David was responsible for product design and implementation, marketing and sales, and identifying subject matter experts and development of training to meet the needs of law enforcement across the nation.
In 2017, David joined the faculty at UT Martin as a lecturer of Criminal Justice in the Department of Behavioral Sciences. He served in this role until beginning his current role with UT MTAS in January of 2019.
David holds a Bachelor Degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin, a Master of Science Degree from Bethel University, and is a graduate of the 195th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico Virginia. David served on the Executive Board of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP) for a decade and is a Past President of the TACP.
David lives in Martin with his wife Lisa. David has two children, two son’s-in-law, and two grandchildren all living in Martin.

Kelley Myers
Municipal Codes Coordinator, MTAS
865.974.0425 | 1610 University Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37921kelley.myers@tennessee.edu
Kelley joined MTAS (Knoxville) on November 4, 2013, as the Codes Coordinator. Prior to this, she worked as a paralegal in a private litigation law firm, focusing primarily in the areas of insurance defense and plaintiff personal injury/medical malpractice. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from UTK in 1990. To compliment this, she obtained her paralegal certification in 2005, as well as her advanced certification in 2006. She is very active in, and past president of, the Smoky Mountain Paralegal Association, and co-instructs the certified paralegal exam prep course through SMPA.

Ronnie Neill
Municipal Management Consultant, MTAS
901.412.2121 | 7777 Walnut Grove Road, Suite A-1, Box 14, Memphis, TN 38120-2130ronnie.neill@tennessee.edu
Ronnie Neill has been a Management Consultant with the University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) in West Tennessee since 1993. The cities that he serves in West Tennessee are in Tipton, Shelby, Hardeman, McNairy, and Hardin counties. In addition to his role as a management consultant, he also serves as the Secretary of the Tennessee Public Risk Management Association, a statewide association of city and county public risk managers.
Ronnie's career began in Fayette County as a Youth Services officer for the Fayette County Juvenile Court. In1978 he was elected City Recorder for the City of Somerville where he served as full-time administrative officer, Treasurer, and City Judge. He later served as County Manager/ Loan Officer for First Tennessee Production Credit Association where he managed the Fayette County Office with a volume of 14 million dollars in agricultural loans. He was owner and broker for West Tennessee Realty for 10 years prior to joining MTAS.
In 1984, he won election as an Alderman for the Town of Somerville, where he served on the Public Works Committee, the Budget/Finance Committee and the Public Safety Committee. Ronnie was elected Mayor of Somerville in 1986 and reelected in 1988. He currently serves on the Somerville Board of Mayor and Alderman as the Vice-mayor.
Ronnie has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Tennessee, Martin.

Margaret Norris
Executive Director, MTAS
865.974.9063 | 1610 University Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37921margaret.norris@tennessee.edu
Margaret Norris is the Executive Director for the Municipal Technical Advisory Service, housed in the Institute for Public Service at the University of Tennessee. She has been with MTAS since 2001. She served as a municipal management consultant for 16 years before becoming the executive director in 2017.
Prior to joining MTAS, 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.

Stephanie Allen OHara
Legal Consultant, MTAS
865.974.0411 | 1610 University Ave., Knoxville, TN 37921-6741Stephanie Allen OHara joined MTAS staff in the Knoxville office as a legal consultant on January 1, 2010. Stephanie graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a bachelor’s in business administration. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she interned with the U.S. Congress and Philip Morris USA. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence and Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. While in law school, Stephanie interned with Oak Ridge National Labs; Former Judge James Beckner, Third Judicial District Criminal Court; Chancellor Telford Forgety, Jr., Fourth Judicial District; Judge Benjamin Strand, Jefferson County General Sessions; as well as several law firms. Prior to joining MTAS as a legal consultant, Stephanie served as a judicial clerk to Justice Sharon Lee on the Tennessee Supreme Court and Tennessee Court of Appeals.

Abb Olgesby
Training Program Manager, MTAS
865.974.4111 | 226 Anne Dallas Dudley Blvd., Suite 606, Nashville, TN 37219abner.oglesby@tennessee.edu

Honna Rogers
Municipal Management Consultant, MTAS
423.425-4239 | Political Science and Public Service, Dept. 6256, Pfeiffer 302, Chattanooga, TN 37403honna.rogers@tennessee.edu
Honna Rogers grew up in Northeast Georgia. She graduated from Piedmont College in Demorest, GA with a Bachelors of History degree and from the University of Tennessee with a Masters in Public Administration. She previously worked for the City of Sevierville and as a Post Graduate Management Fellow with UT-MTAS. While at MTAS she worked with the cities of Cleveland, Athens, East Ridge, and Signal Mountain and the SE TN Development District and the Athens Utility Board. Honna spent five years as the Town Manager of Signal Mountain, TN before returning to UT-MTAS. Honna and her husband, Joshua, reside in Signal Mountain with their two children.

