Story and Photography By Casey Perfetto
Community. Resilience. Hope. These words define the lives of Connie French and Erin Wakefield Mahan. Both Knoxville natives, these two accomplished women have built successful careers and families while dedicating themselves to giving back. Now, as Co-Chairs of the 2025 Knoxville Hope Gala, they are bringing their leadership and passion to one of the city’s most impactful philanthropic events.
For Connie French, Knoxville has always been home. A graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in finance, Connie has spent her career in private and commercial banking. Today she serves as Senior Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager and Team Lead at Mountain Commerce Bank, overseeing a large portfolio of consumer and commercial loans. Known for her expertise in private banking, commercial lending and mortgage services, Connie is equally recognized for her service to the community. She has held leadership roles with the American Cancer Society State Board of Directors, Knoxville Habitat for Humanity and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley.
Her connection to the mission of the American Cancer Society is deeply personal. Connie lost her mother to lung cancer, a loss that continues to fuel her commitment. For more than 11 years, she has served on the Executive Planning Committee for the Hope Gala. “Cancer makes you feel helpless as individuals,” Connie shares. “But through the Hope Gala, we can come together and make an impact.” Faith and family remain central in Connie’s life. Her favorite verse, Proverbs 3:5-6, reflects the foundation she carries into both her personal and professional roles: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” When she’s not working or volunteering, she can be found on the baseball field sidelines, cheering for her son.
Like Connie, Erin Wakefield Mahan’s story begins in Knoxville. After earning a degree in finance from the University of Tennessee, Erin followed in the footsteps of her father, Jim Wakefield, the founder of The Wakefield Corporation (TWC). She worked her way through the business, from answering phones as a teenager to leading major projects. In 2013, she became Chief Executive Officer, establishing TWC as a Woman Owned Business and guiding it into its next chapter of growth.
Her leadership extends far beyond the company. Erin has served on local, state and national boards for Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors and Associated Construction Women, and she currently serves on the Knoxville Chapter of the AGC Board of Directors.
Her dedication to cancer awareness also stems from a deeply personal place. Erin’s father passed away from lung cancer in 2016, and during his journey she was both a caregiver and an advocate. In 2017, the American Cancer Society honored her father during the Hope Gala, a meaningful tribute that celebrated his legacy and reinforced Erin’s ongoing dedication to advancing the mission. Today, Erin serves on the boards of the Thompson Cancer Center Foundation, Game On Against Cancer and the Hope Gala. “Contributing to the fight is its own reward,” Erin explains. “Not everyone has the time or resources to give, but creating opportunities through events like this allows us to come together as a community and make a difference.” Outside of work and service, Erin shares life with her husband, TJ, and their blended family of five children. She also enjoys music, fitness, travel and serving in the choir at Cokesbury Church.
Together, Connie and Erin are guiding the 2025 Knoxville Hope Gala with vision and determination. Presented by the American Cancer Society, the Knoxville Hope Gala is the organization’s largest Hope Gala and one of the most successful ACS fundraisers per capita in the nation. For more than 20 years, it has raised millions of dollars for cancer research, awareness and patient support. Connie and Erin’s leadership ensures that the Hope Gala continues to thrive, inspire and serve as a beacon of hope for the Knoxville community.