Meet Our Leadership Team

"To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity." ~ Don Alden Adams

Allison Sousa, 
​Director

Allison joined the City of Lenoir City as director of The Venue in August of 2016. Starting 4 months prior to The Venue being completed and opening to the public was very helpful, as she was able to focus on research, pricing, policies & procedures, staffing, marketing, furnishings, and other tasks necessary to ensure her team could hit the ground running.
 
​Allison earned her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and marketing from Belmont University and her Master of Business Administration degree from Baylor University. She earned her Certified Chamber Executive designation through the University of Georgia's Institute for Organization Management and enjoyed specialized leadership training at the International Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, North Carolina.
 
She is currently a member of the International Venue Managers Association (IAVM), the LC Committee of 100, and is a board member of the Good Samaritan Center of Loudon County. In addition, Allison is past-president of the Loudon County Visitors Bureau (Visit Loudon County), and a past-president and long-time member of the Pilot Club of Lenoir City.
 
Her professional background includes work in the private and public sectors, concentrating in the areas of marketing & PR, hospitality management, economic development, financial services, and non-profit management. Most notably, she was president of the Loudon County Chamber of Commerce for almost 8 years, during which time she led the Chamber to national accreditation, was instrumental in establishing the Loudon County Education Foundation and designed and implemented the Leadership Loudon County program. Prior to joining The Venue, she managed her own marketing company while also directing the Farragut Business Alliance.
 
When discussing her current position, she tells the story of reading about the city’s new event center being approved by City Council, turning to her husband, Steve, and saying, “that’s my job!” They’d intentionally drive by the site while The Venue was under construction to monitor the progress, just waiting until the day when Allison could apply to manage it. “Back in my Chamber days, we talked extensively about the need for an event center. In my mind, being hired as the director brings my Loudon County journey full-circle and utilizes all the skills and talents I’ve developed in my other positions over the years,” she said.
 
Something people might not know about Allison is that she’s been playing the piano since the age of five and has a singing and acting background (though those talents are very rusty today). She is the married mother of two sons: One a recent graduate of East Tennessee State University pursuing his interest in history; and the other, a newly married Veteran of the United States Marine Corps with a degree in business administration.

Mandie Cox, Private Events Manager & Wedding Specialist

Mandie Cox joined The Venue’s management team in September of 2024 as its Private Events Manager & Wedding Specialist. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts and Communications and then her MBA from Tennessee Wesleyan University. While she has a strong financial background, it is her community involvement, experience working with local governments, planning and execution of large-scale special events and active participation as a wedding service vendor that grabbed our attention.

Mandie is a graduate of Monroe County Leadership and is currently enrolled in the East Tennessee Leadership program. She is also a past chairman of the Sweetwater Volunteer Board and the Monroe County Chamber Diplomats. In addition, she serves on the Niota Volunteer Board and is a member of NEST of Women in Athens, Tennessee. Her volunteer experience has provided her with a broad perspective on event planning and community involvement.

In her role as a financial center manager, she organized numerous internal events and led successful community engagement efforts. She also served as a photography assistant for several years, so has a bird’s eye view of what it takes to execute these special days to perfection.

With over seven years of customer service experience, she excels in building strong relationships and ensuring exceptional service. In addition to her management experience, she also demonstrates strong team leadership and organizational skills, which are all key to her new position as The Venue continues to grow.

Mandie was born and raised in Etowah, Tennessee where her extended family still resides. Her husband teaches at Lenoir City High School. The couple recently relocated to Lenoir City from Athens, Tennessee. 

​When discussing why she was drawn to the position, she shared, “because of The Venue’s reputation for excellence and its dedication to creating memorable experiences for its clients.”

​Something people might not know about Mandie is that she is an amateur knife thrower and recently won a competition in Newport, Tennessee!​

Leah Howard, Banquets & Events Manager

Leah came to The Venue in August of 2021 as a hospitality intern from Pellissippi State Technical Community College. During her internship, she experienced every position on the event floor – from setup crew & attendant to server and bartender. She also assisted with office coverage as needed. Leah went on to earn her Associates of Applied Sciences in Business Hospitality Management from Pellissippi in May of 2022.

