Corporate Panel Members
Cindy Dupree - Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
Cindy Dupree joined the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development in January of 2006 as director of communications, now director of public relations. Cindy manages the in-house News Bureau, oversees the planning and implementation of the state travel writer tours, interfaces with national, regional and local media and supervises the production of collateral tourism materials including the Official Tennessee Vacation Guide and the state highway map.
Before joining the tourism staff under Commissioner Susan Whitaker, Cindy lived in New York City where she worked for 16 years in the entertainment business. Her career path includes five years in Corporate Relations at Broadcast Music Inc., launching a successful artist management business and managing an Off-Broadway Theatre in the heart of Times Square. Cindy received her Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude, from New York University.
Cindy is a native Southerner, born in Georgia, raised in Alabama and happily living in Tennessee. She’s proud to have kept her Southern accent while spending 16 years in The Big Apple.
Before joining the tourism staff under Commissioner Susan Whitaker, Cindy lived in New York City where she worked for 16 years in the entertainment business. Her career path includes five years in Corporate Relations at Broadcast Music Inc., launching a successful artist management business and managing an Off-Broadway Theatre in the heart of Times Square. Cindy received her Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude, from New York University.
Cindy is a native Southerner, born in Georgia, raised in Alabama and happily living in Tennessee. She’s proud to have kept her Southern accent while spending 16 years in The Big Apple.
Christopher Harvin - Partner at Sanitas International
With two decades of experience in the industry, Mr. Harvin has practiced the arts of public, crisis, political, and corporate communication in more than 60 counties. He is a founding Partner at Sanitas International, a global strategic communication, public affairs, digital media and political advisory firm based in Washington DC. Mr. Harvin is also a Partner at Barbaricum, a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business and SBA certified HUBZone which provides advisory services to the U.S. Government.
He has served the White House and has held senior advisory positions with the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, Secretary of the Army, Members of Congress and in the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Mr. Harvin has represented multiple Heads of State and governments in emerging markets and developing countries in areas such as the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. Among them include the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, Government of Afghanistan, Kingdom of Bahrain, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), The Executive Office of Dubai, the Dubai International Financial Centre, the current Vice President of Iraq, and the Former Prime Minister of Iraq.
Mr. Harvin has provided political strategies to political and advocacy campaigns around the world to include four U.S. presidential campaigns, numerous Senate and Congressional campaigns, corporate advocacy campaigns and a half dozen foreign Heads of State. Most recently he has worked on elections and reputational challenging communications and policy issues in the Caribbean, North and Central Africa and in the Middle East.
Mr. Harvin regularly provides strategic communications, reputation management, public affairs and political counsel to governments, corporate CEOs and a variety of other clients around the world. Sought after for his insight into industry strategy and tactics, he has been quoted in a variety of media outlets to include the Financial Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Washington Post, PR Week, LA Times, National Defense, NPR and BBC.
Mr. Harvin, an Eagle Scout, serves as a Board Member of the Washington Inter-Governmental Professional Group and is an active member of PRSA. A native of South Carolina, he resides in Washington DC.
He has served the White House and has held senior advisory positions with the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, Secretary of the Army, Members of Congress and in the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Mr. Harvin has represented multiple Heads of State and governments in emerging markets and developing countries in areas such as the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. Among them include the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, Government of Afghanistan, Kingdom of Bahrain, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), The Executive Office of Dubai, the Dubai International Financial Centre, the current Vice President of Iraq, and the Former Prime Minister of Iraq.
Mr. Harvin has provided political strategies to political and advocacy campaigns around the world to include four U.S. presidential campaigns, numerous Senate and Congressional campaigns, corporate advocacy campaigns and a half dozen foreign Heads of State. Most recently he has worked on elections and reputational challenging communications and policy issues in the Caribbean, North and Central Africa and in the Middle East.
Mr. Harvin regularly provides strategic communications, reputation management, public affairs and political counsel to governments, corporate CEOs and a variety of other clients around the world. Sought after for his insight into industry strategy and tactics, he has been quoted in a variety of media outlets to include the Financial Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Washington Post, PR Week, LA Times, National Defense, NPR and BBC.
