Crafting Knoxville's Workforce for the Future with Stephanie Vozar

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[00:00:00] Julia Hurley: Welcome everyone to another episode of Connect the Knox. I am your host Julia Hurley. We're here connecting Knoxville to the nation. Today's guest is a good friend of mine, Stephanie Eastman Vozar, who is the, let me make sure I understand, the Chair of 

[00:00:26] Julia Hurley: Philanthropy for the University of Tennessee Alumni Association.

[00:00:31] Stephanie Vozar: Close. We all have long titles at the University of Tennessee.

[00:00:34] Julia Hurley: So many titles. Correct the title for me. Want to make sure everybody knows who we're speaking with. And then go into how you ended up in this space.

[00:00:43] Stephanie Vozar: I'm the Director of Corporate Philanthropy. I do sit on the foundation side, but for the University of Tennessee.

[00:00:49] Julia Hurley: Very good. All right. 

[00:00:50] Stephanie Vozar: So you asked me how I got to Knoxville, I think is really the question. 

[00:00:54] Julia Hurley: Yeah, how'd we end up here? How'd we end up in Vols country? 

[00:00:57] Stephanie Vozar: You know, there's a name for me. They call me a [00:01:00] halfback. So, I started, uh, I'm originally from Flint, Michigan and really had no plans to leave there. Was, uh, born and raised, lived all my life.

[00:01:09] Stephanie Vozar: We ended up moving to Naples, Florida. And of course it was a little too hot down there and we needed to be a little bit closer to our family. So I actually moved here to Knoxville. We were looking to be closer to Michigan but I accepted the position as the first Director of Development for Young Williams Animal Center which is what actually brought my husband and I here to Knoxville and that was about five years ago.

[00:01:31] Julia Hurley: So, Young Williams Animal Shelter, for people outside of this area who don't know, is our largest animal shelter. Is that correct? 

[00:01:39] Stephanie Vozar: That's correct. 

[00:01:40] Julia Hurley: That's correct. Okay, so that, that in and of itself, running a sizable shelter like that is huge. How did you transfer out of that and end up at UT? 

[00:01:48] Stephanie Vozar: Yeah, I was there at Young Williams for about four years and we built up a great development department and I was really ready to move on and to put my energy into something a little different.

[00:01:58] Stephanie Vozar: So the truth is, and this [00:02:00] very rarely happens, but I saw this job posted, I applied, I interviewed, they liked me on here I am and I'm never leaving because I absolutely love it here. But that's it's very rare that that happens. It's very hard to get into the University of Tennessee. So I'm very blessed and excited to be here.

[00:02:16] Julia Hurley: So what exactly does your role entail at UT? Because we interview, like, today, uh, some of our interviewees, we've interviewed Randy Boyd, we've interviewed Dr. Hosh, we've interviewed some of the communications people, some of the sports people, and it seems like UT, you know, it doesn't seem like it is. The University of Tennessee is not just one place, it's Tennessee systems, it's the state.

[00:02:36] Julia Hurley: And it's the state's largest educator. And knowing kind of how each person fits into their dynamic and the role that they have taken on or created really and grown. What is your role exactly? 

[00:02:48] Stephanie Vozar: That's a great question. And I guess that's part of the second question. I was really looking to grow into this role and it happened to be posted and I swear it was created just for me.

[00:02:56] Stephanie Vozar: So I'm the director of corporate philanthropy. [00:03:00] I do set Essentially here across the university. So what that means is that my focus is really on our industry partners, our corporate partners, uh, all over the nation, a little, sometimes all over the world. And we're really trying to connect and engage with those corporate partners for what they want and need out of the university.

[00:03:17] Stephanie Vozar: And so that can be lots of different things and it can happen through lots of different ways. Sometimes it's research projects. Uh, most of the time it has to do with the students and the workforce and what they need and what they're looking to get out of it. Sometimes it's scholarships. Sometimes it's working directly with our faculty and our staff here.

[00:03:33] Stephanie Vozar: Sometimes it's they want to come and speak to a class so that they're helping our students. So I sit centrally. My role is to really be that one main person that's building a relationship with our corporate partners. to see everything that they want to get and what they need and how they can help and be engaged across the entire campus.