​She has remained on The Venue’s payroll since that time as a bartender and to assist “as needed.” A graduate of Loudon County High School and a native Loudon Countian, many Lenoir Citians will recognize Leah from her tenure at Starbucks’ two Lenoir City locations, where she was a barista and assistant manager.

Leah also brings extensive customer service skills from her work with various local retailers. Her background made her the perfect choice when the Banquet/Event Manager position became available, so she was promoted in July of 2024.
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The number one skill Leah believes she brings to her new position is her work ethic. She added, “I enjoy getting to know people and understand the importance of communication skills, especially with the diverse audiences hosted at The Venue.” Leah knows that her organizational & collaborative skills, problem-solving abilities during stressful situations, and her familiarity with The Venue will give her a leg-up going forward in her position.
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Something people might not know about Leah is that she was privileged to see England’s Queen Elizabeth in real-life and she loves to travel!

Kayden Ezell

Event Captain

Kayden is a graduate of Lenoir City High School and has been with The Venue since early 2024. She is a graduate of Pellissippi State Technical Community College. Her full-time job is as a special education para-professional at Lenoir City Elementary School. Her favorite thing about working at The Venue is "getting to see and interact with people from different cultures."

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Lindsey Newton

Event Captain

​Lindsey has been with The Venue since August of this year, but has been helping us keep the building looking clean and new for several years! She has worked in a number of roles that allowed her to use her creativity and problem-solving skills to turn ideas into action and find solutions for any challenge. Some of her favorite roles have been bartending, cleaning, and organizing offices and personal spaces. Her most favorite role though, is being a mom to 3 wonderful kiddos, an amazing husband, and 3 snuggly cats. Her favorite thing about working at The Venue is everyone she works with. "The Venue is a team and like a little family." She also enjoys learning new skills and sharpening those she already possesses.

Madison Graves

Event Captain

Madison is a graduate of Greenback High School and has been with The Venue as an event attendant since 2022. In 2023, she was promoted to event captain. She obtained her Associate of General Science degree from Pellissippi State Community College's dental program and a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene from Tennessee Weslyan University. Her favorite thing about working at The Venue is "being around fun and loving co-workers."

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Jamison Sousa

Event Captain

Jamison is a graduate of Lenoir City High School and East Tennessee State University, with a major in Political Science and a minor in History. He has been with The Venue since it opened in December of 2016. He continues to lend his talents to The Venue while he searches for his dream job (likely in a museum somewhere!). His favorite thing about working at The Venue is "meeting people from different cultures."

Noah Graves

Event Captain

Noah is a recent graduate of Greenback Public School, where he was a member of the sub-state ranking Greenback Cherokees baseball team. Noah has been with The Venue as an event attendant since the summer of 2024. He is currently an electrical apprentice. His favorite thing about working at The Venue is "meeting new people."

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McKenzie Wilhite

Event Captain

McKenzie is a graduate of Lenoir City High School and Roane State Community College and currently is a student in Tennessee Weslyan's dental hygiene program. She has been with The Venue as an event attendant since 2022 and was promoted to event captain in 2024. Her favorite thing about working at The Venue is "meeting new people all of the time."

Patti Hunt

Event Captain

Patti began her career as an Accounting Technician for the Internal Revenue Service and was promoted to Supervisory Unit Chief in the Accounting Department. After 9 years with the IRS, she accepted a position with the Department of Labor in Special Investigations and stayed there until later marrying and transferring to the Department of Energy in Oak Ridge as a Federal Staffing and Recruitment Specialist. After twenty-nine years of service with the federal government, she retired in 2023.
 
Patti is married and has 2 daughters in West Virginia. (Fun fact, there are 18 years between her girls!) She also has two stepchildren in Maryville, 6 grandchildren, 4 "grand-pups" and 3 "grand-cats".

