My Story

I grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, the daughter of an English Teacher and an Entrepreneur. My parents’ influence is the foundation for the career and volunteer work I have done throughout my adult life.

I graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Business Administration with a major in Finance in 1983. I began my professional career at First Federal Savings & Loan in my hometown. I married Scott Fugate, whom I met my first week at UT, in 1987. We had reconnected when he was stationed in Charleston, SC as a young Naval officer.

We moved back to Knoxville in 1988 when he enrolled in the MBA program at UT, and I began working for First Tennessee as a lender. Through my work at First Tennessee, I was re-introduced to Knoxville in a way that I had not been as a student. I fell in love with our community, and we decided to build our careers, raise a family here and put down roots.

My career of almost 30 years in the financial services industry also raised my awareness of economic development and the importance of good jobs for our citizens. This new knowledge of economic development issues showcased the importance of high-quality education for the citizens of our region. This is where the influence of my parents and their career paths intersected for me.

I have served on many boards that supported a wide variety of interests, such as the arts, affordable housing, domestic violence, youth services, leadership development, community development, economic development, and education. In addition, I served in leadership roles in every PTA at the schools my two sons, Henley & Patrick, attended. I then served two terms on the Knox County Board of Education, even serving one term as Chair of the board. I also was fortunate enough to have served on the Tennessee Association of School Boards board.

From 2000 to 2005, I was the Executive Director of Nine Counties. One Vision. This five-year project was the largest citizen-driven, long-range strategic planning effort in the southeastern United States at the time. This planning effort included Anderson, Blount, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox, Roane, and Union counties. This role expanded my knowledge of the entire region and made me want to serve even more.

Throughout my adult life in Knoxville, I have remained committed to serving my community and help improve the quality of life for its citizens. I have continued this work now as the CEO of Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians (which covers 35 counties in East Tennessee, six counties in Virginia, and four counties in Georgia) and as a member of the City Council of Knoxville.

Dedicated Public Service

My Experience