A lasting 'Mark' on Farragut
Farragut Community Development director Mark Shipley has been the face of the Town development for 30 years.
Since October 1996, he has overseen the development, growth and structural integrity of Farragut.
Through the years, he has watched Farragut grow and its ordinances change.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years,” he reflected. “Time goes by fast. We’ve seen a lot of changes over the years, and it’s been a good place to work.
Shipley said the Town, particularly the Town Center, “has changed dramatically, especially in the last 10 years.”
In the last decade, “We had a lot of vacant, abandoned buildings,” he recalled. “I mean, if you came here 10 years ago, it looked kind of like a dead zone in the Town Center because you had the old Silver Spoon, the old Kroger, the old Burger King building and the old gas station.
Since then, however, the Town government and developers have repurposed that part of the community.
“There are many people who played a role, but I think having a role in that is probably one of the things I’m most proud.”
Now, though, Shipley is looking to retire in the latter part of February 2027.
“I’m just kind of looking for a chance and do something different,” Shipley said.
Although he is setting his sights on his retirement, he takes with him his status as an award winner.
Tuesday, Oct. 13, Shipley was named the 2026 Planner of the Year by Tennessee Chapter of the American Planning Association. The announcement was made during the TAPA Fall Conference in Chattanooga.
TAPA is a professional organization of more than 500 members representing city, county and state planners and related professions across Tennessee.
“Mark’s selection as the Tennessee Chapter of the American Planning Association Planner of the Year recognizes an extraordinary 30 years of service and a lasting commitment to the Town of Farragut,” TAPA President Micah Wood said. “Mark’s leadership in guiding quality growth, protecting environmentally sensitive areas, expanding greenways and creating more walkable, livable places demonstrates the meaningful, lasting impact professional planning can have on a community.
“His career is a testament to the value of thoughtful planning and dedicated public service, and we are proud to recognize his contributions to Farragut and to the planning profession in Tennessee,” Wood said.
“Mark has given so much to the Town and the community over the last 30 years, and he has shepherded Farragut through a large growing season,” Town administrator David Smoak said. “This award is a great testament to his dedication to the community, his dedication to planning and his dedication to making sure our Town looks and feels great to everyone who wants to live here, work here and spend their time here. It’s a well-deserved honor, and I’m glad his peers at the Planning Association recognized him for it.”
Shipley started as an assistant community development director under former planning director Ruth Hawk before he was promoted to director in 2013.
“Once I got out of graduate school, I went to work in upper East Tennessee for a couple of years, then I saw where this job (assistant director) was available,” he recalled. “I would be working for [Hawk].
“I always knew Farragut was a nice community,” Shipley said. “They valued good planning.”
Over his tenure, he has overseen the expansion of the master greenway system and the advancement of pedestrian facilities within every new development, according to a press release.
