ETMP Founder
The visionary behind East Tennessee Meeting Professionals laid the foundation for a thriving community of event professionals in July 2002. His dedication to fostering education, career development, and business networking has propelled ETMP to become the largest association of its kind in the region. Know more about the founder who have made it possible for us to support and elevate the event planning industry in East Tennessee.
James Howard “Jim” Johnson
East Tennessee Meeting Professionals (ETMP) was founded by James Howard “Jim” Johnson in July 2002. Jim served as a Strategic Sourcing Manager & Corporate Travel Manager for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for 25 years (1979 – 2004) and had a passion for providing quality lodging and conference experiences for the thousands of employees that worked for TVA.
Jim used his vast leadership experience in working with other organizations that served meeting planning professionals to create East Tennessee Meeting Professionals, which was intentionally composed of an equal mix of meeting planning professionals and host hotels and other suitable venues alike. Jim served as the organization’s first and only Executive Director until his passing and return to his spiritual home on December 26, 2019.
Jim’ passion for people, fun-loving nature and sense of humor, and love for so many organizations and causes in East Tennessee is widely known and he will be remembered and missed for many years to come. Part of Jim’s lasting professional legacy in East Tennessee is ETMP which is proudly celebrating its 22nd anniversary in July of 2024.