Center for Leadership & Community Development Board of Directors

Naomi is a long-time resident of Oak Ridge graduating from ORHS in 2001 before completing her BS in Music and Theology at Johnson University. She is the Executive Director of the United Way of Anderson County and holds an MBA in Marketing from King University. She is a graduate of the Consortium for Social Enterprise Effectiveness through the University of Tennessee, Leadership Oak Ridge, Leadership Anderson County and East Tennessee Regional Leadership Association. She is the Chair for Explore Oak Ridge, and incoming President of the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge. She is a Past-President of the Altrusa Club of Oak Ridge, a founding board member of the Anderson County Young Professionals. In 2017 she was named the Anderson County Chamber Young Professional of the Year and was the 2018 recipient of the East Tennessee Economic Council’s Postma Young Professional Medal. She is a current PhD candidate at Carolina University.

Tracy Boatner is the President of the East Tennessee Economic Council (ETEC). ETEC works in partnership with federal entities like the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, and Tennessee Valley Authority to seek new ways to use federal investments in energy, science, and national security to create prosperity, and explore opportunities for growth.  ETEC members and partners include federal contractors; local, state, and federal officials; small businesses, higher education and healthcare institutions, along with local economic development organizations. 

Tracy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from King University.  Her affiliations include:  Past-president, Rotary Club of Oak Ridge; Center for Leadership & Community Development Board; United Way of Anderson County Board; Leadership Oak Ridge Class of 2016; Leadership Knoxville Class of 2012.

Laurie manages Insurance Services for Enrichment Federal Credit Union. She celebrated 20 years with EFCU in 2022.

Stephanie is the Owner/Agent of the Stephanie Hale-Smith State Farm Agency in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. She began her State Farm career in 2015 after a 30-year career in the electric utility industry. She is dual licensed in both Tennessee and Georgia to sell all of State Farm’s Property & Casualty, Life & Health, Commercial Insurance. She is also a Mortgage Loane Originator and has her Series 6 and 63 License. She and her husband Tony of nearly 35 years have an amazing son Tony and a beautiful daughter-in-law Ashiah.

Known as the ‘Total Package’ Engaged Agent, Stephanie is engaged in ‘All Things Community’ and has a passion for helping customers understand how positive Risk Management, Credit Ratings, and Income Replacement strategies contribute to generational wealth.

Stephanie shares her talent and experience as an Executive Board Member and helps support the Chamber Membership efforts.

• Oak Ridge Center for Leadership and Community Development Chair
• Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Executive Board Member
• City of Oak Ridge Planning Commissioner (former)
• Roane County United Way, Board Chair (former)

Gene Patterson is the Community Relations lead at the Y-12 National Security Complex. He works with local government and community leaders on initiatives that impact Anderson County and the area, and he provides guidance to nonprofit organizations on how to best access resources at Y-12. 
Gene joined the Y-12 communications team in 2015, after more than 30 years in television news.
Gene has won numerous Tennessee Associated Press (AP) and East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) awards during his broadcast career, including the National Edward R Murrow award in 2011 for his series, Mission to Africa.
Gene serves on several boards, including the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, (ADFAC), and the East Tennessee Foundation. He is a member the Oak Ridge Chamber Advocacy Committee and the Knoxville Chamber’s Government Relations Committee.

Ben Williams serves as the public affairs specialist for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management. In this role, he guides media relations and community outreach efforts for the $650+ million annual program that is focused on eliminating hazards and creating new economic opportunities for the region. Williams is a graduate of the Oak Ridge Leadership Class of 2019.