Lysette Avilés serves as Director of External Relations and Vendor Management in the Business and Legal Affairs Department for Scripps Networks Interactive, a leading developer of multi-platform content for well-known lifestyle brands including Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel, Cooking Channel, DIY Network, Great American Country, Fine Living, Asian Food Channel and Poland’s TVN. In this role, Avilés is responsible for developing, implementing and leading company programs and processes related to external relations and vendor management.
Prior to her current role, Avilés served as Diversity and Inclusion Program Manager and as a senior recruiter. As a senior recruiter, she was responsible for the company’s full-cycle recruiting efforts dealing with executives of all levels, across different departments and office locations in various cities.
Preceding her arrival to Scripps in 2004, Avilés managed special events in the international television distribution department for 20th Century Fox in Los Angeles, focusing on four high-profile entertainment industry conferences: NATPE, MIP, MIPCOM and the L.A. Screenings. Avilés’ career spans almost 25 years across recruiting, marketing, public relations and administration.
Tireless in her efforts to better her community, Avilés serves on the board of directors for the Knoxville Family Justice Center and the Knoxville Public Safety Foundation. She previously served as president of Hola Hora Latina and chairperson of the Hola Knoxville Hispanic Heritage Festival. Avilés is a graduate of Knoxville’s Leadership Plenty inaugural class and the FBI Citizen’s Academy. She was appointed by former Mayor Bill Haslam to serve on the City of Knoxville’s Title VI Review Board and on the city’s Police Advisory Review Committee.
Avilés is an active member of the National Association of Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) and of Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT). She served on the 2012 WICT Junior Board, where she focused specifically on how chapters can engage STEM students at local colleges and universities in tandem with chapter Tech It Out events.
Avilés is a graduate of Florida International University’s School of Communications. She currently resides in Knoxville, Tenn. with her husband, David.
