Ambassadors

I'm Shawna, your dedicated Military Relocation Professional at Weichert Realtors Saxon Clark, with a focus on serving the heroes among us. Moved here from CA when my family & I decided we wanted to simply have a shot at "Living the American Dream".  We landed here in beautiful Kingsport, TN. I'm a mom, Nonna, & wife. In my free time I enjoy crafting, fishing, road trips, cooking, & being outdoors. Specializing in Northeast Tennessee real estate, I cater to buyers and sellers. My proficiency as an MRP means I'm uniquely equipped to address the challenges and opportunities inherent in the military and first responder housing markets.  My specialization in Homes for Heroes underscores my dedication to serving those who've dedicated themselves to our safety and freedom. If you're contemplating a move & looking for a real estate professional who understands the value of service, I'm here to help.

Liz joined the Holston Business Development Center (HBDC) in May 2022.  She is originally from the Midwest and received her M.B.A. in entrepreneurship & corporate innovation and management at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business in 2015. Before receiving her masters, she spent 12 years in Japan. 

As director of HBDC she looks forward to recruiting new business to the area and assisting current clients to build strong and sustainable companies.  

I was born and raised in Oregon and moved to Tennessee in 2023. With a background in finance and a passion for serving my community, I spent 15 years as a 911 Dispatcher and Reserve Police Officer. I am dedicated to supporting our first responders through organizations like Homes for Heroes®, Call For Backup, Project Humanize, and First Help. These organizations advocate for legislative changes, mental health awareness, and suicide prevention in the first responder community. In my free time, I love exploring the great outdoors and going off-road in my Jeep. I enjoy traveling with my husband and seeking out new adventures. I am committed to helping you with your homeownership needs and am available to assist you at any time, including evenings and weekends. 

As a licensed agent at New York Life Insurance Company, I offer a variety of products that can help you meet a number of insurance and financial needs, including, but not limited to college funding, retirement, managing costs for extended periods of care and lifetime income strategies. Please contact me to help you fully analyze your needs and recommend appropriate solutions.
 

Kina Dutro is the publisher of Stroll Wooded Place and BeLocal Kingsport & Bristol.

She helps reputable local businesses connect with their ideal clients through both print and digital marketing. Her print magazine content is locally sourced and offers the same benefits of digital media by allowing businesses to hyper-target local residents, but through a beautiful, more “permanent” medium which readers savor and appreciate.

Kina loves people and is passionate about building community. She partners with Tri-City residents to create quality monthly publications, giving locals an opportunity to learn about their neighbors and their great community, while also introducing them to great local businesses.

Kina enjoys experiencing other cultures, paddle boarding, and well-roasted coffee. She lives in Kingsport with her husband, Rodney, and their four daughters.

I'm a creative advocate passionate about marketing consultation & collaboration. With expertise in social media, customer relations, and B2B marketing, I drive growth and optimize engagement at Ripl Creative.

My focus is on building genuine connections, fostering trust, and delivering valuable insights for sustainable business success. Collaboration is key—I thrive in team environments, harnessing diverse perspectives to create innovative strategies.

As a speaker, I empower others to cultivate meaningful relationships in business for mutual success. Let's make an impact in marketing through collaboration and genuine connections.

I am a proud REALTOR who has a heart for helping clients reach their real estate goals.  From new construction, rentals, flips, commercial and residential sales, I work hard for buyers and sellers with their next move. Marketing strategies, connections, and personalized service are all very important to me. I proudly worked for Kingsport City Schools for 30.5 years as an English teacher at Robinson Middle School. My heart will always advocate for education and community. I've proudly served in many roles including Kiwanis Tower volunteer, YMCA tutor, cheer sponsor, Department of Defense SkillsBridge partner, reading liaison, and volunteer within many local shelters and organizations. The best part of me is my FAMILY! Being a grandmother to four is my favorite title. Watching my grandchildren grow up and experience all our community has to offer is surreal. That's why it's important to me to be involved and serve in a place I proudly call HOME!

: I am a dedicated Realtor helping buyers and sellers navigate the real estate process with confidence and care.
As a proud member for The Kingsport Chamber Ambassadors, I am passionate about supporting local businesses and fostering community growth.

As Vice President of Ribbons Physical Therapy, Johnny’s responsibilities are to manage the business side of the clinic to ensure our therapists can devote their full attention in caring for our patients. Johnny has over 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and business administration. He was blessed to find and marry Sheree in Memphis over 30 years ago while she was in PT school. Together they have internationally adopted, raised and nudged from the nest 2 beautiful daughters, Kinsey and Kindyl.

Loan Officer originating Auto, Signature, Mortgage and Home Equity Loans.