After moving to Lenoir City, she didn't know a lot of people and saw an ad for a part-time position at The Venue. It seemed like the perfect post-retirement way to stay busy and meet people. Working at The Venue far exceeded her expectations. Not only did she meet people, but she also made a lot of new friends.

She enjoys working with everyone and especially appreciates the rewarding opportunity to mentor students from the local Transition Academy. She also appreciates experiencing a variety of cultural events and learning about charitable organizations and opportunities in the area. ​

​IN MEMORIUM
STEPHANIE BURTON NELSON
​APR 11, 1977 -  JUL 10, 2024

Stephanie Burton Nelson, age 47, passed away suddenly on July 10, 2024, at Turkey Creek Medical Center in Knoxville. Stephanie was a loving wife and mother. She and her husband Erik met at Purdue University in 1995 and quickly fell in love. Everything they did, they did as a team, tackling life together, hand-in-hand and with love. They always forgave each other and built a relationship that would stand the test of time. They made love look easy, setting an example of what a strong, loving relationship looked like. They also raised three beautiful children, of whom she was so proud of. She was the rock of the family. Her kids always knew they could call their mom when something went wrong, they had a question, or just needed someone to talk to on a drive home. She raised her kids to love openly, care freely, and spread joy wherever they can. They will always love their mom and will strive to lead lives that continue to make her proud.

She was the epitome of the phrase “full of life,” and because of that, the family made the decision for her to be a donor, so her presence will live on. She was the ultimate event planner and was able to live that out daily at The Venue in Lenoir City where she worked. Stephanie was the most extraordinary band mom at both Woodlan and Farragut High School for many years, with her main title being “the Fruit Lady” several of those years. She was class mom, chaperone, first aid gal, snack lady, teacher assistant, or just whatever was needed for her children and everyone else’s children at all the Farragut schools. Stephanie also loved to craft. She could sew, tape, cut, bedazzle, or use a glue gun on pretty much anything! And being from Indiana, she never hid her Purdue Pride. She loved to travel and never left the house without earrings and her "pocketbook." She was a friend beyond friends. She always had your back and would toast with a glass of wine anytime.

Stephanie is survived by her husband of 25 years and love of her life, Erik; son, Kaleb and wife, Keely; daughters, Isabelle and Karys; Mom and Dad, Cindy and Paul; sisters, Alexis and Hillary; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ken and Joanne; sister-in-law, Nikki and husband, Chris; and other extended family members who loved her. Stephanie LOVED being an aunt to her 2 precious nieces and 3 "nephews" who all called her Aunt Ne-Ne. She always strived to be the best Aunt because of the way her Aunts and Uncles cared for her. She also leaves countless friends who will always cherish her and promise to continue telling our “Stephanie stories.”

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STEPHANIE'S STAFF DESCRIPTION...
Stephanie has been on board at The Venue since the building was only steel and concrete. She began her journey with the staff as a part-time event coordinator; but was quickly promoted to full-time assistant director due to her outstanding abilities. As she humorously shares with people, “in the event Miss America can’t perform her duties, number two steps in to run the show!”
 
Prior to working at The Venue – or even relocating to Tennessee, for that matter – Stephanie managed her own wedding planning business in Indiana and earned her Certified Wedding Planner certificate. She has since earned her Certified Wedding Planner designation through The Bridal Society. She is also a graduate of Leadership Loudon County (Class of 2021). In 2017, she was asked to join the Creative Committee for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital’s Fantasy of Trees and manage her own creative team. Since that time, her team has been responsible for the Henley Street entrance décor.
 
When asked about the talents or skills she feels she brings to her job, she said, “I am very creative and crafty, and can usually enhance a client’s vision for their event.” She added, “I am able to easily develop connections with clients and add a level of trust and personal responsibility to each and every event I execute.”
 
Stephanie’s favorite part about her job at The Venue is the team with which she works. She “enjoys the feeling of accomplishment when we work hard as a team to produce an amazing event for a client.”
 
Stephanie is a married mother of 3 children, so she remains very active in school organizations. Something people might not know about her is that she is a self-taught seamstress. She also added that she’s a talker…but anyone who’s met her already knows that!