FY16 Commission Board Goodbyes
By Anne B. Pope, Executive Director —
It is time once again to say thank you and goodbye to a few of our Commission board members. Each member is appointed by the governor and serves a five-year term. Additionally, each fiscal year a new executive committee is voted in by the board to lead the Commission that year.
I would first like to thank our outgoing chair, Stephanie B. Conner. Fortunately, Stephanie’s term on the board is not quite finished, and we get to keep her for another year despite the passing of the chairman baton.
In her third stint as chair under two different governors, Stephanie led the Commission with a strength and grace that championed the arts for all citizens in Tennessee. Her long history with the Tennessee Arts Commission combined with her passion for the arts and her leadership skills equipped her to effectively lead the board through many important milestones. Under her tutelage, the Commission introduced two new grant programs, Creative Placemaking and Arts360 Arts Integration; launched the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program; partnered with the State Capitol Commission and the Tennessee General Assembly to commission a commemorative bust of David Crockett; held its first ever statewide arts conference combined with the Create arts education institute; and began participation in an economic impact study on nonprofit arts and culture, which will be the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind ever done in Tennessee. Stephanie’s dedication to the arts is truly remarkable and we are extremely grateful for all that she has done to move Tennessee schools and communities, rural and urban alike, forward through the arts.
The following Commissioners have completed their appointed 5-year term on the board. While we are sad to see them leave the table, we know that their work will continue to impact the arts in Tennessee.
Waymon L. Hickman was appointed to the Commission in 2011 by Governor Bill Haslam, and he served the fourth congressional district. He came with extensive business experience and we were tremendously fortunate to have his expertise present while he served as Audit Committee Chair these past two years. His financial intuition guided the Commission through its budgeting processes, as well as through our agency audit. A strong community leader, his home city of Columbia started its own Arts Council during his time at the Commission. Waymon’s nickname here at the Commission was “EF Hutton” — when he talked, we all listened. The arts in Tennessee have benefited from his knowledge and direction as a member of the Commission, and we are honored for his service on the board.
Connie S. Weathers leaves behind a legacy of service and dedication to the arts. Also appointed by Governor Haslam, Connie represented the third congressional district. Steadfast in community involvement, she has served East Tennessee in numerous capacities, including secretary of the Commission this past year. Her quiet, reserved, “under the radar” style was always very effective at the Commission. Connie began to participate in the arts at a young age and has since become a tireless arts advocate in Chattanooga and across the state.
Appointed to the Commission by two different Governors, our Northeast Tennessee power house and “Steel Magnolia” Ann C. Smith completed her second term with the Commission, having first served Northeast TN for FY1998-2002. Ann tirelessly advocated for the arts during her time here and was a true leader, having previously served as secretary, vice-chair and chair, as well as chair of the 2015 Governor’s Arts Awards. An avid believer in community engagement, Ann has supported countless grassroots arts efforts to positively impact cities, towns and schools in her home region and throughout all of Tennessee. At the Commission, Ann was a constant reminder that East Tennessee does not end in Knoxville. Simply put, Ann gets things done and is someone we all would want in our fox hole.
It has been a pleasure to work with these dedicated members of Tennessee’s arts community. Their efforts to cultivate the arts across the state are timeless and will continue to impact communities for years to come. We joke at the Commission that we say goodbye to our Commissioners, but we never really let them go. We know that although these advocates are leaving the board, they are not leaving the arts — we look forward to seeing their continued leadership in the arts.
