About
OpenPen Media , LLC.
Founded February 18, 2009
Board Members
{ Janet Meek
{ Amy Williams
{ Chris Theis
Contact OpenPen Media HERE
About OpenPen Media
All board members of OpenPen and its contributors and authors are volunteers and are of all political,social and religious persuasions.
The views and opinions of board members do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of contributors and authors.
OpenPen media was created for residents of eastern Tennessee and it’s surrounding regions to address their concerns and voice their opinions as well as address the lack of relevant local news. Some opinions and commentary on the site may be passionate in their content and viewpoint. We encourage vigorous debate and conversation on all issues from all perspectives.
Founding Authors and Contributors
{ Victoria Hvid
{ Amy Williams
{ Steve Denton
{ Dr. Joseph Fitsanakis
{ Michael Eckart
{ Chris Theis
{ Brooke Paragon
{ Steve Denton
{ Sandra Garrett
{ Randall Smythe
{ Mike Hampton
About the Authors
Steve Denton has been a resident of the east Tennessee/southwest Virginia area since 1974. He’s always been a keen observer of politics and pop culture but until Al Gore invented the series of tubes we now know as the internet he didn’t have a way to share his opinions on things with the rest of the world. He lives in Johnson City and he’s into cooking, movies, disc golf, and stirring up trouble.
Amy D. Williams is a resident of Elizabethton, TN, where she lives with her husband David. A native of Knoxville, TN, Ms. Williams earned a double B.A. from the University of Tennessee in psychology and anthropology, and went on to earn her M.A. in Cultural Studies from the University of Wyoming, graduating magna cum laude and winning the departmental award for best graduate thesis. She has served as president or chair of several local political and child advocacy organizations since moving to the Tri-Cities area, and she has been employed as an advocate for abused and neglected children in the juvenile courts since June 2002.
Sandra Garrett is a native of Illinois with deep southern roots (“I’m not a Yankee. I know what to do with my bacon grease.”). She is co-founder of Concerned TN Citizens, a group created to provide an outlet for Tri-Citians to speak out against the Iraq War, a charter member of PFLAG Tri-Cities, and a church secretary who lives in Carter County.
Randy Smythe is a retired public high school English teacher and adjunct instructor of computer repair and technology at a New York community college. He and his wife Anita live in Jonesborough TN after moving there in 2003. He is a member of the Jonesborough Kiwanis Club and maintains computer systems and the e-mail systems at the Democrat Resource Center in Johnson City TN for the First Congressional District of Tennessee.
Dr. Joseph Fitsanakis lives and works in Bristol, TN. He is involved in numerous regional organizations and frequently writes nationally and internationally on issues around foreign policy, national security and intelligence. He is Senior Editor at intelNews.org.











 News Feed