Trevor Bayne to speak in Farragut

Trevor Bayne

Trevor Bayne, the youngest person ever to win Nascar’s Daytona 500, will speak to Lunch with a Leader, a program for West Young Professionals sponsored by the Farragut West Knox Chamber from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, 2026. The event is hosted by Southeast Bank at 12700 Kingston Pike in Farragut. Register by calling the Chamber at 865-675-7057.

Bayne is founder of Mahalo Coffee Roasters and also a national sports analyst. Today, he serves as head pro and ambassador of Flatrock Motorclub and ambassador for Legacy Motor Club.

Attendees can hear his story, ask questions and connect with fellow young professionals. When the program ends, there will be photo opportunities with Bayne from 1-1:30.

Todd Ailes is new CEO at Consolidated Nuclear Security

Todd Ailes

Todd Ailes is the new president and chief executive officer of Consolidated Nuclear Security, replacing Rich Tighe, who is leaving CNS after nearly four years to serve as the project director for Bechtel’s Sentinel project in Utah. CNS manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex for the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Ailes has more than 35 years of nuclear production, weapons manufacturing and high-hazard operations experience, and he has served as CNS’s chief operating officer since July 2025.

A Navy veteran and a Bechtel principal vice president, Ailes has an A.S. degree in nuclear technologies from Regents College, a bachelor’s in human resources from New School University, and a master’s in business (MBA) from the University of Missouri.

Seasonal handbags in the Patricia Nash collection to benefit Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital

Handbags boost Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital

Patricia Nash Designs has launched a special-edition handbag collection benefiting Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital. The Knoxville-based company released the collection in June 2026, saying it “reflects a meaningful fusion of creativity, compassion and community impact.”

The collection features five unique handbag designs, each crafted to tell a story while embodying Patricia Nash’s signature aesthetic. More than a design initiative, the collection serves a vital purpose to donate. 100% of proceeds will directly benefit the hospital, supporting its mission to deliver state-of-the-art care to more than 130,000 patients annually. The bags are available to purchase at the hospital gift shop or online.

Patricia Nash Designs launched when Nash was 50 years old in 2010. Today, the company generates about $100 million in annual revenue, built on what Nash calls an “affordable luxury” formula. Sherin Shibu has the story at Entrepreneur.com

KOC chief selected for Knoxville Chamber board

Pete Pearson

Pete Pearson, the CEO of Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic (KOC), has been appointed to serve on the Knoxville Chamber board of directors, which guides the organization’s overall direction and policy stances.

The organization’s mission is to drive regional economic prosperity.

Pearson says being a part of the Chamber board allows him “to participate in workforce and economic development efforts to benefit the Knoxville region.” He will serve a three-year term, which became effective July 1, 2026. See the full board here.

Pearson joined KOC as chief operating officer in 2017 and added the role of chief financial officer in 2022. He was selected to serve as KOC’s chief executive officer in 2023. Prior to joining KOC, he served as consulting principal at Pershing Yoakley & Associates P.C. and as an officer in the U.S. Army.

Pearson earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Mercer University and an MBA from The University of Tennessee. He is a fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (FHFMA), serves on the board of commissioners for the Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) and is a member of the Pellissippi State Community College Administrative Professional Technology Advisory Board.

Notes & Quotes

Workforce Pell program: Announced July 1, 2026, by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development in partnership with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. This federal initiative will create new opportunities for Tennesseans to access high-quality, short-term workforce training aligned with today’s economy. Details here.

The Knoxville Area Urban League’s largest community event – Shoes for School on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Covenant Health Park – will be bigger than ever and in a new location. Talk with a representative about ways to get involved, or donate here. 

Outdoor Knoxville for running, rafting and things that start with other letters is free online at Legacy Parks Foundation here.

Quote: Wooden-headedness, the source of self-deception, is a factor that plays a remarkably large role in government. It consists in assessing a situation in terms of preconceived fixed notions while ignoring or rejecting any contrary signs. It is acting according to wish while not allowing oneself to be deflected by the facts. – Barbara Tuchman, historian

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