Meet Our Team
Committed to a Higher Level of Service
Mark is a native North Carolinian and long-standing resident of Tennessee, so becoming a Friend of the Smokies board member was only natural. Mark’s engagement with the organization has extended over decades, and he now proudly serves as Board Chair Emeritus. Mark created Trails Forever, a trail improvement project co-funded by Friends of the Smokies and the Aslan Foundation.
LeConte Title is named after the Smokies’ famed Mount LeConte, the highest peak in the Smoky Mountains. LeConte Title is Committed to a Higher Level of Service. We obsess over all of the details so you can enjoy a stress-free and enjoyable closing!
Mark K. Williams
President, LeConte Title
Mark is from Robbinsville, North Carolina. He attended Western Carolina University where he was a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, elected Student Government Association President, and obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree, magna cum laude, in 1981. He obtained a Juris Doctor Degree from Duke University School of Law in 1984 and joined the firm in 1985, becoming a shareholder in 1990, and President and Managing Shareholder in 1998. Mark has achieved an AV Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating (the highest distinction) and is admitted to practice in the States of Tennessee and North Carolina and before the U.S. District Court, Eastern Division of Tennessee and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. His primary practice areas are Corporate Law, Commercial Law, Real Estate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions. He is a member of the Tennessee, North Carolina, Knoxville, Buncombe County (NC) and American Bar Associations. Mark is a Fellow of the Knoxville Bar Foundation (less than one percent of the active bar association) and a member of The Hamilton Burnett American Inns of Court, Knoxville, Tennessee. (The Inn is dedicated to communicating a culture of excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility, and skills to the legal community and generally.)
Mark has a long history of involvement in community activities. He played a critical role in the founding and success of Knoxville’s animal shelter. He was honored as Chair Emeritus of Young-Williams Animal Center, which bears his name in tribute to his efforts. Mark is the Board Chair Emeritus of the Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and also serves as a director and the Secretary of the Aslan Foundation, and is the Past President of Cherokee Country Club.
Mark has served a myriad of community leadership positions, including: Senior Warden and a member of the Chapter of St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral; founding director of The Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum; member of the University of Tennessee Chancellor’s Associates; founding President of the Sequoyah Hills Preservation Society; Chair of the Mercy Health Partners Foundation Board, Chair of the East Tennessee Foundation Board; director of the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership; and member of the Leadership Knoxville Class of 1999.
Mark has also served on the boards of the Knoxville Zoo, The Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation, Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee, the Frank H. McClung Museum and The Wellness Community of East Tennessee.
Mark is married to Kristin Williams who owns a graphic design and advertising studio. Mark and Kristin have a daughter, Anna Bryn Williams who graduated from Webb School of Knoxville, Dartmouth College and is currently attending medical school at Columbia School of Medicine in NYC. The family also includes Truffles, their energetic golden retriever.
…Mark describes philanthropy as providing a structure through which to solve problems that create those needs. There is no doubt that Mark is a philanthropist by this definition. He and Lindsay Young co-founded the Young-Williams Animal Center, which opened its doors in 2001…
The list of nonprofit organizations for which Mark has provided leadership and to which he has devoted countless hours is long, but a common thread among them is that each has held a personal connection and real interest for him.
Matthew T. Anderson
Vice President, LeConte Title
Matt is a Knoxville native and received both his undergraduate and law degree, cum laude, from The University of Tennessee. Matt is admitted to practice law in the state of Tennessee and is a member of the American and Knoxville Bar Associations.
Matt is passionate about real estate and began his career working for a prominent commercial real estate development and brokerage firm where he gained knowledge in the complexities of real estate transactions and development and an appreciation for an effective title agent.
Since joining LeConte Title in 2015, Matt has focused on providing owners, buyers, and real estate professionals the highest level of specialized knowledge, expertise, and personal attention.
Matt is married to Andi Anderson, also a Knoxville native and graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, they welcomed their first child, Anna Margaret, in October of 2022
Gay Hughes
Gay is from Knoxville, Tennessee and lives in Halls. She graduated from Central High School in 1979 and attended Tennessee State Area Vocational School. She has worked in the legal field since 1980 and has been with the firm since 1992. Gay has extensive legal experience in real estate closings, both commercial and residential.
Gay manages LeConte Title and brings a wealth of experience to quickly resolve any issues and assist at the closing table, as she has successfully closed hundreds of title transactions. She is known and appreciated for her meticulous attention to detail, ability to organize efficient, low-stress closings and her friendly, helpful attitude.
