Meet the Cherokee Dining Staff

David Pinckney - Executive Chef
David has 29 years culinary experience and has become somewhat of a culinary celebrity in
Knoxville. David apprenticed under Chef Bill Allen of The Orangery. During this time he also
earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee. In 1987, David accepted
the Executive Chef position at The Orangery. Throughout his culinary career, Chef Pinckney
has attended Cordon Bleu in London and appeared on Food Network, Live at Five and
Good Morning Tennessee just to name a few. His recipes have been published in Gourmet,
Southern Living, and The Knoxville News Sentinel. David is an avid golfer and has a
13 year old daughter, Calli, who attends Bearden Middle School. Chef Pinckney considers
Cherokee the best job he's ever had. "The members, staff and management are without a
doubt the best anywhere. With all the recent renovations to the Club this is truly one of the
best Clubs in the South. I am honored to work for you."


Jeremy Lynch - Executive Sous Chef
Jeremy has 8 years country club kitchen experience and 6 years experience in the restaurant business.
He is currently enrolled in Walter State Culinary Arts program as well as having recently completed
the American Culinary Federation certification of Chef de Cuisine. Jeremy and his wife, Jessica,
have one son,Jordan, and have recently learned they are expecting their second child.
Jeremy's passion for culinary arts led him to Cherokee where he enjoys working with a top notch
staff. Jeremy says the encouragement provided by the Board and members to continue to further
his education in food and wine is the part of Cherokee he enjoys most.



Shawn Banks - Banquet Chef
16 years professional experience, Shawn is a Honors graduate of the Opryland Hotel Culinary
Institute in Nashville. Shawn is a certified Culinarian through American Culinary Federation and trained
in private, executive, pastry, catering and banquet cooking. Shawn was born and raised in Huntsville, AL
and then moved to Nashville, TN. He lived in Nashville for 10 years and completed culinary school
during that time. He has worked in six different Clubs even though he has never swung a golf club.
Shawn enjoys Cherokee's ever-evolving menu because it allows plenty of room for creative
minds to try new foods and appeal to Cherokee's growing clientele and guests.

Ms. Dot - Bridge Manager
Ms. "Dot" Walker has been with Cherokee since 1940. She is a graduate of Austin High School in 1938. Over the years Ms. Dot
has come to know over 4 generations of Cheroke members. She is the second of nine children of Christopher & Eva Coleman
and has 5 sisters and 3 brothers. Ms. Dot is an avid churchgoer and attends Wilder Missionary Church.
She has two children, Patricia & John (now deceased) and loves her job at Cherokee.

Paul Apple - AM Sequoyah Room Supervisor   
Paul studied at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN where he majored in Education. He then entered into the restaurant field where he has 25 years experience. Paul has been at Cherokee since August 1998. Before Cherokee, Paul worked at Canterbury Hotel and The Columbia Club in Indianapolis and Big Springs Country Club in Louisville, KY. He has a daughter, Kerry Ann, residing in California and is active in the Methodist Church. Paul enjoys working in both ala carte and banquet dining and prides himself on his private home catering and event planning.


Victoria Coates - PM Sequoyah Room Supervisor
Victoria has worked in the service industry for 7 years. She is currently a senior at the University of Tennessee
where she is majoring in Political Science. Victoria thinks the best part of Cherokee is having a repeat clientele
because it allows her to know members on a more personal basis as well as being able to recount their
likes and dislikes.

Colin Campbell - Banquet Supervisor







Tamer El Adawy - Banquet Supervisor
Tamer comes from a family that specializes in the fine dining and hospitality fields. Tamer has a total of 12 years experience in the hospitality industry, and he recently graduated with his Bachelors degree from the University of Tennessee. He enjoys spending time with his little sister and riding his motorcycle. Tamer's favorite part of working at Cherokee is the time spent with members.



Hope Shockley - Bar Manager
Hope came to Cherokee from the Clearwater Yacht Club in Clearwater, FL where she worked for ten years. She has been with Cherokee since 2006. Hope in a Knoxville native but lived in Tampa Bay for 9 years with her husband, Kevin. Hope and Kevin have now returned to their hometown with their daughter, Leah. Hope says her favorite part of Cherokee is sharing her passions of family,
food and wine with our members and our staff.



T Anne - Snack Shop Manager
Anne spent two years at the University of Tennessee and has been at Cherokee for over 9 years. Anne enjoys spending time
with her aunt and uncle and her son Brian who is living in Memphis and working as a US Food Service Transpotation
Manager. Her favorite part of Cherokee is interacting with the golfers and their families at the golf course snack shop
and loved meeting all the pool families when she managed the pool snack shop in the summer of 2008.

William Walker - Trophy Room Manager