Sharon Rollins
Program Manager III, MTAS
865.974.0416 | 1610 University Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37921sharon.rollins@tennessee.edu
EDUCATION
- Master of Science in Environmental Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C.
- Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS
- Registered Professional Engineer in Tennessee, North Carolina (inactive) and Virginia (inactive)
- Member American Public Works Association (APWA)
MTAS EMPLOYMENT
Legal & Technical Consulting Program Manager: Manage MTAS’ three legal and ten technical consultants responsible for delivering legal, fire, police, human resources, public works and utility services throughout the state.
Consulting: Work with municipal officials, consulting engineers and state and federal agencies to solve public works, water and wastewater problems; prepare request for qualifications for engineering services; conduct management studies; advise on system operations, maintenance and compliance issues; evaluate financing options for infrastructure projects; and develop standard operating policies and procedures for municipal utility and public works operations. Service area includes one-half of the cities in Tennessee.
Teaching: Develop and teach courses on public works issues for municipal elected officials and staff.
Publication Development: Authored numerous publications for MTAS and EPA; author of articles for technical journals. Five publications for EPA have been distributed nationally.

Lisa Shipley
Consultant III, MTAS
865.974.9822 | 1610 University Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37921lisa.shipley@tennessee.edu
Lisa Shipley serves as the IT manager for the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS). She holds both a B.S. and M.S. degree as well as a graduate certificate in Online Teaching and Learning from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Lisa has worked in the information technology profession for more than 20 years and has implemented many changes in applied technology within the fields of higher education, publishing, marketing, and legal. Ask her about writing DOS batch files and implementing one of the first Novell networks in a publishing environment.
Prior to joining MTAS, Lisa held positions of network administrator, security analyst, software manager, and IT support manager. She currently specializes in cyber security, database & systems development, project management, and IT training.

Kay Stegall
Finance and Accounting Consultant, MTAS
731.881.7058 | 476 Clement Hall, UT Martin, Martin, TN 38238kay.stegall@tennessee.edu
Kay graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting. She has been licensed as a certified public accountant since 1993 and a certified government financial manager since 1996. Kay earned her Master of Business Administration in 2010 from the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Kay has over 30 years of experience in the government accounting, auditing, and financial reporting industry. She has worked at the Comptroller’s Office of State Audit, Metro Nashville/Davidson Co. Internal Audit, Alexander Thompson Arnold PLLC public accounting firm and currently is consulting municipal finance officials for MTAS.
Kay has been married to Richard for over 30 years and they have two daughters, Rachel and Alyssa. Rachel graduated from UT Martin’s vet tech program with a Bachelor of Science degree and is a Licensed Veterinary Technologist. Alyssa graduated from UT Martin with a degree in health and human performance. Alyssa is pursuing a career as a physical therapy assistant.

Steve Thompson
Assistant Vice President, IPS
865.974.9609 | 1610 University Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37921-6741steve.thompson@tennessee.edu
Steve Thompson is Assistant Vice President with the Institute for Public Service with the University of Tennessee.
Steve joined the University as Executive Director of the Municipal Technical Advisory Service in July of 2010. A former city manager in cities in South Carolina, Virginia and Florida, Steve has extensive experience in a wide range of services and projects impacting small to large local governments, and has emphasized success with development, financial management and community partnerships. Steve is also a former member of the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council, the national advisory board to the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
Steve is a Certified Local Government Manager of ICMA, a graduate of the Senior Executive Institute with the University of Virginia, and a graduate of the Menninger Institute for Local Government Managers in Topeka, Kansas.
Steve earned his doctorate in political science at the University of Tennessee, and holds a master's degree in public administration (MPA) from the University of South Carolina. Steve also earned a bachelor's degree (BA) in political science from the College of Charleston, SC.

Rick Whitehead
Assistant Director, MTAS
865.974.9853 | 1610 University Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37921rick.whitehead@tennessee.edu
Rick Whitehead is the assistant director for MTAS and works in the Knoxville office. Before being appointed to the assistant director position in November 2012, Rick served as a municipal management consultant for MTAS. As a field consultant, he worked an assigned territory in southwest Tennessee that included all of the cities located in Chester, Hardeman, Haywood, Fayette, Humphreys, Perry, Shelby, and Wayne Counties. Rick has been with MTAS since February of 2004.
Prior to joining MTAS, Rick served as a city manager in Tennessee and as a city attorney and city manager in Alabama. In addition to his experience in municipal government, Rick has professional degrees in public administration and law from Auburn University and the University of Alabama. He is a member in good standing of the Alabama State Bar and is currently licensed to practice law in Tennessee.