Planning Services Manager Joins Staff

We are excited to announce that Jeanne Stevens recently rejoined staff as Planning Services Manager.

Since working for the agency in development services and transportation planning in the 1990’s, she has built an impressive career that includes leadership positions at the Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).

After leaving Knoxville in 2000, Jeanne accepted a position as director of the Nashville Area MPO, which at that time was a five-county transportation planning organization facing rapid growth and a tight deadline to comply with EPA’s air quality standards. Jeanne’s early efforts to build relationships and regional collaboration helped smooth the way for a voluntary “early action compact” submitted to EPA, committing the region to specific actions to achieve the air quality standards. That hard work on the front-end has had lasting effects, providing greater flexibility to the Nashville region in its transportation planning work to this day.

Jeanne most recently worked for WSP USA, a global consulting firm, where she led the national practice for long-range planning. During her 10-year tenure, she managed a variety of projects ranging from small community plans to major projects such as TDOT’s recently completed Interstate 40/81 statewide corridor plan.

Jeanne holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Duke University. She is also a member of the American Institute for Certified Planners. As Planning Services Manager, she leads a staff of 13 and is responsible for the day-to-day management of long and short-range planning programs, development review, and the agency’s customer service functions.

A Roane County native, Jeanne is thrilled to return to the area and be closer to family. She’s been back in Knoxville for the past year, and now calls Bearden home. In her downtime, you will likely find her gardening and reading. Welcome, Jeanne!