FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dustin came to Knoxville from West Virginia in 2008 to study architecture at UT. He spent seven years at the East Tennessee Community Design Center, including being the Design Studio Director, before moving to his current job as the Executive Director for the East TN Chapter of AIA. Other roles of his include being the Vice President of his neighborhood - Old North, being a Commissioner on the Knoxville Transit Authority, being the proud father of two local murals, including the interactive one at Fort Kid, and being on the Advisory Committee for Bike Walk Knoxville.

He rarely has free time but when he does you can find him working out at the downtown Y, reading murder mysteries with his black cat, Agatha, enjoying his e-bike, or being a total (but fun) dork by playing D&D with his friends. He started Yes! because as a renter and bike commuter, he understands first-hand how policy affects where he can live and how he can travel across town.

BOARD PRESIDENT

Jack Coker serves as Board President of YES! Knoxville, where he helps lead the organization’s efforts to promote sustainable urbanism, equitable housing, transit access, and smart land use. A commercial real estate professional by trade, Jack works at the intersection of city-building and civic advocacy, with a focus on shaping places that are walkable, welcoming, and deeply connected to the people who call them home. He also serves as President of the Belle Morris Neighbors Association, sits on the East Tennessee Historical Society’s Collections Committee, and contributes to planning and design efforts with the East Tennessee Community Design Center.

As a 9th generation Knoxville resident, Jack is passionate about thoughtful placemaking that brings long-term value, socially, economically, and spiritually. Inspired by the idea that “a society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in,” his work reflects a deep commitment to Knoxville’s future. Whether advocating for stronger transit corridors or better civic infrastructure, he brings both big-picture vision and hands-on collaboration to the table. Outside of his professional roles, Jack is a husband, father, deacon, and film photography enthusiast who believes in front porches, old houses, and knowing your neighbors.

FOUNDER & BOARD VICE PRESIDENT

Drew Harper is a historic preservationist, urban geographer, and incremental developer. He has degrees from Johnson University and the University of Edinburgh, and has a professional background in mental health and public policy. Drew believes that saying “Yes!” to building a more walkable city leads to improved health outcomes, lower carbon footprints, and better public safety. He lives in the 1948 fourplex that he saved from demolition, now home to six humans, six cats, and a dog. 

FOUNDER & BOARD TREASURER

Anna’s Bio is coming soon!

BOARD SECRETARY

Zoe is from Huntsville, Alabama and a graduate of the University of Montevallo, where she earned a B.S. in Political Science and Environmental Studies. She moved to Knoxville and completed a year of service through AmeriCorps, and now works full-time for Bike Walk Knoxville on advocacy efforts. She is passionate about sustainability, equity, and coffee.

In her free time, Zoe sings in the Appalachian Equality Chorus, and can often be found reading, playing cozy games, or baking!

BOARD MEMBER

Taylor Heim Eisenhower first came to Knoxville in 2008 for a Tennessee Volunteers football game, and the electric energy of Neyland Stadium instantly won her over. She soon decided to make Knoxville home, earning a degree in Architecture from the University of Tennessee.

Today, Taylor is the founder of Two Oaks Architecture & Interiors, built on the belief that design should be thoughtful, sustainable, and rooted in the needs of the communities it serves. Her work in affordable housing reflects her passion for creating places that strengthen economic and social resilience across East Tennessee.

Taylor is excited to say "YES!" championing housing and transit options while advocating for a more walkable, connected Knoxville reflecting the same vibrancy that first drew her here. She now calls North Knoxville home along with her husband, dog, and a little Volunteer joining their family this fall.

BOARD MEMBER

Aaron grew up roaming the streets of Owensboro, Kentucky on his bike (with his range unbeknownst to his parents) and later on his grandparents farm in nearby Hancock County. After high school, he moved to the "cosmopolitan" city of Bowling Green to study architecture at Western Kentucky University and deejayed at the college radio station (for additional fun). It was there, walking and biking for transportation, having a strong campus community, and enjoying both urban and natural beauty that his ideals of the good life began to form. Upon graduation, Aaron moved to Nashville to work for a small, but refined residential architect, drafting a mix a luxury single-family residences, speculative duplexes, and urban townhomes. In 2017, Aaron and his now wife, Anna, moved to East Tennessee, renting a small and affordable duplex in Knoxville's well-connected Happy Holler. Soon after, they purchased a duplex, living in one side and renting the other. They still call North Knoxville home enjoying its urban amenities, convenience, and connection, against the backdrop of Tennessee's natural beauty, diverse ecologies, and recreational opportunities. Aaron practices architecture at Sparkman & Associates Architects, seeking out projects that build community, with a focus on small, incremental development and modest, wealth-building designs. You may find Aaron biking to a coffee shop to read, working in a garden, paddling the French Broad, racing down a mountain bike trail, swimming in a quarry lake, or just reading a historical marker for longer than is socially acceptable.

BOARD MEMBER

Tyler Sanford has lived in Knoxville on and off for over 20 years, witnessing the city’s transformation and growth. Now, he’s eager to contribute to shaping Knoxville’s future—advocating for a more walkable city, equitable and diverse housing options, vibrant outdoor community spaces, and a transit system that supports sustainable growth.

A 2019 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a Bachelor of Architecture, Tyler worked in the architectural field for over seven years, focusing on thoughtful, sustainable design with a positive social impact. He has since transitioned into the construction industry, where he continues to champion low-impact, high-quality building practices rooted in sustainability.

Before his work in design and construction, Tyler served nearly seven years in the military. His experience living on military bases gave him unique insight into how intentional community planning—including walkability and transit access—can support a diverse population.

He is an active member of the AIA’s Committee on the Environment, where he collaborates with others to advance sustainable practices in both architecture and construction. Currently living in North Knoxville near Three Rivers Market, Tyler enjoys a walkable lifestyle with shared transit access and hopes to help make this kind of accessibility a reality for more Knoxville residents. He’s passionate about the outdoors and believes great community spaces are key to a thriving, connected city.

BOARD MEMBER

Jack Vaughan is a Knoxville native and a 2023 UT graduate. He grew up in the suburbs but came to love Knoxville's urban core and North Knoxville's walkability, historic neighborhoods, and convenience to downtown. Since 2020, Jack has worked in local politics as a campaign manager and consultant, managing 4 winning city campaigns and 3 successful county campaigns. He is also involved with the Sierra Club, Bike Walk Knoxville, and the local and state Democratic Party. Jack lives with his partner, Mac, and two cats in Oakwood-Lincoln Park where they enjoy the trails on Sharp's Ridge, walkability to Central and Broadway, and the views of downtown and the Smoky Mountains from their front porch.

BOARD MEMBER

Ellen Zavisca is an urban transportation planner and a mom (of one human and two dogs) who lives in North Knoxville. She enjoys bicycling and reading (mostly not at the same time) and also explaining induced demand and tax increment financing to strangers on Reddit.

FUTURE BOARD MEMBER

At least, we hope! Sure we don’t have any leads yet on how to get her involved, but she loves East Tennessee, so it’s possible, right? Either way, she would be just as welcome to join our Board as you, and we would love to have you on our Board just as much as her (or, almost as much), so if you’re interested in joining, check out the section below to learn more!