BACKGROUND CHECK Abby Sparks | Bart Pickett

Back in September, the NBA got a new executive director, Abby Sparks. Sparks, the daughter of college professors, spent most of her childhood in Michigan before moving to Knoxville in middle school. While attending Farragut High School, Sparks was a “huge band nerd.” She played the flute and piccolo. She even met her now husband, Jason, in high school marching band.

Sparks attended UT Knoxville where her love for band carried over. She played in the Pride of the Southland marching band and in the basketball pep band. Eventually, the enormous time demands led Sparks to leaving the band. She had been a music major but switched to Child and Family Studies with minors in flute performance and women’s studies.

Following graduation in 2001, Sparks had planned to take 2 years off before getting a masters in social work. She worked for social services agencies as a case manager helping adults with mental illness and substance abuse diagnoses. Her social work led to her having interactions with the public defenders and with Legal Aid attorneys. These interactions inspired Sparks to go to law school. Sparks only applied to UT College of Law, thankfully got in, and matriculated in the fall of 2003. While there, Sparks completed the advocacy concentration, took every clinic she could, and also held a leadership role in the UT pro bono program.

Sparks never planned to move to Nashville but when Jason took a job here, the couple decided they would make it work. As a result, Sparks stayed with family during the week and went to Nashville on the weekends during her 3L year.

After graduation in 2006, Sparks moved to Nashville and landed at a smaller plaintiff’s personal injury firm. That position allowed her to dive headfirst into litigation and she felt she truly helped people in that role.

Sparks later learned of an opportunity working with the State of Tennessee through a law school friend who worked at the TN Department of Human Services and she accepted a job as an administrative hearing officer. Sparks moved to the TN Department of Revenue where she started off in the GC’s office handling state tax issues but slowly switched over to handling employment issues for the department. She became the HR Director for the Department in 2012. She learned quickly that there is a difference between doing employment law and overseeing HR, which took some adjustment, but she loved HR work. She eventually went back to the Department of Human Services to become the Assistant Commissioner of People Operations, where she stayed until the Fall of 2022.

Sparks loved her time working for the State for almost 15 years and the opportunities she was given to grow, take on leadership roles, and pivot in her career. While she wasn’t actively looking for a career change, Sparks was excited when she heard about the NBA Executive Director opening. She had not been the most active in the NBA, but she had been involved in other bar associations, including serving as president of LAW. Following a rigorous interview process, the NBA selected Sparks for the role.

Sparks has found that there are a lot of transferrable skills she has but she also has a lot of learning to do. During her first year, she plans to learn as much about this organization and connect with as many members as possible.

When not working, Sparks can be found volunteering in the community. She has been active with West End Synagogue for many years including serving on the board. She also serves on the board of Mending Hearts.

Sparks describes herself as a “consistent runner” having run 5 full marathons and countless half-marathons. The pandemic also led to the new interests of baking and an ever-growing collection houseplants.

Sparks and her family live in Bellevue. Jason works in business development. The couple has a son, Sam (14), a daughter, Zoe (11) and a rescue dog, Penny (6). n

BART PICKETT was recently appointed as the State Trial Court Administrator for the Twentieth Judicial District where he oversees the operations of the 18 State Trial Courts. Prior to that, he practiced as a trial attorney for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.