Nashville Post Leaders 2026

In Charge

Nashville’s 500+ most influential leaders across industries

Full Plate

Restaurants earn national recognition, fight economic pressure

Chanelle Chanelle Acheson Acheson

PERSON of the YEAR

Waymo, Boring Company, TDOT find opportunities to evolve via new commerce models

Waddey Acheson co-founder discusses firm, local legal sector

The Post presents its annual list of Nashville’s most influential individuals

Judith

Terry Turner talks leadership, succession following $8.6 billion merger with Synovus

Nashville high-profile project pace tempers but remains healthy for future

Restaurant sector enters pivotal moment amid growth, mounting pressures

University fundraising campaigns shift with times as need for financial support

Urban farmer, ag-tech entrepreneur James Valencia envisions food as medicine

Meet the chief of staff driving policy for the second half of Mayor O’Connell’s term

The next stage of growth

When I moved to Nashville and started reporting here in mid-2023, someone told me I might face a challenge as an “outsider.” Many folks, especially in business, still believe that locals are more trustworthy. So when people asked about my hometown, I would say, “Atlanta. That’s where I met my husband, who is from Columbia and where we live now.” I guess I thought that, since he is originally from the area, I would have some local street credibility.

But then, another person told me that Nashvillians are welcoming enough to give you the opportunity for that first cup of co ee; it’s the second cup you have to earn.

It’s definitely true, not just for Nashvillians in general but also for businesspeople. Those who get to the top don’t do so by wasting their time. They connect with the right people who help them to succeed. And it’s their wins that have given Nashville its success.

Last year’s Leaders issue celebrated the Nashville Post’s 25-year anniversary and looked back on all that has changed as Nashville became the influential city that it is today. I’ve learned from discussions about those changes that people today are most concerned with keeping that first cup of co ee hospitality at the center of Nashville’s culture as its growth continues.

In this edition of our Leaders magazine, we dig into the places the city is transforming, from private companies emerging transit investments (26) to measured and steady development projects (71). We look at how the restaurant industry is emerging (74), how longtime retailers maintain their place in the ecosystem (12), how businesses are evolving with new technologies (10) and how the city is supporting entrepreneurs (6) and industries alike (8).

Plus, we take a look at the leaders who are shaping the next phase of Nashville and recognize the 500+ executives running the city (79). The Post sat down with mayor’s chief of sta Masami Tyson (22), Tennessee State University President Dwayne Tucker (18) and Pinnacle board chair Terry Turner (68), to name a few.

As the city continues to shift into its next phase, we decided to bring back a feature from the Post’s early days but evolve it to fit how we’ve changed as a publication and how the city has changed too. In this issue, we’re recognizing the Post’s first Person of the Year — Chanelle Acheson. As a lawyer, she has represented the plainti s in one of the most talked about cases over the last year, and her leadership skills and story are bound to challenge and inspire anyone who takes the time to get to know her. Read our in-depth interview with her on page 28 and for even more, check out the story on our website.

When I was editing these pages, I couldn’t help but think about how Nashville is maturing into its next stages of economic growth. In a way, as the rest of the nation recognized Nashville for its booming days over the past several years, it was enjoying its first cup of co ee. And now, if we want to keep our flourishing accolades, we must work to earn our next cup.

Nicolle S. Praino, Editor-in-Chief npraino@fwpublishing.com

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Q&A: Marcus Whitney

Founding partner of Jumpstart Health Investors talks next VC phase

BY CYNTHIA YELDELL ANDERSON

M

arcus Whitney is a founding partner of early-stage health care venture capital firm Jumpstart Health Investors. He is also co-founder and minority owner of Nashville Soccer Club and current board chair of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp.

Whitney spoke with the Post about Jumpstart Nova, the company’s newest fund, and how he views the city’s health care landscape.

Can you tell us more about Jumpstart Nova and give an update on the latest developments with the fund?

Jumpstart Nova is a health care venture fund, and it’s one of three funds at Jumpstart Health Investors, which I co-founded with Vic Gatto back in 2014. It was started in 2020 with the express purpose of investing in Black-founded and led health care companies, and so fund one was dedicated to that.

The political environment has shifted, and we have expanded to invest in all C-stage health care companies with fund two. We’re currently live with fund two and actually working on our first investment out of that fund.

What types of companies will you invest in with fund two?

We invest in companies that are creating great health care technologies to make the health care industry more efficient and help deliver better care to patients. We are seed-stage investors, so we write checks somewhere between $1 million and $3 million. They’re early-stage, but they already have a product. They’re probably making somewhere between a $250,000 to $1 million of revenue annually. That’s usually about where we come in.

