Chair

JOHN WINEMILLER

John Winemiller is a member of Merchant & Gould’s litigation team in the Knoxville office. In addition to intellectual property litigation, his legal practice and background includes a variety of commercial litigation matters, including the defense of class action, toxic tort and product liability suits, as well as securities, contractual, real estate and employment disputes.

As an attorney who represents a broad range of intellectual property clients from electronic pet products manufacturers and automotive parts suppliers to home builders and internet entrepreneurs, Winemiller is continually challenged to learn about new businesses and technologies and to apply legal principles in new and changing environments. His ability to understand and articulate complex concepts in a way that decision-makers can understand helps him to proactively and effectively assist his clients in protecting their intellectual property assets.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Winemiller earned a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in music history and theory from the University of Chicago, where he taught before joining the faculty of the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His academic research focused on the nexus between the creative process and 18th century conceptions of intellectual property. His fascination with the theory of ownership of ideas led him to law school and, ultimately, to Merchant & Gould.

Winemiller serves on the diversity and conflicts committees at the firm. He represents arts groups, civil rights groups and disability advocacy groups pro bono. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, historic preservation, music performance, cooking, exercise and travel.

Vice Chair

Bob Whetsel

Bob Whetsel retired in 2015, following a 22-year career with the City of Knoxville, where he served as director of public service from 1993 to 2007 and as director of redevelopment from 2008 until his retirement. He also previously spent time in private development and was a football coach and social studies teacher at Bearden High School.

Whetsel and his wife, Melynda, are residents of the historic Fourth and Gill neighborhood. He has been deeply involved in that neighborhood’s redevelopment, as well as redevelopment of Downtown Knoxville and Downtown North.

Whetsel earned his bachelor’s degree from Emory and Henry College in 1974. He serves as chairman of the board of the Hazen Historical Museum Foundation and is a trustee of Central United Methodist Church.

Secretary

BEN BENTLEY

As Executive Director and CEO, Ben Bentley develops and implements strategic initiatives to improve affordable housing and foster development in the City of Knoxville and Knox County. Bentley’s background includes significant national experience with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He also has a track record of successfully managing operations of large public housing agencies in the Region.

Prior to his current role, Bentley served as Chief Operating Officer of the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) in Nashville, with broad oversight of all Public Housing and Section 8 programs. During his time at MHDA, Bentley led efforts to convert and recapitalize the Agency’s Public Housing portfolio under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program.

Bentley began his career at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Nashville Field Office in 2010 as a Presidential Management Fellow and Portfolio Management Specialist.

In 2014, Bentley was promoted to Division Director of HUD’s Denver Regional Office of Public Housing with responsibility for financial and regulatory oversight of public housing agencies across a six-state region. Bentley also served as a Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) subject matter expert for HUD.

He currently serves on the Board of the Tennessee Association of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (TAHRA). Bentley holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Denver and is working toward a Master of Real Estate at Georgetown University. An Alabama native, he also holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Birmingham-Southern College.

Treasurer

ROBYN MCADOO

Robyn McAdoo has been a licensed architect for more than 15 years after graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Tennessee in 2001. Her passion for architecture and community is evident in her eagerness and skill in business development and project management at Dollar & Ewers Architecture. As a project manager, she oversees implementation of each development phase and keeps a watchful eye on budget and schedule.

Her community involvement includes serving as past president of AIA of East Tennessee, current board member of AIA State of Tennessee and past chair of the City of Knoxville Board of Zoning Appeals. McAdoo, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional: Building Design and Construction (LEED AP BD+C) through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), keeps up-to-date on smart, sustainable strategies. She also serves as a board member and membership chair for the Old City Neighborhood Association.

McAdoo, along with husband Chris and children Carter and Harper, are active members of First Presbyterian Church.

BRUCE ANDERSON

Bruce Anderson has recently retired as the Vice President for Legal Services and General Counsel at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville. Prior to leaving private practice, he was a trial lawyer, specializing in the area of medical malpractice defense.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee College of Business and his J.D. from the UT College of Law.

Anderson currently serves on the boards of the Knoxville Chamber, Central Business Improvement District and UT Federal Credit Union. He is a past president of the Knoxville Bar Association, and his past board service has included Knoxville Utilities Board, Leadership Knoxville, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army and Volunteer Knoxville.

He is married to Monique Anderson and has two sons, James and John.

KIMBERLY K. HENRY

Kimberly joined Jim LaPinska’s practice in November of 2013, after having worked as a Financial Representative from 2012 until then. Her responsibilities include being a main point of contact for clients and future clients, overall office and business administration and management, team workflow coordination, human resource management for the practice, communications liaison with business associates and vendors, and special events coordination.

Kimberly graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Statistics) from the University of Tennessee then pursued a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from UT. She had an 18+ year career in Urban Planning and Property Development before joining Northwestern Mutual. She is an Associate Financial Advisor and holds the Series 6 and 63 securities registrations, as well as the Tennessee life/health, long-term care, and variable insurance licenses.

Kim enjoys various organizations including the Knox Heritage Board, the Knoxville Opera Board, Friends of Literacy Events Committee, Dogwood Arts, and City People. Kim was appointed by the Mayor of Knoxville to the Metropolitan Planning Commission, the Downtown Design Review Board, on which she served as Chair for 5 years, and most recently to the Wrecker Commission. She lives in Downtown Knoxville.

SYLVIA COOK

Ms. Cook was a Lieutenant for Vincent Guard. She is an Evangelist, member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Sunday School Teacher, founder of the Eastport Neighborhood Watch, Bible Study Teacher, a KPD volunteer, and a student in Citizen’s D. A. Class. She graduated from the Knoxville Citizen’s Police Academy in 2003 and the Community Leadership Class in 2015, Ms. Cook, born in Chattanooga, moved to Knoxville in 2003. She is a widow with four children (2 girls and 2 boys).

Gloria M. Garner

Gloria Garner has dedicated her life to service. Her career with the Knoxville Area Urban League (KAUL) spanned 38 years from 1968 to her retirement in 2006.

Garner’s career began as a community organizer, and she was responsible for organizing community groups to address social problems in three large target areas and to also provide case management. She later became the housing and employment counselor. In this position she facilitated recruitment, counseling, referrals, placement and interviewing.

In 1995, Garner accepted the position of employment and business development manager and in 1997 was promoted to vice president of internal/external affairs. As KAUL vice president, she received numerous awards and recognition. She still serves on advisory boards and committees, including the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission, Lonsdale Homecoming Committee and Midway Rehabilitation Board of Directors.

She was the 2002 recipient of the prestigious Whitney M. Young Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award for her service to the Knoxville Area Urban League. She also is a member of the Quarter Century Club of the National Urban League.

Garner is a native of Morristown, Tennessee, and attended the University of Tennessee, majoring in child development. She is a longtime member of First Calvary Baptist Church in Lonsdale.