The Board of Governors of the Knoxville Bar Association has selected Knoxville attorney Tasha C. Blakney as the next executive director of the association, starting in mid-Janary following the retirement of long-time director Marsha Watson.
“I’m honored to follow in the extraordinary footsteps of Marsha Watson and look forward to continuing the KBA’s long legacy of service to the bar and the community,” Blakney said.
Blakney is a long-time member of the Knoxville Bar, having practiced law here since her graduation from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1999. She is a co-founding member of the Knoxville firm of Eldridge & Blakney PC, where she has practiced as a litigator for more than 20 years. She has previously served as president of both the Knoxville Bar Association and the Tennessee Bar Association, as well as having held a number of other leadership positions in local, state and national bar associations.
KBA president Loretta Cravens expressed excitement. “We conducted a national search and interviewed many great candidates, but we found the right candidate for the job right here in our community. Tasha has all the attributes we were seeking as the next executive director, and her entire professional career has prepared her to take on this role.”
Cravens acknowledged departing executive director Marsha Watson’s 33-years of service. “Marsha has been a stalwart of the legal community. She has given countless hours of service to the KBA and the greater Knoxville community.”
The Knoxville Bar Association is a non-profit corporation organized to work for the improvement and increased effectiveness of the legal profession and the administration of justice. The Association, which has 1,923 members, offers continuing legal education and service to the community through programs such as the Lawyer Referral & Information Service, Legal Advice Clinics and LawLine OnLine. Additional public service information may be found at the Association’s website at www.knoxbar.org.