Patience Melnik, who served as the City’s Waste and Resources Manager for almost five years, will return in February 2025 as Director of the City’s Office of Sustainability. 

Since leaving the City in Sept. 2022, Melnik has been a professional grant consultant. She counts among her clients Trees Knoxville, whom she helped receive a $1.7 million grant from the USDA, and the City’s own Urban Forestry department, for whom she successfully applied for a $225,000 grant to battle invasive plant species that threaten our tree canopy and native species. 

“I’m confident in Patience’s talents and excited to bring her experience and leadership skills back to the City,” said Mayor Indya Kincannon. “With her proven track record and prior experience with city government, I know she will hit the ground running and continue our efforts to meet our sustainability goals.”

Prior to working for the City, Melnik was Executive Director of Keep Knoxville Beautiful and Director of Environmental Health Programs for the Tennessee Clean Water Network.

Melnik’s community involvement includes current board positions with Nourish Knoxville and the Knox County Solid Waste Board and prior service as a founding board member of Trees Knoxville. 

“I look forward to collaborating with City departments and community partners to continue making Knoxville a sustainable and resilient city,” said Melnik. 

The Office of Sustainability collaborates with multiple City departments including Fleet and Public Service Facilities to create and enact policies and procedures that reduce municipal and communitywide carbon emissions. The City established a goal to reduce its operational emissions, including fleet vehicles and buildings, by 50 percent by 2030 and communitywide by 80 percent by 2050. 
 
Melnik starts on Feb. 17. She replaces Vasu Primlani, who resigned to focus on her health. 

Learn more about the Office of Sustainability at KnoxvilleTN.gov/Sustainability.