[00:03:51] Stephanie Vozar: And then I work with all the other colleges and units, you know, in the vice versa way. So I get to learn what's important to them and what they really need from our corporate partners. And [00:04:00] I bring that up. So in the end, we have this wonderful working relationship where corporations are getting what they need here and they're, and they're investing in the university so that we can build this.

[00:04:10] Stephanie Vozar: Students of Tomorrow, and really have that workforce be what they're looking for. New technologies, that types of things, so it's really shaping the entire future of tomorrow in that symbiotic relationship. 

[00:04:23] Julia Hurley: So that's really interesting, and one of the questions that I have asked every person that we've done this podcast with, and I think the podcast is going on, we're on our third season, so second year.

[00:04:33] Julia Hurley: One of the biggest questions that we ask every person is, What do you think that that Knoxville area can do? To maintain the younger generation of college graduates to stay and work here. And that's, that's your whole role is making sure that they have the opportunities to stay and work here. So what is that looking like on your end of it versus.

[00:04:55] Julia Hurley: As a real estate agent here in this growing market, we have a lot of [00:05:00] retirees. I mean, the Knoxville area has more lakefront land than anybody else. Thank you so much, TVA, for providing that for us. We have a lot of recreation. But we also have a lot of retirees that are attracted to that. So what we've seen is a huge shift, like in Visit Knoxville, and the chambers are starting to focus on younger workers, younger opportunities.

[00:05:17] Julia Hurley: How can we attract that? What can we do to maintain it? And you're actually working with the businesses to say, Hey, what do you need? And then taking that back to the, to the, to the university and saying, this is what they need. You know, what are we providing? So where's that mid range conversation happening?

[00:05:31] Julia Hurley: What's the biggest need right now that you're seeing from. these industries and from these 

[00:05:36] Julia Hurley: sponsors. 

[00:05:37] Stephanie Vozar: That's a loaded question. Uh, the need is different kind of depending on what industry they're in and, and in what stage of the game that they're in. It's always workforce, right? Like at the end of the day, if you don't have the folks to work for your company, then, then what have you got?

[00:05:52] Stephanie Vozar: Right? So our job is really to make sure that the quality of education that they are getting, including the [00:06:00] Systems that they use, the software that they use, um, the hands on machine. Even we're looking at some collaborative cultures here. So we have established for the first time, the College of Kecks.

[00:06:12] Stephanie Vozar: Everything has an initial here. I'm going to try to remember what it is, but it's the College of Emerging. And collaborative studies. And so, what that whole college is designed to do is, is along with me, work with those, those, uh, industry partners to see what they need out of their workforce, and are they getting the right training, and then we work with them to bring that right here to the university, so that what they're looking to hire for, they have all those skills that they need.

[00:06:40] Stephanie Vozar: And again, it might be simple skills, it might be certain software, certain programs, certain machines, we have all kinds of very robust that are built out for all the different industries and what that would look like. But it's also cross training, right? Where you start today is not where you're going to end up tomorrow.

[00:06:56] Stephanie Vozar: You're going to need a bunch of different skills. If you just have engineering, that [00:07:00] might not be enough. If you're going to end up being in management and leadership, you might also need accounting and those types of things. So, we're trying to make sure that the education is very well rounded and very Focus on what those corporate partners are looking for so that they get the workforce of tomorrow, and that workforce is nimble and they can go on to all those leadership roles and they can.

[00:07:20] Stephanie Vozar: Grow with the company and have the foundation that they need to really do what their looking for. But then alternatively. We're also trying to help industry. You know, we're certainly growing here in Knoxville. That's, that's no secret. Um, and we're bringing a lot of great industry partners here. So that's our role as well.

[00:07:36] Stephanie Vozar: We work with the, with the chamber, with Visit Knoxville that you mentioned. We try to work with them and our corporate partners to, Help them, whether it's open up offices, or maybe move their headquarters, or maybe they'd like to leave some space at our Cherokee Farms Research Center. Anything that's going to make them more present and available here, but it's going to provide that opportunity for our students, again, to stay here and work because they're moving their areas [00:08:00] of work here.

