Board of Directors

The Board is elected by the ATD Smoky Mountain Chapter general membership for terms of one year. Board positions include President, President Elect, Vice Presidents of Finance, Membership, Programs, Communications and Marketing, Technology, and Administration. The Immediate Past President serves in a non-voting capacity to provide continuity of the Board. All Board positions are eligible for re-election for indefinite terms, except the President and President Elect.

Link to 2023 Board of Director Job Descriptions:

2023 President Job Description - Approved.pdf

Meet your 2023 Board! Board members can be reached by e-mail or during scheduled events.

President

AJ Bussell is the Training Program Specialist at Centrus Energy Corp. serving as a Senior Training and Development Leader with extensive experience working with all organizational levels creating, promoting, and delivering training solutions designed to support the organization’s business plan.

AJ received a B.S. degree from Tennessee Wesleyan College, and since that time served in the United States Navy and the civilian sector. His background includes various leadership roles and management experiences in project management, operational planning, training, course development, and occupational health. AJ is a former Naval Instructor and currently certified as a DiSC trainer.

VP of Finance

Allen Lutz has been a longtime leader on the Board. He has brought experience and stability to the Chapter's Membership initiatives since 2008. In 2009, he spearheaded the Chapter's efforts to implement a Corporate Membership category. He was instrumental in increasing the Chapter's retention rate in 2010 and 2011 by continuously following up with members who needed to renew their memberships. Allen previously served as the VP of Communications, was the editor of the quarterly newsletter from 1996 to 2003, and was responsible for establishing the Chapter's first web site.

Allen is the Education and Workforce Development Specialist for The Roane Alliance, where he works with the county and region's education and business communities to develop workforce skills, knowledge, and behaviors that are needed to deliver products and services both now and in the future. Allen is a graduate of the Leadership Roane County Class of 2011. In 2013, the Roane Alliance's Education Matters! program, which Allen established and leads, was awarded the "Excellence in Economic Development Award for Partnerships with Educational Institutions" by the International Economic Development Council.

VP of Administration

Leah Graves is the Leadership and Organizational Development Manager at Dollywood. With over 18 years of experience working as a trainer and facilitator, she currently manages training and development programs for leaders across all properties of the Dollywood Company (Dollywood Theme Park, Splash Country, DreamMore Resort and Spa, and Smoky Mountain Cabins). She is also responsible for designing, developing and facilitating instructor-led training classes, online eLearning courses, performance goals and mentorships, all focusing on leadership and professional development. Leah is a certified facilitator in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Everything DiSC, the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Signature Program, and the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Foundations Program.

A graduate of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies and a Master’s Degree in Communications, emphasis in Public Relations. Leah has also worked as an adjunct instructor for the UT School of Communication Studies, teaching introductory public speaking and business and professional communication classes. Prior to joining Dollywood, Leah worked as a trainer in higher education, healthcare, and the student loan industry.

VP of Communications, Marketing, and Technology

Karen Odell, CPTD is a Learning Experience Designer with a focus on business analysis, training needs assessment, ROI analysis, project management, and e-Learning design. As a Trainer, Mentor, and Preceptor, Karen uses Face-2-Face, remote and blended learning techniques.

Karen completed her Instructional Strategy and Design Certification from University of California, Irvine. Tennessee Licensed and Nationally Registered Dietitian with B.S. degree in Nutrition and Institutional Management from Purdue University and M.S. degree in Secondary-Adult Education from Indiana University; Karen has experience training employees and customers, business training analysis, healthcare management, marketing, project management, and sales management.

For fun, Karen is a Volunteer Puppy Raiser with Canine Companions for Independence. Weekly, she and her current puppy visit different locations, volunteering time to read with “at-risk” children.

VP of Membership and Student Scholarship - Open

VP of Programs - Open

mailto:Programs@atdsmokymountain.org