Mr. Harvin, an Eagle Scout, serves as a Board Member of the Washington Inter-Governmental Professional Group and is an active member of PRSA. A native of South Carolina, he resides in Washington DC.
Mark McNeely - Senior Partner, McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations
McNeely founded the firm in 1987 as a one-person consultancy after a career in journalism and politics, including four years as capital bureau chief for The Knoxville News-Sentinel and service as then-U.S. Sen. Al Gore’s first state director. The company is consistently ranked among the nation’s best mid-sized PR firms. Strategic planning, senior counseling and regional media relations are his specialties, and the majority of his client work is in special events, health care and public affairs.
His firm represents national, regional and local clients. As founding and senior partner, McNeely is responsible for overall firm management as well as client relations. He is a 1970 journalism graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and has been a member of the board of visitors to the College of Communications and Information since 2001, and chairman of the group from 2009-2011. He has been recognized by the Nashville Women’s Political Caucus in its annual “Good Guys” Awards, is a member of the Nashville Downtown Rotary Club, and has been active in the Greater Nashville Chamber of Commerce, serving on its issues committee and as a member of its Government Relations committee. He has served on the board and as a committee chair for the local Public Relations Society of America chapter.
His firm represents national, regional and local clients. As founding and senior partner, McNeely is responsible for overall firm management as well as client relations. He is a 1970 journalism graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and has been a member of the board of visitors to the College of Communications and Information since 2001, and chairman of the group from 2009-2011. He has been recognized by the Nashville Women’s Political Caucus in its annual “Good Guys” Awards, is a member of the Nashville Downtown Rotary Club, and has been active in the Greater Nashville Chamber of Commerce, serving on its issues committee and as a member of its Government Relations committee. He has served on the board and as a committee chair for the local Public Relations Society of America chapter.
Greg Stroud - Vice President, HGTV Integration Team
Greg Stroud serves as vice president of brand integration for HGTV, playing a key role in creating marketing partnerships between the lifestyle media brand and its advertisers. Prior to his current position, he was vice president of creative services for sister-network Fine Living Network where he was heavily involved in the rebranding and redesigning of the network. Preceding his arrival to Fine Living, he served in a similar role as creative director at The Weather Channel.
Greg and his teams have won numerous creative awards for their work, including the PromaxBDA Awards, Addys, Telly Awards and more. He has written for a host of trade publications and is a frequent speaker at various industry events and universities across the country. Greg has also been recognized as an award-winning television anchor and ad agency creative director.
Greg and his teams have won numerous creative awards for their work, including the PromaxBDA Awards, Addys, Telly Awards and more. He has written for a host of trade publications and is a frequent speaker at various industry events and universities across the country. Greg has also been recognized as an award-winning television anchor and ad agency creative director.
Entertainment Panel Members
Hunter Baddour - Marketing & Development Coordinator of Allegiant Athletic Agency
Hunter is the Marketing & Development Coordinator with Allegiant Athletic Agency. He is charged with determining and securing new marketing opportunities for a3 clients. He is also responsible for brand imaging on behalf of both a3 players and the agency. In addition to his marketing work, Hunter is heavily involved with the development of the annual a3 Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee.
Hunter graduated from the University of Tennessee, where he received his Bachelor degree in Business Marketing. He furthered his education immediately following his undergraduate work by achieving both his Masters in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing, as well as his Masters in Sport Studies with a concentration in Sport Management. While in graduate school, Hunter began his career at a3 as an intern. Hunter has proven to have a talent for discovering new and innovative marketing opportunities for both football and basketball clients. He has also proved to have a unique ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with both a3 clients and business leaders within the community.
Hunter enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Hunter graduated from the University of Tennessee, where he received his Bachelor degree in Business Marketing. He furthered his education immediately following his undergraduate work by achieving both his Masters in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing, as well as his Masters in Sport Studies with a concentration in Sport Management. While in graduate school, Hunter began his career at a3 as an intern. Hunter has proven to have a talent for discovering new and innovative marketing opportunities for both football and basketball clients. He has also proved to have a unique ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with both a3 clients and business leaders within the community.