[00:08:01] Stephanie Vozar: So it's kind of a two pronged approach. 

[00:08:03] Stephanie Vozar: Okay, so on the other side of that then, so the industries can contact you and say hey, we're gonna, we're, we're thinking about moving our industry here. This is kind of where we need our workforce to be in three, five, and ten years. You know, can you all put together something and you collaborate?

[00:08:18] Stephanie Vozar: Let's reverse that and say, students are like, hey, I really want to do this, and we don't really have something tailored for that yet. Is that also something that you can build around and start to talk to industries and say, hey, you're not a corporate partner with us yet, but we've had, you know, 300 students ask for this, or 3, 000 students ask for this, would you be interested in this?

[00:08:38] Stephanie Vozar: Yeah, I think that's, that's definitely part of my role. I think that Randy and that Chancellor Plowman, they do an amazing job doing exactly that, looking at what the need is, both for the students and for the industry partners, and making sure that whatever that is comes to fruition. If it's not built, you know, we'll build it.

[00:08:54] Stephanie Vozar: We'll look at how we can, how we can do it better, and what the need really is there. Sure. Um. I think that's [00:09:00] a big part of it. The bigger part of it is not only on the industry side, but showing those students what's available, and this is prevalent in any industry, especially mine. A lot of us come by our careers, we fall into it, or maybe we know a little piece of it, but we have no idea how many different types of careers really live in that industry.

[00:09:17] Stephanie Vozar: So that's another piece of it is to try to showcase that in the many different ways here. We give our students experiences. Sometimes it's called a vol track, where we take them out to different areas. So Uh, different parts of the country. They get to tour many different industry partners in their field so that they can see just what all the levels of all the different jobs look like, what, what a daily, um, work routine is for them right there in the field.

[00:09:42] Stephanie Vozar: So yeah, it's definitely a two way street, but it's, it's all about exposure and engagement to make sure that everyone has the most opportunity. And so that we're helping not only the students in our university, but our industry partners as well. And everyone's getting what they need. 

[00:09:55] Julia Hurley: We all know that real estate is location, location, [00:10:00] location.

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[00:10:25] Julia Hurley: What have you seen as far as, and not necessarily from the industry side, but from the student, like what is the most interactive both ways? Let's say like an industry needs two or three thousand employees and the students are like, meh, I mean, okay, or that there's two or three thousand students that really want this and that the industry's just not got enough space.

[00:10:47] Julia Hurley: Where's been kind of that sweet spot really here locally to keep, to keep kids is it, is in my mind, I drive down the interstate, obviously everybody sees Pilot Flying J, right? Like that's, it's huge, we all know the name, um, you know, you think [00:11:00] immediately Pilot Flying J, or transportation, you know, with the Axle logistics.

[00:11:04] Julia Hurley: =What's been like the biggest need that's been able to also be filled the field? You gotta love 

[00:11:10] Stephanie Vozar: that. I got that 

[00:11:11] Julia Hurley: accent just came out That's been filled with what you've been able to put together so far 

[00:11:17] Stephanie Vozar: Yeah, you might want to ask me that question in a different way. I think again, I think it comes down to exposure and Creating opportunities and making them show no, the students know what opportunities are there.

[00:11:28] Stephanie Vozar: So if they can't get there, you know, a number one opportunity, then, then let's look at what else is there. Let's look at what's similar to there. Let's show them opportunities. A lot of times for us, um, it's internships. The different working relationship all along the line until they graduate. They're always getting in, our corporations are always getting in very, very early to target our students.

[00:11:48] Stephanie Vozar: To get in front of the students, to show them who they are, what they represent, what that culture looks like, what all the different jobs are. And so, they're starting to build their relationships with the students very, very early on. [00:12:00] Um, I can't think of a great example for the question, so again, you might want to re ask it as far as having too many jobs.

[00:12:08] Julia Hurley: Alright, let's just say, like So the last few people that I've spoken with in general, just as, as a whole, I kind of asked the same question in a different way. Where do they see the future of the young workforce? And, you know, one, two or three people that I've interviewed have said we really desperately need electricians and plumbers.

