Cynthia Moxley, CEO, Moxley Carmichael

Cynthia-Moxley-(6149)-RGBAs founder and chief executive officer of East Tennessee’s premier public and media relations firm, Cynthia Moxley works closely with the chief executives of the major companies in East Tennessee and has close personal relationships with top media executives and the working press throughout the state.

In addition, she maintains close working relationships with key government officials in Tennessee. She plans and implements communications plans, business strategies, image campaigns, crisis communications plans, government relations efforts, research, special events and employee communications. She works closely with the news media in all facets of representing her clients. She has written two books about Knoxville.

Moxley is the author of the popular blog, The Blue Streak, and in 2009 was voted “best blogger” and “best Twitterer” by readers of the News Sentinel.

Under her leadership, Moxley Carmichael for six straight years won more awards in the regional Public Relations Society of America competition than any other firm. She led the Moxley Carmichael team that helped KUB win a key voter referendum, and the effort was honored with the “Best of Show” award in the PRSA competition.

In 1992, she formed Moxley Communications, changing the name in 1999 to Moxley Carmichael to reflect the addition of partner Alan Carmichael.

From 1990 to 1992, she was a partner in McMahan Vaughan, a major government and public relations firm in Knoxville. Clients included a major Knoxville hospital and a health management organization. She also handled risk communications for several waste management projects in East Tennessee.

From 1980 to 1990, Moxley was an award-winning journalist for The Knoxville Journal and the first female city editor in Knoxville. She was primarily responsible for covering business, government, politics and the media, and she spent two years covering state government in Nashville.

Moxley was a reporter at The Gatlinburg Press and Sevier County News-Record from 1979 to 1980. She covered city government and business in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. Moxley graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1978.

Her professional achievements include:

  • Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council Women of Achievement Award, 2008
  • Winner of the Harvey I. Cobert Award for excellence in the practice of public relations from the Volunteer Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, 1999
  • Champion Award, Knoxville Women’s Center, 1995, for having a “woman friendly” workplace
  • Leadership Knoxville, 1993
  • Knoxville Women’s Center Annie Selwyn Award for Outstanding Women, 1985
  • Associated Press Managing Editor’s Association Malcolm Law Award for Feature Writing (top award in state), 1985

Her community involvement includes:

  • Knoxville Chamber Board of Directors, 2008-present
  • Knoxville Symphony Society Board of Directors, 1997-present
  • East Tennessee Foundation Board of Directors, 2008-present
  • Knoxville Area Urban League Board of Directors, 2003-present
  • Clarence Brown Theatre Board of Directors, 1999-present. Past president
  • Club LeConte Board of Governors, 1998-2008
  • Friends of Literacy Board of Directors, 1999-2004
  • Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation Board, 1997-2001
  • American Heart Association, East Tennessee Chapter, Board of Directors, 1997-1999
  • Knoxville Rotary Club, 1994-2006
  • Nucleus Knoxville, 1993-present
  • Society of Professional Journalists, 1979-present. Past president of East Tennessee Chapter
  • Executive Women’s Association, 1992-present. Past president
  • Public Relations Society of America, East Tennessee Chapter, 1994-present
  • Women in Communications, 1989-1994. Past president of East Tennessee Chapter