Operating PrinciplesWho We Are:
Darrell Akins - Chairman/Partner
Darrell Akins has over 30 years of experience in community service, public strategy and business in the State of Tennessee.
A native East Tennessean, Akins started his career after graduating from the University of Tennessee, working on the staff of former Knoxville Mayor Kyle Testerman and then as Vice President at the Bank of Maryville in Blount County.
With the election of his life-long friend Lamar Alexander as Tennessee's Governor, Akins served as Deputy Commissioner in two departments, Human Services and Transportation, and then at the age of thirty-one, he became the youngest member of the Alexander cabinet with his appointment as Commissioner of Personnel. Following his state service, Akins became Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Knoxville Chamber of Commerce.
In 1989, in partnership with noted Knoxville advertising executive Charles Tombras Jr., he founded a company now known as AkinsCrisp Public Strategies and co-owned with his partner John Crisp, AkinsCrisp’s President & CEO.
AkinsCrisp has offices in Knoxville, Nashville, Oak Ridge, Huntsville-Alabama and Washington DC.
Akins serves as AkinsCrisp’s chief client strategist, new business development officer and leads the company numerous community and political activities.
Among many community honors, Akins is a life member of the Florence Crittenton Agency of Knoxville, Southeast U.S. Volunteer of Year of the Child Welfare League of America, Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America and was awarded the Maryville College Distinguished Service Award for his many contributions as a College Board member.
Akins is Vice President of the Tennessee Business Roundtable and past Vice Chairman of the Tennessee Independent College and Universities Association. He is Past Chairman of the United Way of Greater Knoxville and Past Council President of the Great Smoky Mountain Council of Boy Scouts of America.
He serves on the boards of Hiwasse College, the East Tennessee Foundation, the Roane County United Way, the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Tech 2020 and the United Way of Greater Knoxville. He serves on the Anderson County Advisory Board of SunTrust.
Akins is Campaign Treasurer for Tennessee’s second district Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. and is Vice Chairman of Tenn PAC, a political action committee founded by Tennessee’s Senior Senator Lamar Alexander.