[00:12:22] Julia Hurley: We are so desperate for these two things that if we don't start to get kids involved in this, we're, we're going to be in world hurt. Like our, our whole industry will fail. And then I've had a few people just say, hey, we need better sales training. We need a lot, we need a bigger sales team. I've had people say, we need to learn.

[00:12:39] Julia Hurley: And again, I am so intrigued that industry is taking on the, we need to change. And this is a shift in conversation just over the last decade, I think we've seen. Industry is taking responsibility that they are the ones that want to change, saying we need to learn how to let kids and future workers work from home.

[00:12:56] Julia Hurley: So we have to adapt the way that our needs and wants are versus what they [00:13:00] can give and what their needs and wants are. So kind of where's the Where's been the best match up, per se, so far? 

[00:13:07] Stephanie Vozar: Again, that's such a challenging question, because I think it's everywhere, right? I think we're hearing that we really need nurses.

[00:13:13] Stephanie Vozar: Uh, we work a great deal with the automotive and advanced manufacturing industry. You know, as you look at electric car and mobility and fuel cells and all the wonderful things that are going on right here in Knoxville, we have a beautiful relationship with the NSF, the National Science Foundation, and we've received several different grants of multi millions recently to set up hubs right here in Tennessee, right here at the University of Knoxville, really specializing in advanced manufacturing and automotive, and as that industry really changes, that technology changes, obviously there's a huge need for that, a huge need for nurses, so Um, I think we really, we try to connect very uniquely with each of those industry partners.

[00:13:56] Stephanie Vozar: So we're never trying to put square peg in a round hole. It's never [00:14:00] one education piece or one way to engage. We're really looking at each college and each industry as a unique field with their unique needs and to try to place them and build them. I'm working with our friends in the music and the entertainment industry, which of course after COVID, you know, it was.

[00:14:17] Stephanie Vozar: It was truck drivers, it was going back on the road, it was all of the staff that you think about in the entertainment business, especially if you're touring with a musician or anyone on the road. They suffered quite a bit, so we're, we're discussing with them how we can help not only make the jobs aware, but provide those, that education and some of it might be a certification to increase.

[00:14:38] Stephanie Vozar: www. joubin. com Again, it's a lot of our advanced manufacturing friends, right? They need, they need both skills [00:15:00] on both sides. And so, there's definitely a dual relationship where we say, How can we do this differently? How can we work with everyone? How can we have a great relationship with everyone? It's not, I only do this and, you know, we don't, the trades are, are not our thing, right?

[00:15:14] Stephanie Vozar: No. It's what can we do to make sure that we're getting the best education, certifications, aligning the right partnerships to make sure that we're fueling that pipeline where it's lacking and for tomorrow. 

[00:15:26] Julia Hurley: So as somebody who graduated college 25 years ago this year, it's been a minute, this is my 25th anniversary, it's very exciting, very exciting.

[00:15:35] Julia Hurley: Education is completely different. Like this kind of a conversation was never possible when I went to college. It was not even a thought, this, this. Future thinking, what can we do to preempt this? When I was 17, I entered, you know, campus for the first time and had absolutely no idea what I was going to do when I got out of there.

[00:15:56] Julia Hurley: You know, 100, 000 in debt, which these kids aren't having to take [00:16:00] on, which is, A whole separate issue, or a whole separate amazing thing with Tennessee Promise, but having people in this position like you are in, saying, hey, let's find your talents, let's find a company, let's get you an internship, like your freshman year, and work towards something.

[00:16:13] Julia Hurley: This is unbelievably unheard of, I think, and I think Tennessee's really taken the reins with that. Forward thinking educational opportunity, where do you see your position? 

[00:16:25] Stephanie Vozar: Yeah, my position is really just starting. I'm kind of a team of one right now. So eventually I think we will grow up, grow a corporate philanthropy team with corporate philanthropy officers.

[00:16:39] Stephanie Vozar: I think they will all sit centrally, you know, but that's kind of a little bit far in the future. It may behoove us to have a corporate philanthropy officer sitting in each college to have those special relationships uniquely with the field. That might make a difference, but there's definitely We just have so many wonderful relationships and so many people really want to work with us for all those [00:17:00] reasons that we discussed.

