Alyson Sumerford serves as Connected Tennessee’s State Operations Manager for the East Tennessee region. In this position, Alyson manages Tennessee’s Trail to Innovation, a statewide strategy that promotes technology use and works to increase both the availability and adoption of broadband (also known as high-speed Internet) through mapping and research. Alyson also mobilizes local technology planning groups called eCommunity Leadership Teams. In this role, Alyson is responsible for determining each East Tennessee county’s current use of technology and making plans for the best way to utilize technology in order to improve local government services and provide better healthcare and education, ultimately helping Tennessee communities remain economically strong. Alyson is based in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Before joining the Connected Tennessee team, Alyson served as an Account Executive and Public Relations Specialist for Davis Newman Payne Marketing Communications, Knoxville’s oldest established advertising agency. In this role, Alyson was responsible for copywriting, drafting press releases, collaborating closely with programmers, developers and clients on creating and updating websites and other interactive projects and conducting project management for both the agency and its clients. Prior to her tenure with Davis Newman Payne, Alyson acted as Director of Marketing and Development for William King Regional Arts Center in Abingdon, Virginia, where she provided direction and leadership in developing and implementing marketing strategies to increase regional participation and corporate donor giving. Alyson holds a B.A. in History from Roanoke College in Roanoke, Virginia.