Staff

Renée Victoria Hoyos

Executive Director

Renée Victoria Hoyos became TCWN’s Executive Director in October 2003. As Executive Director, her primary duties are fundraising, limited policy work, outreach coordination, editor of The Current, TCWN's thrice yearly newsletter, fundraising, public speaking and fundraising. She is also the board president of the national Clean Water Network in Washington DC.

Renée previously worked with the California Resources Agency and served as Special Assistant to Secretary Mary D. Nichols for Watersheds and Outreach. Renée holds a Masters of Agriculture and Management degree (with concentration in nonprofit organization management) as well as a Masters of Avian Science degree, both from the University of California in Davis.

Renée enjoys rafting, hiking, kayaking and skiing. She is a member of the National Ski Patrol and patrols on the weekend at Cataloochie Ski Ranch in Maggie Valley North Carolina. Currently, she is the Chair of the Knoxville Transportation Authority and is a member of the Knox County Charter Review Committee.

Dana Wright

Water Policy Director

dana@tcwn.org

Dana Wright became TCWN’s Water Policy Director in January 2008. Prior to joining TCWN Dana worked with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division managing $30 million in Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Mitigation Grants to implement statewide nonpoint source pollution reduction strategies and policies. Dana received a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Urban Studies, as well as a Masters of Public Policy with a concentration in Evaluation and Analysis from Georgia State University.

At TCWN Dana manages the Clean Water Policy Program which focuses on strengthening the Tennessee Water Pollution Control Act, other State resource protection acts and the Federal Clean Water Act to protect water resources. Through this program, Dana monitors and comments on all rulemaking related to water quality, works to increase public access to information regarding permit issuance, enforcement and implementation of water quality standards, serves as the primary relation with TDEC and other resource protection agencies, and addresses other policy related issues in order to improve water quality throughout the state.

Stephanie Durman Matheny

Staff Attorney

stephanie@tcwn.org

Stephanie joined TCWN in April 2009 to develop a litigation program to promote water quality throughout Tennessee. At TCWN, she oversees a range of Clean Water Act citizen suits, administrative appeals, permit reviews, and other advocacy efforts.

Before joining TCWN, Stephanie served as a staff attorney for the Boston-based National Environmental Law Center, where she participated in Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and National Environmental Policy Act litigation around the country. She previously interned for Earthjustice and the National Wildlife Federation and was president of a forest conservation group in Seattle. Prior to becoming an attorney, Stephanie developed housing for low-income and homeless people throughout the state of Washington.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in Economics and Political Science from Yale University. She earned a Juris Doctor with a concentration in environmental law from the University of Washington, where she is a member of the Order of the Coif, graduated with high honors (top 5%), and served on the Washington Law Review.

Stephanie lives in Knoxville with her husband and two sons. In 2011, she co-chaired Compassion Knoxville, a comprehensive effort to develop community-based recommendations about homelessness. She currently serves as Treasurer of the League of Women Voters of Knoxville and Knox County and as Board Chair of Redeeming Hope Ministries.

Kathy Hawes

Coordinator, Mississippi River Collaborative (MRC)

Kathy@tcwn.org

Kathy Hawes became the Coordinator of the Mississippi River Collaborative (MRC) in November 2012 and works from the TCWN office on Market Street. She handles meeting planning and communications functions for MRC, facilitating cooperation among non-profits (including TCWN) in the ten states which border the great Mississippi River.

Prior to joining MRC, Kathy spent 15 years working for a local manufacturing company, eventually becoming Vice President in charge of the marketing and sales of environmental products to consultants and distributors worldwide. Through the years, she has volunteered for many local non-profits, including Peaceful Kingdom, SpayKnox, Protect.org and CASA.

Kathy graduated magna cum laude from The University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Communications and is currently pursuing an M.B.A. from Northcentral University. She lives in Kingston with her husband and daughter.

Andie Ray

Adminstrative Assistant

andie@tcwn.org

Andie Ray became Administrative Assistant to TCWN’s Executive Director Renee Hoyos in January of 2012. Prior to coming on board at TCWN, she owned a ladies’ boutique on Market Square and was involved in the revitalization efforts of downtown Knoxville, through the renovation of a building owned with her husband, Noel, as well as participation in the founding of the Market Square District Association.

She has served on the boards of several non-profits, including City People, Knox Heritage and the Tennessee Stage Company and is currently serving as a Historic Zoning Commissioner for the City of Knoxville.

Prior to her adventure in entrepreneurship she was a Legal Assistant for 10 years, with both a B.S. from Milligan College and A.D. from Pellissippi State Technical Community College in Legal Assistant Studies.

Bios

Tennessee Clean Water Network