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.  

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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

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.

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.

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. 

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.      

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.

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. 

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.   

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.