Outreach and Communications Specialist Joins Planning

Ally Ketron joined Planning as Outreach and Communications Specialist in May, splitting her time between the Smart Trips program and communications for the agency.

She spent the last six years working for locally based non-profits, InterFaith Health Clinic and Casa de Sara, where she focused on community outreach, relationship building, and fundraising.

With Smart Trips, Ally will be supporting companies and universities who are Smart Trips members, attending health fairs, and hosting seminars and educational meetings. She’s looking forward to working with these groups to make alternative travel part of their culture. For the communications component of her position, she is helping MPC update its approach to relaying work of the agency to the community and to strengthen its citizen engagement process.  

An East Tennessee native, Ketron grew up in Bristol and has lived in the greater Knoxville area since 2004. She originally moved here to attend Maryville College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in International Studies. Upon graduating, she stayed in the area, and Knoxville has been home since. She and her husband, Dave, live in South Knoxville and love being close to both downtown and the trail system. Outside of work she can often be found running and biking, especially in the Urban Wilderness. Ketron also has a love of travel, and jumps on any opportunity for an adventure. Her most recent trips were to Vietnam and Cambodia last fall and Bolivia this spring.