Hunter enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Jimmy Buckner - Executive Director of The Scarecrow Foundation
Jimmy Buckner is the Founder and Executive Director for The Scarecrow Foundation. He often asks the question, "Why should anyone in America be hungry?" After serving as a volunteer delivering food for over seven years and also serving as a leader with a local hunger agency, it became apparent while many organization are doing outstanding service to the community many people have not learned where or how to get involved. With that in mind, Jimmy founded the Scarecrow Foundation in March 2011 as a 501c3 non-profit organization.
Hunger agencies and food pantries like the Scarecrow Foundation for many reasons. We dedicate our efforts to raising funds and awareness while not duplicating services. The Scarecrow Foundation has previously worked with organizations in the East Tennessee area including Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, The Love Kitchen, Beardsley Farm, Manna House, Redeeming Hope, Ladies of Charity, Food in the Fort and more.
The University of Tennessee has recognized The Scarecrow Foundation via the MBA Social Entrepreneurial Program, The Journalism College, The School of Advertising and Public Relations and most currently the LSEE Program.
Hunger agencies and food pantries like the Scarecrow Foundation for many reasons. We dedicate our efforts to raising funds and awareness while not duplicating services. The Scarecrow Foundation has previously worked with organizations in the East Tennessee area including Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, The Love Kitchen, Beardsley Farm, Manna House, Redeeming Hope, Ladies of Charity, Food in the Fort and more.
The University of Tennessee has recognized The Scarecrow Foundation via the MBA Social Entrepreneurial Program, The Journalism College, The School of Advertising and Public Relations and most currently the LSEE Program.
Matt Hendrickson - Director of Marketing at AC Entertainment
Matt Hendrickson has more than 20 years of experience in entertainment marketing and journalism. As the marketing director for Knoxville-based AC Entertainment – one of the largest independent concert promoters in the country – Matt oversees the marketing and new media efforts for the company’s festivals such as Bonnaroo and Moogfest as well as hundreds of concerts ACE promotes throughout the South. Prior to joining ACE, he began his career at Rolling Stone magazine, serving as a staff writer and editor for seven years, penning cover stories on Green Day and Rage Against the Machine, among others, as well as covering the 1999 Columbine High School shootings. He also helped launch Maximum Golf, a News Corp. publication and then served as the music editor at Teen People. In 2003, Matt formed his own media consulting company. Big Swede Media where his client list has included MTV, Time Inc., Hearst and Sports Development Corporation. He also held a three-year visiting professor position at the University of Missouri School of Journalism before relocating to Knoxville in 2008. He graduated from Boston College and would like everyone to know that college hockey is WAY better than college football.
Jared Karnes - Founder of Allegiant Athletic Agency
Jared is one of the founders of a3. He currently serves as Director of Basketball Operations. He grew up in Knoxville, TN and graduated from Belmont University where he was a four year letterman on the Bruin's basketball team. Jared graduated from the University of Memphis School of Law in 2003 and still maintains his law practice as a partner with Hagood, Tarpy & Cox.
Jared is a Certified Agent with the National Basketball Players Association and Federation of International Basketball Association. He is licensed by the Supreme Court of Tennessee and has successfully represented hundreds of clients including professional athletes, corporations, small businesses and individuals. This summer, Jared successfully negotiated the contracts of two NBA veterans, Ramon Sessions and C.J Watson. Jared has negotiated contracts in top leagues throughout the world, including Spain, Turkey, Italy, France, Russia, Greece, Lithuania, Germany and Belgium. He was listed in Cityview Magazine as a "Top Attorney" in Sports and Entertainment in 2011 and 2012.
Jared and his wife, Karen, live in Knoxville with their three children, Graham, Julie and William.
Jared is a Certified Agent with the National Basketball Players Association and Federation of International Basketball Association. He is licensed by the Supreme Court of Tennessee and has successfully represented hundreds of clients including professional athletes, corporations, small businesses and individuals. This summer, Jared successfully negotiated the contracts of two NBA veterans, Ramon Sessions and C.J Watson. Jared has negotiated contracts in top leagues throughout the world, including Spain, Turkey, Italy, France, Russia, Greece, Lithuania, Germany and Belgium. He was listed in Cityview Magazine as a "Top Attorney" in Sports and Entertainment in 2011 and 2012.
Jared and his wife, Karen, live in Knoxville with their three children, Graham, Julie and William.