Alumni Spotlights
Kimberly Billings (’08), Director of Merchandising for Pilot Company
Kimberly began her career at Pilot Company in 2009 as Staffing Coordinator, quickly moving on to become Divisional Staffing Manager for Canada (2010) during Pilot’s expansion into the country. She next transitioned to more merchandising-focused positions including Associate Category Manager for package beverages and food (2011-2016), Category Manager for general merchandise (2016-2018), and Senior Category Manager for package beverages (2018-2019). In 2019, she became the Director of Category Management, package food and beverages, and most recently was promoted to Director of Merchandise in 2022.
Kimberly was also recognized by Knox.biz as a member of the prestigious 40 under 40 class of 2022. She is well-known in the industry as a proven leader who can link financial, operational, and customer data and translate it into actionable initiatives and results for Pilot Company. Kimberly is very generous with her time, serving on the RHTM Advisory Board, making herself available to serve as a guest speaker to our classes, and serving on the board of Sequoyah Elementary Foundation. She has a talent for connecting with students on a personal level and mentoring them to achieve excellence in the field.
According to her Knox.Biz feature, her professional dream is to continue to make a positive impact for Pilot, whether that is culturally or financially. “I always want to be able to mentor and guide others to be able to achieve their professional goals. I think one of the greatest gifts as a leader is seeing team members who are growing in their career and developing their own leadership style to be able to live their own professional dream and knowing that you had some small part in that.”
Charles Starks (’82), President & CEO of Music City Center
Nashville, Tennessee
Charles Starks is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Convention Center Authority, which owns and operates the Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Charles has been with the convention center since 2005. He led his team through the construction of a new 2.1 million square foot facility, which opened in May 2013. Prior to the MCC, he worked for Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center and several other Nashville-based hotel companies since starting his career in the hotel industry at just 14 years old.
Charles holds a Bachelor of Science in Tourism, Food, and Lodging Administration from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He is also a Certified Hotel Administrator through the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).
Charles is active in many professional, civic, and community groups. He has faithfully served his alma mater as an RHTM Advisory Board member. He is also serving the Downtown Nashville Rotary, Skål, and the Tennessee State University Hospitality and Tourism Advisory Board. Currently, he serves as Immediate Past Chair of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville Board of Directors, and the Greater Nashville Hospitality Association Board of Directors. He previously served as president of both state and local hospitality associations and is a graduate of the 2015 class of Leadership Nashville.
Charles is a Nashville native. He and his wife, Dina, have two children and four grandchildren.
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We would love to hear more about wonderful things our alumni do after their graduation. Please contact us so that we can follow up with you (rhtm@utk.edu or jkwon7@utk.edu) OR complete this five-question survey.