The April issue of VIP Knoxville will be my last as editor.

It’s been a fantastic four years. I love VIP Knoxville and its great team. It was a privilege to get the magazine up and running and to navigate it through the challenging event-free covid years. I have enjoyed profiling interesting people in the community and being welcomed into so many beautiful homes. I’m happy to say that I will still contribute profiles and home features.

No one who knows me would be surprised that I have loved being out and about in the community, meeting people and attending events. It has been inspiring to shine a light on the work of
the charitable and arts organizations in the area. Being able to partner with so many great nonprofits was one of the things that most attracted me to the magazine. VIP Knoxville is a happy publication, focused on celebrating the good things around us–so important in this chaotic world. Looking at VIP and seeing all the smiling faces always makes me happy–and I hope it does the same for you.

I’m following my heart back into the nonprofit world, which is where I’ve spent most of my life. I’m going to be the chief development officer for the East Tennessee Historical Society. It’s time to dust off my Ph.D. and my fundraising and event planning skills. Call me crazy, but I love fundraising. And you know I love events!

Finally, a sad note: In the May 2022 issue, VIP will feature its fifth annual Blount County Community Spotlight. It will be the first one we have done without the guidance and participation of our dear friend and colleague, Sherri Gardner Howell, who passed away in March. Look for a tribute to Sherri in the Blount County Community Spotlight, appropriate because Sherri loved that community so much.

Gay