Gay is married to David who is the Warehouse Associate at Stellar Industrial Supply, Knoxville Division. They have two children: Staci Heath and Brent Hughes and six wonderful grandchildren. Gay and David are members of Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Halls, are passionate UT sports fans and Halls High School football fans where their son Brent, is the head football coach.
Lena Brown
Lena is Tennessee native and currently lives in Blount County. She maintains a Property and Casualty insurance license and prior to joining LeConte Title she worked in the Insurance Industry for several years and has an extensive Administrative background. She has been in the Real Estate Title Industry for over 6 years and currently is a Residential Closing Agent and Post Closing/Title Policy Agent for LeConte Title. She aims to make every closing a positive experience for LeConte Title’s clients by maintaining a positive, can-do, and helpful attitude.
Lena is married to Ray and they have three adult children and two granddaughters whom she loves to spoil. She enjoys an amateur photography business and attending various concert venues in her spare time.
Kelsey Cantrell
Jefferson City Office
Kelsey is a Southwest Virginia native and relocated to Tennessee in 2016. She currently lives in Morristown, Tennessee. Kelsey began working in the title industry in 2019 and is experienced in processing and closing all types of residential loans. She works in our Jefferson City office and uses her many years of customer service and management experience to ensure every client has a positive experience.
Kelsey enjoys spending time outside of work fishing and boating at the lake with her family. She is an avid fan of the Tennessee Volunteers and regularly attends games. Kelsey has two children with her husband, Kyle.
Starr Moss
Starr is originally from Memphis, Tennessee, and relocated to East Tennessee in 2000. Starr has two grown children. Starr is a seasoned service professional having worked in the healthcare industry as an administrator for many years. She brings her client-centered philosophy to LeConte Title and is proud to provide our customers with pleasant and informative closing experiences.
Starr recently married Bryan and they live in Oak Ridge. They have three adult children and Starr enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
Haley Huddleston
Haley is from Corryton, Tennessee and currently lives in Fountain City. Haley graduated from Pellissippi State Community College in 2020 and was a member of the National Honor Society and the National Society of Leadership and Success. She joined our team in 2021 and strives to provide excellent customer service while making sure all information and documentation needed to close the home is received and accurate prior to the parties getting to the closing table.
Haley is married to Shade and mom to Salem and Elias. She also has three dogs and enjoys reading and traveling in her spare time.
Alicia Thomas
Alicia is a native of Oak Ridge, TN. Before recently joining the LeConte Title team, Alicia was in the banking industry for 15 years. She started her title career in 2021 and is excited to bring her experience from both the banking industry and the title world together to enhance the customer’s experience. She works to ensure the proper information and documentation needed to close the home is received. Alicia also handles the disbursements for our closings. She has a son who is working as an electrician for her dad’s company; in her free time, she enjoys being with family, friends and her dogs and enjoys crafting.
Erin Knox
Erin is from Loudon, Tennessee where she still lives with her beautiful family. Prior to coming to LeConte in 2022 Erin worked in both the banking and credit union industry. She absolutely loves working as a processor with LeConte Title and her voice is the one you will hear most of the time when you call our office. Erin enjoys traveling and spending a lot of time outdoors camping or trail riding with her family. When she is not outside or traveling Erin enjoys watching any scary movie or Disney movie with her kids.
Stephanie Spears
Stephanie came to Knoxville, Tennessee from Atlanta, Georgia in 2020. She has ten years of experience as a real estate paralegal, specializing in both commercial and residential transactions. She brings extensive knowledge in closing all types of transactions and has worked on various commercial construction projects nationwide, including SunTrust Park (now Truist Park) in Cobb County, Georgia. Stephanie is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure your closing experience with LeConte Title is a pleasant one.
Stephanie has two children and three rescue dogs, two German Shepherds and a Husky.
Alana Christian
Alana is originally from Georgia but has loved living in East Tennessee, near the Smoky Mountains for several years. Alana has over 18 years of title experience and is pleased to bring that rich experience to LeConte Title. When not at LeConte Title, Alana is a First Responder/Firefighter for the area. She has a miniature schnauzer that is her companion when she goes Jeeping! She enjoys photography and working on 1964 Chevy Impala.
Lisa Gandy
Lisa grew up in Northeast Pennsylvania and lived in Naples, Florida prior to relocating to East Tennessee in 2021. She has an extensive background in the Real Estate industry having worked in Residential Lending, Real Estate Sales and Title Insurance prior to joining the LeConte team. Her diverse background helps her to provide our clients with a high level of customer service by having the ability to answer their questions in any real estate-related category.
Lisa lives in Friendsville with her husband and dog. She enjoys photography and taking jeep rides in the National Park as well as volunteering her time to her community association and other social groups.