[00:17:01] Stephanie Vozar: So there's, there's so much work to be done in the future. I see this team growing. I see our relationships with our industry partners growing. I see Knoxville growing in turn and as this technology grows. And I'm not really sure where it will go, but, but I know we're going to stay on this path where we're really building relationships and asking the right questions and finding the right solutions and really working, uh, in sync step with those industry partners and them with our students to make sure that the future looks bright.

[00:17:31] Stephanie Vozar: So there's going to be more of me here across campus, and we're going to be able to reach more of our corporate partners and to work more hands on with the students and here across the university so that. We've got an even brighter tomorrow. When we look back on this interview 25 years from now, right, that conversation is going to look even different about what that workforce of tomorrow looks like.

[00:17:51] Stephanie Vozar: Remote learning, you know, 6G, 7G, who knows? Those VR headsets and the way you do your work, everything's going to change. [00:18:00] And we're really on the cutting edge of that. So, I look forward to seeing what that looks like, really. It's always very exciting, and my day is different every day, and it's always just Just fun and neat, and I can't wait to see what that looks like.

[00:18:13] Julia Hurley: So if you could choose, if you could, if you could choose, so the nation's listening, I mean, our podcast is highly downloaded, which we're so excited about, you know, we finally hit some rankings, we started to get some movement on Apple, so it's like, woohoo! Uh, People want to hear about Knoxville. People are listening across the nation.

[00:18:30] Julia Hurley: Who would you reach out to and say, Hey, we don't have this industry. We'd love to have you. We've got some kids that are really interested in this. Let's have a conversation. I mean, they're listening. People are watching Knoxville. They want to be a part of it. Who do you need that you don't have? 

[00:18:43] Stephanie Vozar: Industry partner wise, I'm not sure I was really prepared for that question.

[00:18:47] Stephanie Vozar: Um, I, I think we, I think we've really covered the gamut of our industry partners. But again, I would, I would say to all those people that are listening and if you're in a unique industry and maybe you feel [00:19:00] overlooked, reach out to me cause I'd like to hear from you and I'd like to hear how we can.

[00:19:04] Stephanie Vozar: Utilize you if we don't, how we can connect you with our students. Um, I think marketing is obviously something that that's really growing. We have that in two different colleges right now. That's just a booming industry that was, as we know, always, always changes. So they may be a little underrepresented again.

[00:19:21] Stephanie Vozar: I think maybe with the entertainment industry, as we start this. This new venture with what, what does a touring entertainment certificate look like? And what are all of those different needs and how do we create that? Um, and we're kind of just on the cusp of those conversations, but there's probably a lot of different industries in that world that we really need to hear from.

[00:19:41] Stephanie Vozar: Some we might have already partners with, some might be alumni of ours. We do have partners with, but if you just think about all of the different aspects of that job from managing to accounting to truck driving, you know, to lighting to ticket takers. Public speaking. I mean, [00:20:00] anything that you think about when you just think about entertainment in general, that's a really big field.

[00:20:04] Stephanie Vozar: So there's probably room for growth there. But again, I, I don't know where we're missing. And if you think, if you're out there and you're listening and you think we are missing or you want to know what we're doing in your field or how it could be enhanced, that's, that's my challenge. I'm always up for reach out to me and let me see how I can help you what we're doing or what we could be doing better.

[00:20:25] Julia Hurley: I love that. And, and folks, if you don't know, Stephanie, I met Stephanie, uh, when she first got here, like, or, or at UT, when she first started here at UT. And we've started a good relationship. We have these conversations at least once a quarter. I'm like, well, what about this? What about this? And I just love it because she's so growth minded.

[00:20:43] Julia Hurley: There's never a limit to what is coming, what can happen, what will happen, who we need to talk to, where she's gonna go, and where she's willing to take these kids. And when I say these kids, I mean, I'm working with some of the kids on the football team, as you know, Stephanie, we talk about real estate investing.

