Meet Our Staff
Crystal White
General Manager
crystal@knoxvilleexpocenter.com
Crystal started with KEC in 2003 in an administrative position. Since then she has grown with the experience of handling each duty personally at one time or another. Her position as General Manager means that she is responsible for all aspects of the Knoxville Expo Center. She works closely with all clients and promoters to ensure a professional experience. Both her expertise and outgoing personality uniquely position her to work with a diverse clientele with equally diverse needs. One thing Crystal always says is “it is definitely a satisfying career… I never get bored and never have the same day twice”.
Otha Ward Jr.
Director of Operations
Junior joined the Knoxville Expo Center in 2004 as Director of Operations. Junior brings a wealth of real world knowledge and experience from his time as Director of Food & Beverage for Levy Restaurants at the Tennessee Smokies Baseball Stadium in Kodak, Tennessee (located between Knoxville and Gatlinburg).His responsibilities encompass all aspects of the daily maintenance and operations of the facility. This includes overseeing facility and parking lot integrity and appearance, providing a welcoming environment for clients and visitors, purchasing and maintaining supply levels for catering and concessions, and managing events. He is a very dedicated. If the door is open at the Expo Center chances are you will find him there!
Renita Stinnett
Office Administrator & Sales Team
renita@knoxvilleexpocenter.com
Renita has worked with the Knoxville Expo Center since 2005. She attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville from 1989-1992. She received her degree in Marketing from Pellissippi State Community College in May of 1996. She is responsible for the Accounts Payables department while sharing in the responsibilities of managing events. She also contributes extensively to the sales team through selling and coordinating banquet events and building lasting relationships with both clients and promoters. Renita is the devoted mother of two children.
Rhonda Whittaker
Office/Concessions Manager & Sales Team
rhonda@knoxvilleexpocenter.com
Rhonda has been with the Knoxville Expo Center since the fall of 2004. As Office Manager, Rhonda coordinates shipping and receiving, office correspondence and scheduling, accounts receivables, and daily office operations. As Concessions Manager, Rhonda brings over twenty-five years of experience of concessions operations. She is also a member of the Knoxville Expo Center’s Sales Team which includes customer service and coordinating events for individual clients.
Sara Hicks
Event Coordinator
Sara joined the company in 2006. She is responsible for the sales and planning of events at the Knoxville Expo Center. She has a bachelor’s degree from Carson Newman College with a Major in Mass Communication with focus in Public Relations and Advertising and minor in Political Science. She loves working with her clients and helping those that she deals with on a daily bases to help them achieve their vision for their event.