Jenny Holden serves as Senior Director of Grants and Community Development for Knox County. She oversees programs supporting community initiatives, the prevention of housing insecurity, and the promotion of community safety. Holden earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Tusculum University and is a Certified Public Manager through the University of Tennessee Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership. She has completed extensive training in federal program management and has been with Knox County for over seventeen years.
Iain Christie serves as the Chief Administrative Officer. He oversees the team responsible for managing the day-to-day administrative functions of the department. Christie earned a bachelor’s degree in Town and Regional Planning from Dundee University in Scotland. He has been with Knox County for over twelve years and serves as a member of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Committee and Knox County Insurance Benefits Committee.
Jennifer Slaiman serves as the Community Development Division Director. She oversees the team responsible for managing local and federal programs focused on housing, infrastructure, and public services. Slaiman earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Louisville and holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan. Prior to moving to Knoxville, she served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Ecuador and worked with HUD grant programs in Tucson, Arizona.
Sharon Shanks serves as the Community Service Division Director. She oversees the team that manages public service projects and programs funded by local, state, and federal dollars. Shanks holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management, a Master of Arts in Human Resource Development, and an Ed.S in Educational Leadership. Shanks joined the office of Grants and Community Development after serving on Mayor Jacobs’s staff as the Director of Community Based Initiatives.
Brent Seymour serves as the Public Safety Division Director. He oversees the Tennessee Homeland Security District 2 Office and Knox County’s Fire Prevention Bureau and works closely with fire and rescue agencies providing critical emergency services for County residents. Seymour holds degrees in EMS and Fire Service and a Master of Public Administration in Disaster Management. In early 2023, after serving thirty-four years in the fire service, Seymour joined Knox County as Public Safety Director. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, has been designated a Chief Fire Officer by the Commission on Professional Credentialing, and is a Certified Public Manager through the University of Tennessee Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership.