Fund one is fully deployed. That fund was $5.5 million.

What have you learned from fund one that helps shape your investment decisions in fund two?

We’re broader in terms of investing in all founders in fund two, but we’re probably more narrow in terms of what kind of company we’re going to invest in. We had companies in fund one that were services-based companies. Fund two is totally focused on health tech. We won’t be investing in companies that are staffing a whole lot of clinicians to deliver care. That’s not our focus. Our focus is going to be squarely on health tech. We won’t do anything in the biotech space. We’re probably not going to do medical devices that have to go through the FDA. We have a great consumer device company in fund one so we remain open to consumer devices. I was a software developer and chief technology officer, so fund two is more aligned with my background and what I have expertise in.

A lot of companies in this space seem to be focused on AI. How does AI factor into your decision of what companies to invest in?

I think every company we invest in will have a pretty meaningful AI component. AI has just become sort of a standard in software now, so there’s nothing special about AI — everybody is doing AI.

From there, they can vary pretty greatly. It could be a back-office health tech company that’s focused on efficiencies and lowering the cost to operate a health care business. It could be a health tech company working in the clinical theater, helping doctors and other clinicians focus more on the care they’re delivering to patients than typing on a computer.

It could be a consumer platform that helps individuals take better control of their own health. That’s going to end up being a huge focus of health tech and artificial intelligence going forward.

Where do you see the company five years from now?

The plan right now is to do a fund three, but the world is changing very quickly, and I think you have to be pretty nimble and real-

istic about that. I’m excited about how fund one is shaping up. I’m excited about the companies I’m seeing in fund two. And so we’ll see where everything is in five years. Five years is a long time. Five years ago was COVID.

What are your thoughts about where Nashville’s health tech sector is right now?

This is a crazy good time in Nashville for health tech. It’s objectively never been this strong. I mean, anybody who’s in this space can look and clearly see it’s never been this strong. This is one of the most important cities in the country when it comes to health tech. That wasn’t always true. It’s been a great health services city for decades. But it has become, over the course, really, I would say the last five years, it’s become a really important health tech city, and that’s super cool.

What are the things you are currently focusing on outside of the venture capital space?

For the next two years, I’m the chair of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation. That’s a fairly big focus of mine. Nashville’s had a fantastic run over the last 20 years and growing as a destination for tourism, and it’s become a really important part of our budget.

I’m taking the helm of the board at a pretty critical time. We’ve just had news about BNA expanding with another terminal. We’re getting international flights on a regular basis. Working with Deana Ivey, who’s CEO at the CVC, and the rest of her incredible staff and board — that’s a huge focus for me for the next two years in terms of how I’m contributing to Nashville’s community.

I turned 50 in December, and I’ve been here 25 years. That’s kind of blowing my mind. I got to be a part of the of the great story of Nashville. I just feel like making room for the next generation of leaders. There are so many people that have moved here, so many smart people, so many ambitious people. Business is business, and you know there’s going to be people who are going to be great business people. But one of the defining hallmarks of Nashville has been this connection between the community of civics; serving on boards and contributing to the community.

Business is booming

Chamber CEO Stephanie Coleman talks relationship building for economic growth

BY NICOLLE S. PRAINO

tephanie Coleman has been on the job as president and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce for just over a year now.

During the first few months, a lot of her time was spent developing or deepening relationships within the business community and with her staff.

“The majority of my time should be spent engaging with people,” she says. “But that’s how we get things done in Nashville, and so that aspect of ... how our community gets things done together in a collaborative way, just became even more apparent to me over the past year.”

Coleman says the region has grown so much economically in the past decade that the chamber cannot continue operating the same way it has in the past and be the organization that its partners need it to be today.

“We have to increase our capacity. We have to increase our resourcing. We have to increase our sophistication and how we use technology and how we engage with our members and with the broader community, so that we can have a bigger and better impact in the work that we’re doing,” she says, adding the organization is doing all of that simultaneously.

Partnership 2030 is a big part of the economic development strategy for the region going forward, and implementation begins officially in July. Since the chamber released the plan last year in June, Coleman says the organizers have been meeting with investors to raise $30 million to support the plan.

But in addition to the outward work the chamber is doing, Coleman says the group needed to do internal operations strategic planning.

“Some of our team members have been here more than 30 years, close to 40 years, and no-

body can pinpoint a time where we’ve had a broader internal, operational strategic plan,”

Coleman tells the Post. “We do annual plans and budgets, but those are more short term. This is going to allow us to think more long term.”

