Whether on stage for an industry announcement, on set with WCTE/PBS, or welcoming friends to her home at Cedar Spring Farm, Cookeville native Melinda Keifer has always embodied a hosting spirit that leads with love. In 2022, that spirit and her lasting impact on the region were formally recognized when she was named one of Cookeville Lifestyle’s Most Influential People.
Love is the throughline in Melinda’s life and work—love for her community, her region, and the people who call the Upper Cumberland home. Always poised and professional, she has served as an ambassador for Cookeville and the state of Tennessee, quietly blazing a trail of “firsts” that continue to shape the community today.
As the first director of Cookeville CityScape, Melinda laid the groundwork for downtown revitalization efforts that still influence the city’s growth, including the launch of Cookeville’s first downtown festival, Fall FunFest. Her leadership later extended statewide when she served as Tennessee’s Community Development Director, where she led renewed efforts for the ThreeStar Program and secured sustainable funding for the state’s Main Street program.
Continuing her trailblazing career, Melinda went on to become the first Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Cookeville—a role she recently retired from, though she continues to serve the city as a part-time consultant. She was also the first host of WCTE/PBS’s Live Green Tennessee, a series that spotlighted local growers and celebrated Tennessee’s rich agricultural assets.
Though her résumé is filled with firsts, Melinda is quick to say her trailblazing was never intentional. Instead, she focused on doing her best with each opportunity she was given, guided by the strong work ethic instilled in her by her parents, Tony and Dean Stone. Her passion for encouraging others to do the same—and to lead with love—reflects a balance that consistently moves communities forward.
A respected and influential leader, Melinda has been a pioneer, particularly for women in public service and economic development. One of her proudest honors was receiving the Maker’s Award, inspired by the PBS series Makers: Women Who Make America, which recognizes women who strive to bring out the best in their communities.
Melinda believes the traits of the most influential people often mirror those of great leaders and that “those people exist everywhere, at every level.”
“Integrity and trust are critical,” she said, reflecting on the late Joe Albrecht, a mentor she credits as one of her greatest influences.
“He could say what you didn’t want to hear or ask the questions you needed to hear when guiding you,” Melinda shared. “It has been a blessing and a privilege to work among so many leaders like Joe—both locally and statewide—who gave me the opportunity to learn.”
Now semi-retired, Melinda happily describes herself as a homebody, but she remains deeply connected to the community she has spent a lifetime serving. Her influence continues not through titles or positions, but through the foundation of leadership, service, and love she helped build.
— by Molly Brown, photos by Katelyn Steakley