Jim McComb, Managing Director of Wild Card Strategy, has more than 30 years of experience in executive-level management at some of America's largest companies. Corporate strategy, marketing, finance, risk management, and strategic planning are his areas of expertise, and his Kingsport-based consulting practice places particular emphasis on Next Generation strategic planning, forecasting and managing business Wild Card opportunities and threats, managing and mitigating eight major categories of business risk, and Next Practices creation and deployment. He has earned the Strategic Management Professional (SMP) certification and is a past president of the International Association of Strategy Professionals. Although relatively new to Kingsport, he is no stranger to Tennessee, as his "blood runneth orange" as a proud graduate of UT Knoxville.

As a resident of Kingsport for over thirty years, I am excited to be an ambassador for the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce. Being an Affiliate Broker at Weichert Realtors Saxon Clark provides an avenue to help others when relocating to this beautiful area.

I’m a Texas transplant who fell in love with Kingsport, Tennessee when I moved here in May 2014.   I started working for Horizon Credit Union in 2014 and immediately became a convert of the credit union movement.  Here’s why: Since 1932, Horizon Credit Union’s commitment has been to serve our members and communities by offering exceptional service and experiences. Throughout the credit union’s history, we have remained true to our founder’s vision and have provided a safe and stable place to save with fair access to credit. Come join us!

As a dedicated Realtor with over eight years of experience serving the
East Tennessee area, I take pride in helping buyers, sellers, and
investors find the perfect property to meet their needs. A Kingsport
native, I am passionate about my community and actively involved as an
Ambassador for the Kingsport City Chamber of Commerce. I am also a
proud member of the Voices of the Mountains Choir and always seeking
new ways to give back. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree from Bethel
University, and my goal is to provide exceptional service, market
expertise, and a seamless real estate experience for my clients.

Assured Insurance Consultants, a local team of agents here to assist you with Commercial Liability, Workers Compensation, Health and Life insurance needs.

2025 Chamber Ambassador Chair, 2023 Chamber Ambassador of the year, and your favorite insurance agent! I specialize in individual and group life, health, and commercial business insurance. I am dedicated to protecting what matters most to you. Whether it's safeguarding your family's future, ensuring your health coverage meets your needs, or providing comprehensive solutions for your business and employee benefits, I am here to guide you every step of the way. With a focus on personalized service and attention to detail, I strive to build lasting relationships with my clients based on trust and reliability. Outside of work, you will find me hiking, weight training, spending time with my family, and volunteering within our community. Let's work together to secure your peace of mind and protect your financial future.

2024 Ambassador Chair

Josh aka “that marketing guy” is an East Tennessee native with a passion for people and creativity. He joined AFI at the beginning of 2021 and has hit the ground running. Josh has made a career as a forward thinker, applying the practice of digital strategy with marketing creative. We all have a story to tell, and he is here to share AFI's story and success for helping others. He is an avid musician, loves spending time on the lake, and bleeds orange – GO VOLS! But he is probably best known as Executive Chef of the Shores household, cooking tasty treats for his son and his two doggies! 

Quote: “I am not superstitious… but I am a little stitious” 

I am a life-long Kingsport resident and have been a real estate agent in our beautiful area for 10 years.  I am an owner of Copper Key Properties along with Jenny Beck and Jim Rigsby and our team has grown to 32 dedicated agents,- two of which are my two children- along with a skilled property management team, and we proudly serve the communities of East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

I have an amazing husband, two children and two grandchildren who are my sunshine.

I am proud to represent our local Chamber of Commerce and our lovely Kingsport!!!

Visit us at our new office location:
1825 N Eastman Rd, Suite 3 (next to American Lighting)
Come by, meet our team, and enjoy a cup of coffee as we help you unlock your real estate dreams.

Becca Sutphen serves as the Senior Director of Community Impact for the United Way of Greater Kingsport where she oversees the community impact work of the Member Agencies and Initiatives. Becca has 20 years of experience working in both the non-profit and government sectors.  Becca is from Rhode Island and served 8 years in the Army as an Environmental Science Officer.

11-year Honorable Service Veteran, that has a heart to serve the local region and community. Fully committed and dedicated on ensuring that Veterans have all the proper resources and training to succeed in life post military!

Specializing in residential and commercial real estate, Wendy uses her 15 years of experience to help clients market their property, negotiate contracts and navigate through the process of buying and selling real estate. Her goal is to get her clients to the closing table as flawlessly as possible, all while following a strong moral code and a consistent set of values. 

Experienced banker that cares about customer service and helping people with personal financial goals.  I have always worked hard for my customers to ensure they have the best possible service as long as they bank with me. 

Having served others for 27 years as a registered nurse, Talina traded in her scrubs to follow her dream of being a business owner. Inspire Wine Bar’s mission is to inspire others through great wine, food, art, and furnishings sourced regionally.