Last spring the chamber undertook some restructuring and updated its employee handbook, which Coleman says people were actually excited about and which she believes will help with the chamber’s own retention and recruitment.

She says having worked at the chamber for 18 years herself has allowed her to see the organization’s success and the opportunities for change. She emphasizes three areas: innovation, initiation and strategic growth.

Coleman describes innovation as both how the chamber is using technology such as AI, as well as how the organization supports those technological advancements externally. She says it’s important that the chamber start to look at how technology shapes every in-

dustry sector, not just see tech as its own field.

“In the health care space, we’re known for our provider network. We’re known for hospital management,” she says. “We also have a high number of entrepreneurs here, of creative individuals here, of startups. We have this opportunity to really intentionally bring together the pieces of that puzzle and be that digital health hub for the country and even globally.”

Initiation involves what the chamber can do with the goals of the Partnership 2030 plan, Coleman explains.

“That’s where you’ll see the elements of the partnership plan come to life and identifying what’s a gap that exists in our community that we’re uniquely positioned to fill,” she says. “It could be something tied to these concepts of service, leadership, protecting our creative Music City brand, or housing, which we’re working actively on already, or regional transportation, which we don’t really have a regional funding mechanism.”

Coleman says growing strategically means having chamber membership represent a broader network for greater impact and influence than otherwise, while also developing staff internally to support their career paths.

Of the chamber’s 1,800 members, businesses with 50 or fewer employees make up 75 percent of the membership. As part of the chamber restructuring, which Coleman led, there was a shift from focusing simply on events and programming for small businesses to recognizing the economic case for supporting small businesses under the economic development team.

“We’re in the process still of developing what that looks like long term,” she says. “That will require us to continue to listen and to understand what small businesses are facing that larger corporations may not be facing.”

Coleman says she likes to focus on locally owned businesses in this way as there is often a bit of overlap with the small businesses community.

“They have skin in the game in a way that a larger corporation just dynamically and culturally may not,” she says. “They’re thinking about things in a different way. And therefore, in some ways, they exemplify this risk-taking, creative, innovative energy that Nashville is known for.”

Even in the business realm, Nashville is recognized for its vibrant energy, and Coleman says that is the main competitive advantage the city has over similar Southern cities when businesses look to plant roots in a new city in the South. She adds that the regional perspective the chamber and other organizations take is another aspect that sets Middle Tennessee apart from other peer regions. And while she says “Nashville is the brand and so the success of the core creates the success of all the region” — that comes from her and other chamber staff nurturing genuine relationships with people across the 10 county lines that they represent.

“The chamber is 178-year-old organization, and I feel a personal responsibility to carry on that legacy, but also to look ahead, not just to the next year, but in the next several decades and think about what do we need to be doing today to be that organization the community needs us to be,” she says.

THREE QUESTIONS: Vijay

Alagarasan

Tractor Supply VP of Technology talks advancements in IT changing business operations

Vijay Alagarasan has worked in the technology sector for more than 20 years. Since 2018 he has been in leadership positions for retail companies, leading changes that prioritize employees and customers related to new innovations. he Tractor Supply vice president of technology for digital, stores and supply chain discussed changes in tech for business with the Post

With tech becoming more integrated into business, how have roles changed for tech leaders at companies that don’t define themselves as tech companies?

For a long time, if you were a tech leader at a non-tech company, you were the person people called when the Wi-Fi dropped, or the ERP system crashed. It was a utility role. But today, that’s completely flipped. We’ve moved from utility management to what I call strategic orchestration.

Tech teams need to be at the table during the “dreaming” phase, helping the rest of the leadership team see how new tech capabilities could open a whole new revenue stream or fundamentally change how a customer experiences us.

In a world driven by “instant gratification” and a constant fear of missing out, speed is everything. Tech teams must be structured to move fast, but our job is to be the advisor who cuts through the noise. There’s a lot of hype out there, and I have to ensure we’re focusing on the tech that delivers real ROI and business value, not just the newest shiny object.

We’re also seeing a massive shift with AI. It has taken center stage because it’s democratizing technology in a way we’ve

never seen. Whether you’re in legal, real estate or the supply chain, you now have an AI assistant at your fingertips. This has redefined our roles as tech leaders; we’ve become strategic advisors for the entire company’s growth, helping every department rethink their workflows from the ground up.

How do company leaders prepare their employees across disciplines to integrate new technologies, and how do they help tech teams with growing demand from other departments?

