West Young Professionals

Philip is a Business Development Executive at Captive Resources.

Philip moved to the West Knoxville area in January of 2019, originally coming from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He has been involved with businesses in all of greater East Tennessee ever since.

Philip attended Middle Tennessee State University where he attained his bachelor’s in marketing. Philip helped start a chapter for the American Marketing Association while he was there as well as earned the Human Relations Champion award in the Dale Carnegie course. Philip has a passion for all things business and loves meeting new people.

In his spare time, Philip enjoys smoking BBQ, working on cars, collecting bourbon, and relaxing with his wife Hailey. They have two dogs, Bella & Ruby who seem to require constant attention.

My name is Alexandria Anderson, although I am known as Lexi. I personally love writing and architecture and am a menace at put-put. Born in Knoxville and raised in Minnesota, I returned to Knoxville to be a Vol and have always found this city to be home. Knoxville West Young Professionals to me is an opportunity to engage with the community and be a resource for emerging professionals. Knoxville is a growing city with an immense amount of potential, and I believe us young professionals are part of this large opportunity for growth.

April Cooper, MBA is a marketing specialist for OneDigital. She ensures communication is timely and relevant through email, social media, websites, and more. 

In addition, she supports the production and publication of the Financially Simple podcast. A show created specifically for small business owners. You can find over 400 episodes of helpful content from seasoned expert Justin Goodbread on YouTube and anywhere you stream podcasts. Listen closely, you may hear her voice as you tune in!

April moved to Knoxville in 2016 where she earned her Bachelor degree from the home of the Vols, The University of Tennessee Knoxville. She earned her Master degree in Business Administration concentrated in Project Management from King University.

In her free time, she enjoys visiting the beach, spending time with family, and staying active.

Katherine Wilusz is the Marketing Specialist for Senior Financial Group. She is responsible for developing innovative marketing and advertising strategies to support business objectives, as well as managing internal and external communications.

Prior to joining Senior Financial Group, Katherine was the Marketing and Communications Specialist at Del Conca USA where she created and implemented marketing programs for major customers, including Lowe’s Home Improvement, The Home Depot and Wayfair. She also worked in marketing and public relations for major corporations and nonprofits, including UScellular, Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, and Highway Transport.

Born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Katherine kept her roots planted at the University of Tennessee where she obtained her bachelor’s in communication. After graduating, she began working as a true crime television producer before making a career change to marketing.

In her free time, Katherine loves to cheer on her alma mater at UT football games, explore downtown Knoxville, attend music festivals, and spend time with her husband Ryan.

Vinit Sharma is a computational scientist with robust data analytical skills and a seasoned real estate agent with two years of experience. With a deep passion for real estate, Vinit strives to exceed client expectations and deliver exceptional results. He specializes in assisting buyers and sellers in navigating the complexities of the real estate market, utilizing his negotiation skills and comprehensive knowledge of local market trends.

In addition to his role as a real estate agent, Vinit is also an astute real estate investor and developer. His experience in these areas grants him a unique perspective, allowing him to approach transactions with an investor’s mindset and seek optimal returns for his clients. As a real estate developer, he oversees various projects, demonstrating strong project management skills and attention to detail.

Committed to excellence, Vinit stays updated with industry trends, leverages technology and marketing strategies effectively, and offers a comprehensive and strategic approach to real estate transactions. With a focus on building long-term relationships and achieving clients’ goals, he provides exceptional service in the ever-evolving real estate market.

Additionally, Vinit owns or co-owns several businesses, including restaurants such as 35 North Bar & Grill and Iron Works & Grill, cabin rental management companies like Premium Cabins and Mountain View Cabins, and a real estate company called Skyway Realty Homes & Land.