KKB’s 6th Annual Summit:
How To Build A Heat Resilient City
thank you for joining us at KKB’s 6th Annual Summit!
This year’s summit was held on February 7th, 2025 at the East Tennessee History Center. We delve into preparing and facing the foreseen challenges of climate warming in urban areas through the adoption of a climate action plan, surface cooling materials, and the development and importance of resilience hubs. Our three expert speakers, Kendon Jung, Drew Ramsey, and Susy Torriente left us with a sense of empowerment and inspiration that’ll drive Knoxville into a future where bracing for the impact of extreme heat will be a thing of the past.
Stay tuned for the announcement of our 2026 Summit!
KKB 6th Annual Summit. Video by: ZC Productions
A Brief Overview of KKB’s Previous Summits
In 1982, the Greater Knoxville Beautification Board (as KKB was known then) hosted Knoxville 2000: A Vision of the Future. This symposium allowed Knoxvillians to imagine what their city might be like in 20 years. In 2019, in honor of KKB’s 40th anniversary, the Sustainability Summit was born as a reimagined Knoxville 2000. With the KKB Sustainability Summit, we hope to inspire Knox County residents to also dream about the future while drawing on inspiration from other cities. Check out previous years’ topics below!
2023
Theme: Reimagining the Asphalt Jungle
Speakers: Jack Cebe (Stitch Development Director), Kate Cavazza (Associate Urban Designer and Planner at the City of Charlotte Urban Design Center), Eric Hoke (Design Director at Civic Design Center), Caleb Racicot (Senior Principal at TSW Design)
2022
Theme: Urban Reconnection to Nature
Speakers: Mayor Knox White (Mayor of Greenville, SC), Cathy Sloss Jones (Chair of Urban Land Institute, Alabama Chapter), Ryan Alson (Communications and Outreach Manager, Baltimore Tree Trust)
2021
Theme: Cleaner, Greener, Connected
Speakers: Ellen Zavisca (Principal Planner, Knoxville Regional Transportation Organization), Drew Frye (Senior Power Utilization Engineer, Tennessee Valley Authority), Chasity Hobby (Environmental Stewardship Lead, Knoxville Utility Board), Si McMurray (Director of Procurement and Project Manger, Knoxville Area Transit)
2020
Theme: Environmental Stewardship
Speakers: Melissa Hinten (UTK’s Office of Sustainability), Harley Bryant (KUB), Ashlee Mays (UTK)
2019
Theme: Shaping a Resilient Knoxville
Speakers: Pete Crowley (Discovery, Inc.), Melissa Eads (Kroger), Brad Collett (TN River Line)