[00:20:58] Julia Hurley: We talk about, you know, financial planning [00:21:00] and their mindset at the age of 20 is. Light years ahead of where I was at at 20. So having these conversations and knowing that there's somebody to reach out to or connect them with that can find them what they want is half the battle is the connection. Which is the reason for the podcast.

[00:21:15] Julia Hurley: Connecting Knoxville to the nation. People need to be connected to the people they want to reach out to. And that they know they have an idea or a thought and they're like, I don't even know who to call. I know who to call. You call Stephanie. 

[00:21:26] Stephanie Vozar: I love to help. I love a good challenge. I always say if I can't find the answer, I'll find someone who will.

[00:21:31] Stephanie Vozar: So it might not be me that can help you, but I'll definitely make sure that, that your conversation is being heard, that your needs are being heard, and that we can figure out how we can make a better tomorrow together.

[00:21:43] Julia Hurley: Yeah, you definitely live up to that for sure, and I always appreciate being able to connect people with you.

[00:21:48] Julia Hurley: So I'm gonna shift the conversation a little bit, because you are not a Knoxvillian, but you now are a Knoxvillian. So Aside from the University of Tennessee and the opportunities you've been given, you could probably [00:22:00] now take this same kind of concept and take it anywhere, and you still, every day, you're so excited to be in Knoxville.

[00:22:07] Julia Hurley: Every time I talk to you, you found something new to do, this is the best place. What makes you continue to choose Knoxville? 

[00:22:12] Stephanie Vozar: We absolutely love it here. Again, I really do love my job. I really love the people that I work with. I love being part of this university. Uh, and it really is the leadership just absolutely from the top all the way down that is making this place a better place to be.

[00:22:26] Stephanie Vozar: And that's making our community a better place to be. So that's very exciting. Um, my husband of course has a great career here, which is very exciting. You know, I know it's the cheesy things, not only is it this community and there's wonderful people and I've just have so many amazing connections since I've lived here.

[00:22:43] Stephanie Vozar: I feel the most connected with just the best people and the best opportunity here. But it is kind of the simple things, right? Like the weather and there is so much to do and it's the perfect temperature. So I told you I'm a halfback, I came from Michigan, I am not going back to those. Bitter Winters, You [00:23:00] Cannot Make Me, and then we move down to South Florida, which of course is just a beautiful paradise, but it's a little bit too hot.

[00:23:05] Stephanie Vozar: There's a lot going down there. There's some hurricanes. I worked for the Red Cross before I, I came up here, so, so we know about the effect on all that. Knoxville is just absolutely perfect. You can get to any place that you want to go pretty reasonably. We're right here in the center. The weather is just perfect almost all the time, and if it's not, you just wait a few minutes and it'll be fine.

[00:23:26] Stephanie Vozar: Um, but there's so much to do there. There's hiking, and there's camping, and there's, you know, beautiful lakes and waterfalls, and there's just a great food scene. We really love to eat. We really love to cook, and most days we're really just Just sitting on our porch, enjoying the weather and, and our coffee and just being happy to be here.

[00:23:44] Stephanie Vozar: So it's kind of the simple things, but this is really the perfect place to be. 

[00:23:49] Julia Hurley: I love that. And you have a fantastic porch, by the way, Matt, it's huge, because you have the biggest porch I think I've ever seen. So if, when, just a fire round, [00:24:00] when people visit you from Florida or from Michigan or from out of state, and they've never been to Knoxville, where's the first place you 

[00:24:06] Julia Hurley: think to take them?

[00:24:07] Stephanie Vozar: I don't know. I really like Alley Rays. You cannot beat that place. Alley Rays. So they started as a food truck and they've got a great little restaurant right across from Broadway Carpets over there on Central, I believe. And they just have the best food. They've got chefs that are preparing something new and different and very creative every day, so their menu changes.

[00:24:27] Stephanie Vozar: They've got really unique drinks that are, you know, craft cocktails. And they have a little coffee bar. So if you like fried cauliflower, it's actually the best fried cauliflower I've ever had anywhere I have been in the nation. So that's, that's always my dinner spot. 

[00:24:43] Julia Hurley: This is the first time anybody's brought that up.

