Staff
Phone: (865) 584-8647 ext. 9
E-mail: lyle@kaarmls.com
Lyle Irish joined KAAR in June 2011 as the Executive Vice President after having served as the Administrative VP at the Memphis Association of Realtors. He also previously managed a large regional title company based in Memphis. Lyle is a University of Tennessee graduate and earned his JD from the University of Memphis. Active in community and civic organizations, he currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Clarence Brown Theatre Advisory Board of Directors and is Secretary of the Tennessee Society of Association Executives. Lyle is a graduate of Leadership Memphis and Leadership Knoxville.
Jared Hencke joined in the fall of 2018 as a Member Services Representative and was promoted to MLS Coordinator in the fall of 2019. Jared assists members with Supra key and lockbox support, Flexmls assistance and general member services. Jared has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Carson-Newman University.
Phone: (865) 584-8647 ext. 8
E-mail: james@kaarmls.com
James moved from West Virginia to Tennessee in 2013 to attend Johnson University. Four years later he continues to call Knoxville home. James joined KAAR in October of 2017 as Director of Member Engagement.
- Oversees KAAR Young Professionals Network (YPN)
- Liaison to Grievance Committee
- Liaison to RPAC Committee
- Liaison to Professional Standards Committee
Phone: (865) 584-8647 ext. 5
E-mail: steve@kaarmls.com
As the Business Manager, Steve Lawson is responsible for the day-to-day accounting and operations of the Association’s budget. He serves as the liaison to the Finance & Budget Committee and oversees all aspects of the MLS and membership dues billing. Steve has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Tennessee and is a Certified Public Accountant.
- Liaison to Budget & Finance Committee
Phone: (865) 584-8647 ext. 3
E-mail: carleen@kaarmls.com
Prior to being hired in her current position, Carleen owned her own business for 17 years, where she focused on writing, editing, and graphic design. She wrote and edited major proposals for large government agencies and corporations in the US, Canada, and the Mid East. Prior to that she was a Graphics/Proposal Manager for Duratek/Westinghouse, Communications Director for United Way, Charleston, SC and before that, public relations specialist for the Charleston County School District. Carleen has been assistant editor of two national magazines (Houston, TX) and editor of a local newspaper (Charleston, SC). She and her husband have two daughters and a granddaughter. She enjoys travel, and has ventured as far as Afghanistan and Dubai, with plans to continue traveling. As a member of Akima, Carleen volunteers at various agencies throughout the community.
- Liaison to Education Committee
Phone: (865) 584-8647 ext. 4
E-mail: donna@kaarmls.com
Donna Roach is currently the MLS Director and the committee liaison to the Residential MLS Committee. Donna attended University of Tennessee and graduated from Draughons Business College. She also works with various vendors in regards to the MLS System. Donna began her career with the Knoxville Board of Realtors in 1976, with around 500 members. She began her role at KAAR by typing listing information on cards to be sent to the book publisher to publish the MLS Books. Since then, the MLS has gone from printed books to a computerized MLS system. In her tenure here at the Association, she was instrumental in completing six MLS system conversions. Donna currently holds the following designations: RCE (Realtor Certified Executive), GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute), ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative), and ePro, C2EX (REALTORS Commitment to Excellence), CMLX1 (Certified Multiple Listing Professional) and CMLX2 (Certified Multiple Listing Executive).
On a personal note, Donna has two German Shepherd dogs (Ernest T Bass and Charlene Darlin) and raises Reindeer for lease, rentals for displays and private parties as well as movies and commercials. She is a member of the Reindeer Owners and Breeders Association. With members throughout the United States and Canada, it remains the largest organization of its type in North America. Dedicated to the advancement of public awareness of reindeer, ROBA also supplies the membership with reindeer education, research, and conservation. These goals help to develop and enhance the abilities of members to maintain healthy herds and reindeer business operations.
- Liaison to Residential MLS Committee
Phone: (865) 588-6350
E-mail: hancen@kaarmls.com
Twitter: @hancen4sale
Hancen Sale joined KAAR in September 2020 as the Governmental Affairs and Policy Director. Prior to joining KAAR, Hancen worked as a research assistant at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, providing research assistance for the Center's state and federal research portfolio as well as supporting the White House's American Workforce Policy Advisory Board. Hancen holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in economics and public policy from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
- Liaison to Governmental Affairs Committee
Phone: (865) 584-8647 ext. 1
E-mail: teresa@kaarmls.com
For the past 20 years, Teresa Tillery has served as the Membership Director at KAAR, and even before that, she worked part-time as a file clerk and assisting Donna with the MLS. Teresa oversees membership of KAAR Realtors, appraisers, and affiliates, and she assists in orchestrating new member orientation. Teresa currently holds the ePro certification.
