Amy Stevens worked for the East Tennessean from 1992-1993. During her time with the publication, she served as a reporter, managing editor and eventually served as the executive editor.

She graduated in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

Stevens currently works as the vice president and chief marketing officer for Tidelands Health, a community health system in South Carolina. She is an Emmy-nominated writer and producer with more than 20 years of healthcare marketing experience. At Tidelands Health, Stevens oversees marketing, communications, adovacy, provider relations, community relations and patient experience functions.

(Contributed/Amy Stevens)

“As a young business reporter at the Kingsport Times-News in the late 1990s, I began covering the business of healthcare,” said Stevens. “In 1999, Wellmont Health System contacted me with a job offer in the health system’s marketing department.

“I found my true calling in healthcare marketing and have worked in this field since,” she added. “My career has taken me from Tennessee to Louisiana and now to the beautiful coast of South Carolina.”

Stevens once heard someone say, “The shortest distance between two people is a story.” She has since built her career around that statement. Through her position at Tidelands Helath, she shares stories that educate and inspire. Her time at the East Tennessean opened many doors in her life, some of which included her husband, Mark Stevens.

“At the East Tennessean, I learned what it means to truly believe in your work,” said Stevens. “I remember so many all-nighters putting out the latest edition and then crashing in the hallway of the Culp Center on bundles of newspapers so that I could grab a couple hours of sleep before class.

“I forged friendships that still exist today and most importantly, the East Tennessean is where I first spent countless hours working alongisde a handsome upperclassman named Mark Stevens,” she added. “All these years later, Mark and I are preapting to celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary. Bottom line is that it is hardly to truly explain all that the East Tennessean gave me.”

This series is part of celebrating the East Tennessean’s 100th anniversary. Interested in being featured? Email eteditor@etsu.edu.

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