[00:24:45] Julia Hurley: I've never heard of it. So now I have to go. See, I was, I was talking with Visit Knoxville. And I, I said, you know, I am at the point right now where as a lifelong Knoxvillian, I still have a list this long of places I can't keep up with anymore. All the new hot spots, I'm like, oh [00:25:00] my gosh, I haven't made it there.

[00:25:01] Julia Hurley: I haven't made it there. That's on the list now. Not even, didn't even know it existed. It's on the list. I do love

[00:25:06] Stephanie Vozar: It's great. And it's great, you know, for old ladies like me. I know I'm not supposed to say that, but they have entertainment and they do singo and they have bands and they have, uh, open mic night and what have you, but it always starts early.

[00:25:18] Stephanie Vozar: I think they start by seven and they're done by like 9 30. So you can take your family, you can go to dinner, you can still hear the band play and you can still go home, you know, do the laundry and go to bed.

[00:25:27] Julia Hurley: I love that. I love that. All right. Top, top three. Breweries or pubs? 

[00:25:33] Stephanie Vozar: I, gosh, I don't get out that much.

[00:25:36] Stephanie Vozar: I think I really like I would say Zuul and Abridged is great. I mean, not only do you have great beer, but they have great food. Their pizza is fantastic. And you can't beat their burgers. And of course, Zuul has the Abridged truck, so you kind of get the best of both worlds. You cheat a little bit. That's cheating!

[00:25:56] Julia Hurley: I know. 

[00:25:57] Stephanie Vozar: And, I mean, Alley Rays, right? [00:26:00] Can I count them as a pub and just say that it's a great place for drinks? 

[00:26:03] Julia Hurley: Okay. It is on my list. I genuinely have not heard of this place. I'm very excited to try a new place. It is so rare that somebody gets me on something I don't know about, so now I'm excited about it.

[00:26:12] Julia Hurley: I'm excited about that. So, I have taken up already almost the whole 30 minutes. I could talk to you and talk with you about the future of Knoxville's philanthropic community, because what you are doing is connecting everything. You're connecting the dots. to the kids, to the community. And that is something that's been lacking at UT for a very long time.

[00:26:33] Julia Hurley: And I would say over the last eight years has been a true focus and a massive opportunity for community leaders and businesses to reach out to you, to get connected to these kids and the future workforce. of the Knoxville market, where can people connect with you so they can become a part of what you are trying to accomplish here?

[00:26:53] Stephanie Vozar: Yeah, um, i, I'm not sure our website is completely up yet, but I'm sure if you go to the University of Tennessee [00:27:00] Foundation website, you can find me somewhere, right? But my email is It's svozar at utk dot edu. And I'm always over here in Andy Holt Tower on campus. And you can email me or call me anytime and I'm happy to just sit down and learn about not only you as an individual, but corporations and what does your corporation need and what does your industry need and how it can help really make that work for you and get everybody what they need.

[00:27:27] Stephanie Vozar: So I'd say email me svozar at utk dot edu. 

[00:27:32] Julia Hurley: All right, y'all. You heard it here. If you are looking to grow your industry with current workers and looking for an opportunity to partner with the University of Tennessee and its students, which is huge, you have 40, 000 kids there that could possibly be an employee for you and your industry, and just getting to know other industry as well and leaders in the community, Stephanie is the person to go to.

[00:27:53] Julia Hurley: She is phenomenal. She will sit with you and learn all about your business and what you need. Stephanie, thank you so much for your time today. We [00:28:00] look forward to meeting with you in the next couple of months to go over our businesses as well and just staying connected with you and we appreciate everything you do.

[00:28:08] Stephanie Vozar: Thanks for having me. This has been wonderful. I appreciate it. 

[00:28:11] Julia Hurley: Thank you. All right, Nation. One more episode of Connect the Knox is in the books. Thank you as always for tuning in. I'm Julia Hurley, your host, Connecting Knoxville. To the Nation. Until next time! Thank you for tuning into the show. Make sure to like and subscribe.

[00:28:26] Julia Hurley: Leave a five star review on your podcast player of choice. And if you would like information on moving to Knoxville, send me a private message. As always, this is Julia Hurley connecting Knoxville to the Nation.