
Ken Cassell
Chairman
Ken is a senior executive for a healthcare analytics company focused on mental health and substance use disorder and has been working in healthcare his entire career. He worked at Ft. Sander’s Hospital in the early eighties and shifted to pre-hospital care in 1982. In 2001 he left the Emergency Medical Services profession, where he worked as an EMT, Paramedic, and Division Manager, and joined a healthcare technology startup organization. He has vast experience in working closely with hospitals and physicians all across the US. Ken joined Knox County Rescue in the early eighties and served as an instructor and officer in multiple roles through the years and joined the Board of Directors in 2013. Ken has an undergraduate degree from Tusculum University and a Masters of Business Administrator from Texas Wesleyan University.

Wayne Waggoner
Vice Chair
Wayne Waggoner is currently semi-retired and works for Rural Metro Fire as the Assistant Fire Marshal in Farragut.
A 47-year fire service veteran, Waggoner got his start in 1974 as a volunteer firefighter in Felton Delaware while serving in the United State Air Force. In 1984 he was appointed the first Fire Marshal in Knox County, Tennessee, a position that he held for 14 ½ years. After leaving Knox County, Wayne served as the Fire Chief for three years with Rural/Metro Fire Department. Before his retirement, he spent 17 years working for the National Fire Sprinkler Association by working with the Fire Sprinkler Industry and Fire Service in the promotion of fire sprinkler systems as a life safety tool to protect lives and property.
The Eveready Battery Company named him the “National Fire Preventer of the Year” in 1989. Also, in 1989 Operation Life Safety presented Waggoner with its annual Commitment to Life Safety Award. In June 2002 Wayne received the prestigious H.D. Crossnine award which was given to him by the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs.

Wade Sexton
Finance Committee Chair
Bio Coming Soon

Van Elkins
Bio Coming Soon

Lea Ann Sanford
Lea Ann Sanford, Owner of P & L Business Services, (www.pandlbusinessservices.com
Lea Ann’s servanthood doesn’t stop within her career. She uses her free time to serve others in multiple areas, including volunteering to provide financial counseling to young and single parents. She’s also worked with many programs supporting military and first responders.
Lea Ann fell in love with East Tennessee on a vacation with her grandparents at 11 years old. Ten years later she made her way back down south from Western New York and has called the Knoxville area home for 23 years.
Lea Ann and her husband Patrick, have two children, Cynthia, a high school student and Connor, who serves in the United States Navy. Lea Ann and family live in the Powell area with their 3 dogs, Simon, Maggie, and Xena.
Lea Ann joined the Knox County Rescue Board of Directors in 2021.

Bob Colloredo
Nominating Committee Chair
Bob is the owner and President of Colloredo & Associates (www.colloredomarketing.com) in Knoxville, Tennessee. HIs full-service marketing and advertising agency was founded in 2006 and works in a variety of industries including retail, medical, industrial, and transportation. Bob consults with clients to help develop innovative strategies that, many times, fall outside the norm of traditional marketing. He believes it is his ability to recognize and build toward his clients’ vision is that allows him and his company to be the success that it is today. Bob received his Bachelors in Communications from the University of Tennessee and has called Knoxville his home since 1987. In his free time, he coaches football and basketball and volunteers for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where he is a former patient and cancer survivor. Bob, his wife Laura, daughter Olivia and son Graham live in Hardin Valley. Bob joined the Knox County Rescue Board of Directors in 2016 and currently serves as Nominating Committee Chair.

Tommy White
Tommy White is retired Fire Marshal for the City of Sevierville after 30+ years in Emergency Service. Tommy started working for the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office and in 1986 Tommy went to work for the Sevierville Police Department. In 1988 Tommy also joined the Sevierville/
Sevier Volunteer Fire Department where he was part of the City of Sevierville’s Hazmat team.
In 1997 Tommy transferred to the City of Sevierville Fire Department as the Fire Inspector and was later promoted to Fire Marshal until his retirement in 2016. Tommy now owns his own Construction Company.