Amy Brooks Appointed Executive Director

Amy Brooks was recently named Planning’s Executive Director by Knoxville City Mayor Indya Kincannon and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs.

Amy is no stranger to the agency; she accepted her first position in the transportation division in 2007, and most recently was the Planning Services Manager. For the past eight months she served as Interim Executive Director following Gerald Green’s retirement.

Speaking about the appointment, Amy said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in this role in an organization and community I care for deeply. I am fortunate to work alongside a talented team, and am eager to continue our work to make a positive impact in the community.”

As Planning Services Manager, Amy was responsible for the day-to-day management of all customer service functions, development review, and long and short-range planning programs. Prior to serving in this role, she managed projects in the transportation division and was responsible for leading the three-year Plan East Tennessee effort. The process involved over fifty public and private partners who engaged in a rigorous dialogue about East Tennessee’s economy, education, transportation, housing, and health. She also played an integral role in the update to the City of Knoxville’s Zoning Ordinance that went into effect at the beginning of 2020.

Amy holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree with an emphasis on transportation and land use planning from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Political Science from Maryville College. She is a member of the American Institute for Certified Planners, a nationally Certified Public Manager, and a graduate of East Tennessee Regional Leadership. Prior to her position at Planning, she worked as a transit consultant, a researcher for small nonprofits and as a planner at the regional and local levels in Northern California.