This isn’t about turning every employee into a coder. It’s about building AI literacy. We want our people to be “fluent” enough with these tools that they can see the possibilities for themselves, rather than being intimidated.

For non-tech teams, we’ve moved away from traditional training and toward learning in the flow of work. I personally like to think of AI as the “third employee” in the room. It’s not there to replace the human; it’s a companion meant to handle the heavy lifting so the human can focus on the creative outcome.

But we also must be honest about the pressure on our tech teams — it’s immense right now. Every department is suddenly knocking on their door wanting an AI solution yesterday. As a leader, our job is to protect them from burnout. We do that by providing clear guardrails through governance frameworks, so they don’t have to guess at the ethics or security requirements of every new project.

AI is still the hot button topic in the tech world from startups to enterprises — including in

Nashville. Thoughts?

When people talk about tech hubs, they usually look toward Silicon Valley. But Nashville is setting a different kind of bar. We aren’t just moving fast and breaking things here. We’re moving with purpose to solve real-world problems.

I’m incredibly proud of what we’re doing at Tractor Supply. We’ve launched Scout AI, which acts as a personal shopping assistant to help our customers. In our physical stores, we use “Hey GURA,” our AI-powered voice assistant that empowers team members to get immediate product answers. We’ve also deployed “Tractor Vision,” which uses computer vision to alert us if checkout lines are getting long, for example, ensuring their time is respected.

Behind the scenes, we’ve democratized AI for our own people with over 500 internal ChatGPT agents helping our Store Support Center (SSC) team members work more efficiently. For us, AI isn’t just about tech; it’s about being more human at scale.

But it’s not just us. HCA Healthcare or Thyme Care uses AI to navigate the complexities of patient care. Metropolis is using computer vision to revolutionize something as un-sexy as parking and real estate. We’re all applying high-level tech to the physical economy — the stuff that keeps the world moving.

You see [collaboration] in the Nashville Innovation Alliance and the way our local universities are leaning in. We are collectively building a talent pipeline that focuses on AI literacy for the whole community. In Nashville, we treat technology to protect and enhance human connection. That’s the bar we’re setting.

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Made for Life

Two Nashville clothing stores remain true amid city’s changes

BY HANNAH HERNER

he Nashville Post spills lots of proverbial ink on the city’s new and upand-coming businesses. In service of keeping readers in the know, it can be easy to overlook some of the city’s old reliables, including retail stores Levy’s Clothier for Men & Women and The French Shoppe.

Levy’s in Green Hills takes the prize for the longest-running clothing outpost operating in Music City. In fact, it is billed as the oldest family-owned men’s clothing business in the United States. David Levy is the fifth generation to run the store, alongside his wife Ellen.

David’s great-great-grandfather, a merchant tailor from Germany who had just emigrated to Nashville, founded Levy’s in 1855. He lived above the store on Second Avenue (known at that time as Market Street).

Levy’s recently began offering website sales for the first time in history.

“We still believe people want this personal experience,” Ellen Levy tells the Post. “They want to be able to touch the merchandise, feel it, see it. There’s so many bad players out there in the e-commerce world, where they’re showing you a picture of one thing, but they’re actually shipping you something else. However, if someone cannot get into the store, we want them to be able to enjoy our merchandise and our point of view.”

The French Shoppe originally started in Murfreesboro way back in 1903, but has been located at its West End location since 1994, in addition to a Belle Meade outpost on Harding Pike. The name may ring a bell because the shop famously dressed news anchor Demetria Kalodimos during her run at WSMV-Channel 4.

Susan Mattox has been at the helm for 20 years now after buying the retail business in

2006, but she rst worked there as a college student in the 1980s.

ere’s good news and bad news for those who may want to work at the institution that is e French Shoppe — sales associates at e French Shoppe simply never leave. Several of them could retire, but they wake up every morning and look forward to going to work. e all-female cast is good to each other, Mattox says, and are happy to cover for each other when needed.

“ is special group of women that works together and has been together for so long, truly cares about each other, and that comes through,” Mattox tells the Post. “ at’s genuine. You’re drawn to that.”

While Levy’s carries menswear and women’s wear for many occasions, their sport coats and custom suits are high-demand items. At the French Shoppe, formal wear is a key part of the business, too. Nashvillians come to their old mainstays for weddings, funerals and everything in between. One day in e French Shoppe, a shopper is picking out a Christmas gift for her granddaughters, while another is counseling with the sales associate about the daunting yet blessed opportunity to turn 80 years old this year. Levy’s has hosted as many as four generations shopping together (which included the production of a baby suit).

