Ambassadors

Liz joined the Holston Business Development Center (HBDC) in May 2022.  She is originally from the Midwest and received her M.B.A. in entrepreneurship & corporate innovation and management at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business in 2015. Before receiving her masters, she spent 12 years in Japan. 

As director of HBDC she looks forward to recruiting new business to the area and assisting current clients to build strong and sustainable companies.  

My real estate journey began at 14, working with my father, a broker in North Carolina. With over 25 years of experience spanning agency management, construction, and title work, I’ve developed a deep understanding of the industry. In 2017, I found my passion in title, where every closing tells a story. With my father and son both Marines and my father-in-law a retired firefighter, my roots in service run deep. Inspired by my teacher grandmother, I’m proud to serve our heroes through Homes for Heroes. I prioritize relationships over transactions and lead a locally owned title division serving TN, VA, and neighboring states. My mission is simple: deliver exceptional closings, support our communities, and foster meaningful industry collaboration.

As a dedicated Realtor with over eight years of experience serving the
East Tennessee area, I take pride in helping buyers, sellers, and
investors find the perfect property to meet their needs. A Kingsport
native, I am passionate about my community and actively involved as an
Ambassador for the Kingsport City Chamber of Commerce. I am also a
proud member of the Voices of the Mountains Choir and always seeking
new ways to give back. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree from Bethel
University, and my goal is to provide exceptional service, market
expertise, and a seamless real estate experience for my clients.

I was born and raised in Oregon and moved to Tennessee in 2023. With a background in finance and a passion for serving my community, I spent 15 years as a 911 Dispatcher and Reserve Police Officer. I am dedicated to supporting our first responders through organizations like Homes for Heroes®, Call For Backup, Project Humanize, and First Help. These organizations advocate for legislative changes, mental health awareness, and suicide prevention in the first responder community. In my free time, I love exploring the great outdoors and going off-road in my Jeep. I enjoy traveling with my husband and seeking out new adventures. I am committed to helping you with your homeownership needs and am available to assist you at any time, including evenings and weekends. 

I am a proud REALTOR who has a heart for helping clients reach their real estate goals.  From new construction, rentals, flips, commercial and residential sales, I work hard for buyers and sellers with their next move. Marketing strategies, connections, and personalized service are all very important to me. I proudly worked for Kingsport City Schools for 30.5 years as an English teacher at Robinson Middle School. My heart will always advocate for education and community. I've proudly served in many roles including Kiwanis Tower volunteer, YMCA tutor, cheer sponsor, Department of Defense SkillsBridge partner, reading liaison, and volunteer within many local shelters and organizations. The best part of me is my FAMILY! Being a grandmother to four is my favorite title. Watching my grandchildren grow up and experience all our community has to offer is surreal. That's why it's important to me to be involved and serve in a place I proudly call HOME!

: I am a dedicated Realtor helping buyers and sellers navigate the real estate process with confidence and care.
As a proud member for The Kingsport Chamber Ambassadors, I am passionate about supporting local businesses and fostering community growth.

Loan Officer originating Auto, Signature, Mortgage and Home Equity Loans.

Jim McComb, Managing Director of Wild Card Strategy, has more than 30 years of experience in executive-level management at some of America's largest companies. Corporate strategy, marketing, finance, risk management, and strategic planning are his areas of expertise, and his Kingsport-based consulting practice places particular emphasis on Next Generation strategic planning, forecasting and managing business Wild Card opportunities and threats, managing and mitigating eight major categories of business risk, and Next Practices creation and deployment. He has earned the Strategic Management Professional (SMP) certification and is a past president of the International Association of Strategy Professionals. Although relatively new to Kingsport, he is no stranger to Tennessee, as his "blood runneth orange" as a proud graduate of UT Knoxville.

As a resident of Kingsport for over thirty years, I am excited to be an ambassador for the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce. Being an Affiliate Broker at Weichert Realtors Saxon Clark provides an avenue to help others when relocating to this beautiful area.

2025 Chamber Ambassador Chair, 2023 Chamber Ambassador of the year, and your favorite insurance agent! I specialize in individual and group life, health, and commercial business insurance. I am dedicated to protecting what matters most to you. Whether it's safeguarding your family's future, ensuring your health coverage meets your needs, or providing comprehensive solutions for your business and employee benefits, I am here to guide you every step of the way. With a focus on personalized service and attention to detail, I strive to build lasting relationships with my clients based on trust and reliability. Outside of work, you will find me hiking, weight training, spending time with my family, and volunteering within our community. Let's work together to secure your peace of mind and protect your financial future.

2024 Ambassador Chair

Josh aka “that marketing guy” is an East Tennessee native with a passion for people and creativity. He joined AFI at the beginning of 2021 and has hit the ground running. Josh has made a career as a forward thinker, applying the practice of digital strategy with marketing creative. We all have a story to tell, and he is here to share AFI's story and success for helping others. He is an avid musician, loves spending time on the lake, and bleeds orange – GO VOLS! But he is probably best known as Executive Chef of the Shores household, cooking tasty treats for his son and his two doggies! 

Quote: “I am not superstitious… but I am a little stitious” 

I am a life-long Kingsport resident and have been a real estate agent in our beautiful area for 10 years.  I am an owner of Copper Key Properties along with Jenny Beck and Jim Rigsby and our team has grown to 32 dedicated agents,- two of which are my two children- along with a skilled property management team, and we proudly serve the communities of East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

I have an amazing husband, two children and two grandchildren who are my sunshine.

I am proud to represent our local Chamber of Commerce and our lovely Kingsport!!!

Visit us at our new office location:
1825 N Eastman Rd, Suite 3 (next to American Lighting)
Come by, meet our team, and enjoy a cup of coffee as we help you unlock your real estate dreams.

Becca Sutphen serves as the Senior Director of Community Impact for the United Way of Greater Kingsport where she oversees the community impact work of the Member Agencies and Initiatives. Becca has 20 years of experience working in both the non-profit and government sectors.  Becca is from Rhode Island and served 8 years in the Army as an Environmental Science Officer.

11-year Honorable Service Veteran, that has a heart to serve the local region and community. Fully committed and dedicated on ensuring that Veterans have all the proper resources and training to succeed in life post military!

Specializing in residential and commercial real estate, Wendy uses her 15 years of experience to help clients market their property, negotiate contracts and navigate through the process of buying and selling real estate. Her goal is to get her clients to the closing table as flawlessly as possible, all while following a strong moral code and a consistent set of values. 

Having served others for 27 years as a registered nurse, Talina traded in her scrubs to follow her dream of being a business owner. Inspire Wine Bar’s mission is to inspire others through great wine, food, art, and furnishings sourced regionally.