Joe Dickey

Joe Dickey is president and co-founder of Knox ivi. He is also its vision author and driving force. Dickey brings over 40 years of experience in management, engineering, finance, communications and employee development to Knox ivi's leadership team. He has created a collaborative environment at Knox ivi and developed an innovative business model for internet broadcasting with hyper-local content. Previously executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Tennessee Valley Authority, Dickey was instrumental in leading one of the nation's largest power producers through a decade of stable and reduced electric rates. He was instrumental in developing TVA's award-winning quality management system. In fact, Dickey was awarded the Ishikawa Medal from the American Society for Quality Control "for his lasting contributions to the development of teamwork and people-friendly work environments." Dickey received his B.S. in chemical engineering and his M.S. in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also completed The Executive Program at the University of Virginia Colgate-Darden School of Business Administration.

Susan Ridgell

Susan Ridgell is vice president and co-founder of Knox ivi. Before creating Knox ivi with husband and business partner, Joe Dickey, Ridgell was a consultant for FSG & Associates, LLC, a technical consulting firm serving the electric utility industry. Ridgell's expertise is in assisting business owners in strategic planning, employee issues, financial statement analysis, marketing, advertising, time management and work-life balance. Ridgell is an adjunct instructor at the University of Tennessee, where she teaches organizational psychology courses to graduate students and upper- level undergraduate students. Ridgell is responsible for Knox ivi's seamless teaming across business functions. She also provides structure for process-oriented thinking to the sales force. Ridgell holds a B.S. in accounting from Carson-Newman College and a Ph.D. in industrial/applied experimental psychology from the University of Tennessee. She is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Brent Thompson

Brent Thompson is business development manager for Knox ivi and co-hosts its flagship show, Eleven O'Clock Rock. Thompson is the quintessential entrepreneur. His job is to help people imagine what they can do with a powerful tool like Knox ivi. Almost every job Thompson has held has involved starting a new company - from concept to execution. In addition to his work with Knox ivi, Thompson owns and operates Bluefoot Arts, through which he curates, promotes and sells original artwork by local artists. Thompson spent 15 years in the hospitality business opening and operating restaurants in Tennessee and California. He holds a B.S. in business management from the University of Tennessee with an emphasis on the study and practice of entrepreneurship.

Roman Karpynec

Knox ivi Production Supervisor, Roman Karpynec, is an adopted Tennesseean via New York, Virginia, Scotland, and New Mexico. A graduate of the University of Tennessee in broadcasting, Roman began his career in video production editing super 8mm footage on two S-VHS decks in the vacant laundry room closet of his apartment while in college. Through an inheritance, Roman purchased the first version of Final Cut Pro, an Apple G4 and a 3-chip camera before his broadcasting program even offered non-linear editing. Since then, Roman has remained professionally active in broadcasting as a news video photojournalist, documentary filmmaker, commercial producer, and (just before assuming the Production Supervisor position at Knox ivi) Production Manager for two television stations (at the same time) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Always gravitating toward new technologies, making the switch from "traditional" broadcasting to web streaming at Knox ivi was a natural fit for Roman.