The City of Knoxville has hired Glenn Lyons and Marilyn Arber as their Economic Development directors.

Lyons has worked in urban planning and development positions in the public, private and nonprofit sectors for more than 40 years, including CEO positions with the Calgary, Tucson, and Des Moines downtown business improvement districts. His prior work in Knoxville includes home construction on Harlan Street and in East Village.

Arber has worked as a real estate paralegal, has owned and operated her own retail clothing stores, as well as a manufacturing company. She also was the Executive Director of a nonprofit community-based crime prevention organization in Calgary, and worked on real estate development in Iowa. Her work experience in Knoxville also includes home construction on Harlan Street and in East Village.

Both will begin their roles focusing on the VA district redevelopment and downtown revitalization. Hear more about Lyons and Arber on an upcoming In Depth with Dr. Bob Leonard.