Doug McCarty, AIA Fellow, was honored with the 2026 Spirit of Kristopher Award, given by Knox Heritage at the 2026 East Tennessee Preservation Awards on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville.
The award is named for the late Kristopher Kendrick, one of Knoxville’s better-known preservationists. It recognizes an individual who has made significant achievements in the support of historic preservation in East Tennessee.
McCarty has helped shape the built environment of East Tennessee through both his professional work with McCarty Holsaple McCarty Architects and his service to the broader design and preservation community, according to the presentation.
Some of his best-known projects include the 2005 restoration of the Tennessee Theatre and the University of Tennessee’s Art and Architecture Building, the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, the John C. Hodges Library and many more.
In addition, McCarty has served on the East Tennessee Community Design Center’s board of directors for over 40 years, where his support has helped advance thoughtful, community-driven design assistance for local organizations in a 16-county region. Through this work, he has contributed to making design expertise more accessible, strengthening projects that may not have had the resources to move forward otherwise.
Doug McCarty has taken an emeritus role with the architectural firm which was started by his father, Bruce McCarty, and Bob Holsaple some 60 years ago.
MHM headquarters on N. Broadway
The firm has now rebranded to MHM. Last year, it salvaged the 100-year-old former Sanitary Laundry building at 625 N. Broadway as its headquarters. Learn more about MHM here.
KCDC gets new commissioner
Wanamaker
Brian Wanamaker, a lawyer based in Knoxville, has joined the board of commissioners for Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC). He is the North American legal counsel for Kanadevia Inova, a Swiss and Japanese clean energy company.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Kansas and a juris doctor from Washington University School of Law. Wanamaker lives in Knoxville with his wife and two children.
New officers for KCDC
Becky Wade, retired director of Housing and Neighborhood Development for the city of Knoxville, was elected chair for 2026-27. Felix Harris, a HUD-certified housing counselor with more than 20 years of experience in the banking and financial services industry, is vice chair. Nadim Jubran, a commercial real estate owner/ developer, is treasurer.
The other board members are Kimberly Henry, independent financial advisor; Kelly Johnson, whose family business operates 12 independent restaurants in Sevier County; and Martha Tate, resident commissioner at North Ridge Crossing.
The seven citizen members are appointed by the Knoxville mayor. Board officers are elected for one-year terms. Info here.
Brian Wanamaker photo by knoxvillestudio.com
Haley Howard is Vision Zero coordinator
Hayley Howard
Haley Howard is Knoxville’s new Vision Zero coordinator. She brings six years of experience from the city’s Office of Neighborhood Empowerment, where she facilitated multiple health and safety neighbor engagement programs.
Cody Gentry has been promoted to Vision Zero Manager and will continue spearheading traffic safety projects across Knoxville. Learn more about Vision Zero and the city’s goal to end traffic deaths on local roads by 2040 here.
Jennifer Holder joins Ripley PR
Jennifer Holder
Jennifer Holder has joined Ripley PR as a public relations strategist. She posted: “After 15 years of leading Pirate Girl PR as its founder and principal, the opportunity to join a highly successful public relations firm with strong leadership and an impressive roster of clients was simply too compelling to pass up at this stage of my 30+ year career.”
The Maryville-based Ripley PR specializes in the trades and B2B industries and has earned national and regional media coverage for its clients. It is headed by Heather Ripley.
Holder is a Maryville, Tennessee, native who has called Knoxville home since earning both her liberal arts degree and MBA from the University of Tennessee. She was a trend-setter in downtown living.
In Memoriam
June Forstner
June Gwin Forstner passed away on July 11, 2026, at age 84. She was a member of the town of Jacksboro board of mayor & aldermen. She came to the board in 1989, serving until 1997. She was re-elected in 2005 and served until present. Jacksboro is the county seat of Campbell County.
Mrs. Forstner was a member of Caryville First Baptist Church and retired from K-25 Plant in Oak Ridge. She was preceded in death by husband Donald Forstner and others. The obituary is here.
The family received friends on Wednesday July 15, 2026, at Cross-Smith Funeral Home. Family and friends will meet at 10 a.m. today (Thursday, July 16) at Cross-Smith Funeral Home and proceed to Jacksboro Cemetery for an 11 a.m. interment service.
Notes & Quotes
Pellissippi State Community College seeks to recruit adjunct faculty members at a job fair, set for 5:30-7:30 p.m. today (07-16-26) in the Goins Administration Building at the Hardin Valley campus. Positions are open in accounting, chemistry, computer science and information technology, economics, English, math, psychology, agriculture, accounting, biology, history, and welding.
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Sandra Clark writes daily at KnoxTNToday – the Let’s Talk series, including Let’s Talk – Law, Let’s Talk – Neighbors, Let’s Talk – Schools, Let’s Talk – Leaders and Let’s Talk – Outdoors.
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