Cathy Ackermann
Co-Host of Sweet Tea and Strategy
Cathy lives and breathes public relations and marketing strategy. As founder and president, her experience has led Ackermann towards success for over 40 years by providing consultation and strategy to organizations both big and small.
Cathy Ackermann has hosted 17 Episodes.
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Episode 28: A Conversation with Matt Schaefer, CEO of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital
March 31st, 2026 | Season 1 | 27 mins 34 secs
Matt Schaefer shares his journey from engineering to leading pediatric healthcare in East Tennessee.
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Episode 27: Leadership and Education with Bill Haslam
March 31st, 2026 | Season 1 | 22 mins 48 secs
Former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam discusses his post-office life in Knoxville, his new book Faithful Presence on faith in politics, and his ongoing work in public education and economic development.
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Episode 26: Scaling Literacy with Jeff Conyers of the Dollywood Foundation
March 31st, 2026 | Season 1 | 27 mins 18 secs
Jeff Conyers, CEO of the Dollywood Foundation, shares the origins of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and how a simple mission to mail books to children became a global success.
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Episode 22: Bean Goodness: The Culture of Sustainability at Bush Brothers with Al Williams
March 31st, 2026 | Season 1 | 29 mins 35 secs
Al Williams discusses the 110-year history of Bush Brothers & Company, its commitment to sustainability, and the core values that drive its global success.
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Episode 25: A Conversation with Chief Eve Thomas
March 31st, 2026 | Season 1 | 18 mins 49 secs
Knoxville Police Chief Eve Thomas discusses her 28-year career, the department's recruitment strategies, and the importance of heart and service in modern policing.
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Episode 17: Distilling Success: How Joe Baker Built a Moonshine Empire
March 31st, 2026 | Season 1 | 29 mins 47 secs
Ole Smoky founder Joe Baker shares his journey from practicing law to building a global spirits brand.
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Episode 18: Behind the Scenes: Tennessee’s Creative Economy with Bob Raines
March 31st, 2026 | Season 1 | 38 mins 50 secs
Bob Raines discusses Tennessee's competitive edge in film and music, highlighting workforce, infrastructure, and the strategic use of production incentives.
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Episode 19: Tennessee’s Growth Strategy with Bob Rolfe
March 31st, 2026 | Season 1 | 24 mins 13 secs
ECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe details Tennessee’s "one-stop shop" for business, from landing tech giants like Amazon and Facebook to nurturing rural growth.
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Episode 20: Dr. Philip Oldham on the Real-World Impact of Tennessee Tech
March 31st, 2026 | Season 1 | 28 mins 40 secs
Dr. Philip Oldham discusses the value of a Tennessee Tech education, focusing on student success, community impact, and the "Rural Reimagined" initiative.
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Episode 14: Regional Awareness and Healthcare Strategy: A Conversation with Ed Pershing
March 26th, 2026 | Season 1 | 24 mins 49 secs
Ed Pershing explores the growth of PYA, the future of healthcare, and the cultural potential of East Tennessee.
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Episode 11: Ken Rueter on Turning Around the Nation's Largest Cleanup
March 26th, 2026 | Season 1 | 34 mins 28 secs
UCOR CEO Ken Rueter discusses the multi-billion dollar turnaround of the K-25 site, the "Culture of Excellence" driving a record-breaking safety standard, and the transformation of a Superfund site into a National Park and industrial hub.
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Episode 13: 40 Years of TeamHealth: Dr. Lynn Massingale on the Evolution of Modern Emergency Medicine
March 26th, 2026 | Season 1 | 27 mins 57 secs
TeamHealth co-founder Dr. Lynn Massingale traces the company's 40-year journey from a local start-up to a national healthcare giant.
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Episode 12: The Volunteer Spirit: Chancellor Donde Plowman’s Vision for UT Knoxville
March 26th, 2026 | Season 1 | 21 mins 34 secs
Donde Plowman outlines her priorities for the University of Tennessee, including student access, the land-grant mission, and faculty recruitment through regional assets.
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Episode 8: Tennessee Aquarium: A Multi-Million Dollar Engine for Education and Conservation
March 26th, 2026 | Season 1 | 22 mins 19 secs
Tennessee Aquarium CEO Keith Sanford discusses the organization's unique freshwater focus, its massive economic impact on Chattanooga, and its leading-edge conservation efforts.
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Episode 7: Legacy Parks: Cultivating Community through Conservation and Connection
March 26th, 2026 | Season 1 | 21 mins 49 secs
Legacy Parks Foundation Executive Director Carol Evans discusses regional conservation, economic impact, and the power of connected outdoor spaces.
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Episode 5: Culture, Scale, and the Fed: A Strategy for Aggressive Growth with Billy Carroll
March 26th, 2026 | Season 1 | 20 mins 2 secs
SmartBank CEO Billy Carroll discusses aggressive bank growth, company culture, and Federal Reserve insights.