NASHVILLE - Karla Davis was named today as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development by Republican Gov.-elect Bill Haslam.
Davis is currently director of Urban Strategies Memphis Hope, managing and overseeing the Community and Supportive Services Program for three U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOPE VI public housing redevelopment projects and two HUD ROSS Grant projects in Memphis.
"Her focus on helping to revive communities and families shows her commitment to making our state a better place, and I'm honored she is a part of the team," Haslam said in a news release.
Davis previously worked in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for 16 years, rising to become an Environmental Justice program manager covering six states. At EPA, she focused on environmental and human health improvements and community revitalization in distressed urban areas.