“We’re quite fortunate,” David Levy says. “We have great relationships. We have clients who are friends, clients who we didn’t know until they came in the store, and now they’re friends.”

e French Shoppe has a similar community experience.

“A lot of people we know well and it’s like

a social hour when they come, which is fun, to help people find clothes for special events and family, things like weddings and celebrations and in sad times,” Mattox says. “To help people find things if they have to go to a funeral — we take it as a privilege to serve people in all ways.”

It’s a sort of old-fashioned (complimentary) way of doing things. Sales associates not only sell the clothing, but they advise and bear witness to life’s most fun, stressful or grief-stricken times. The ethos is: Don’t let anyone out the door without offering your assistance. If someone walks out the door and you haven’t talked to them, they likely won’t come back.

It’s the small luxury touches that keep people coming back, too. At The French Shoppe, each gold-inscribed white shopping bag is stuffed with its signature light-blue wrapping paper.

Levy’s offers free alterations, with five tailors working full time upstairs. Sometimes a

customer will even come in to have a bow tie tied on to wear to one of the city’s two whitetie events. (David is vehemently against the pre-tied variety.)

To stick around in Nashville’s ever-changing and often revolving retail landscape, you have to evolve with it. The fashion world keeps these clothiers energized. That means frequent buying trips for The French Shoppe ladies.

“We definitely try to stay aware of trends, and we follow trends that mesh with our customer base. But we have a very classic customer, and so we stay with core classics and quality and style. We also make sure that we have the fun new things that are a part of the season,” Mattox says.

David and Ellen frequent Italy, the biggest inspiration for their stock. They always come back inspired by a new a factory, brand or customer service tactic, they tell the Post.

At Levy’s, the next (sixth) generation is

in the wings. Ellen and David’s son is heading up the online sales, and their son-in-law clocks in a day and a half per week. To stay in the business as long as they have, you have to love it, they say.

“This is not an easy business, but it’s not as critical as a surgeon,” David says. “There’s a lot of pieces to the puzzle here. You have to have a little bit of math knowledge, and you have to have a little bit of style knowledge. You have to rely on your people to give you advice. There’s all sorts of different things that happen. It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s not a five day a week job.”

Mattox’s hope at The French Shoppe is for her staff to be healthy and together for as long as possible.

“As much as Nashville is changing, I think it’s comforting that amongst the change – inside our store, I think things feel very much the same over time,” she says. “The same in a good, familiar way.”

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Judith Bright enters next chapter

Nashville jewelry store secures 12South location, becomes family business

BY HANNAH HERNER

he 12South neighborhood has become something of a “jewelry corridor,” local jewelry veteran Judith Bright points out. There’s Hart and Gorjana next door to her eponymously named boutique retail business, Bullets and Pearls nearby and Kendra Scott planned for across the street.

“We’re not threatened because what we do is so different,” Bright tells the Post. “This

is the only place you can get it. We’re not a franchise. We’re not multi-location like some of these guys that are here now. It retains its specialness and uniqueness.”

The Judith Bright jewelry store is the only place where Bright’s gemstone and hammered designs are made to order by artisans onsite.

When Bright set up shop at the 2307 12th Ave S. location 11 years ago, there wasn’t much to 12South. But shortly after the move, developers began construction on Hill Center 12South and an evolution was set into motion. She embraces the change and is able to sell her Nashville-made pieces as souvenirs to the many visitors.

“I think being handmade and hiring local artisans and having it made in front of you — it is unique for any city,” she says. “We’ve been doing that from the very beginning. We’ve really stayed true to what we do and our ‘why.’”

Prior to opening her 12South location, Bright built a clientele making jewelry in her home and later in a location at The Mall at Green Hills. Customers returned to her for their special occasions. However, sometimes now she is simply

shipping to their home so that they can avoid the 12South crowds.

It’s been hard to say goodbye to business owners on the block who have since moved, she says. It could have been her, too, if she wasn’t able to buy the building last year.

Another key to longevity, Bright says, is realizing early on that she would need artisans she can depend on to make the pieces she designed.

She provides them with a 401K, financial counseling, profit sharing and health insurance. She also invests in training many of them on the job. Each piece comes with a card that denotes who made it, embracing the concept of Meraki, a Greek word for putting a piece of oneself into the work.

Bright did not anticipate the store would become a family business. She had three sons, after all. They have been in and out over the years, moving furniture and taking out the trash, as well as selling jewelry. She was thrilled to see her son William step in as director of business operations in April.

“He’s seen it at all levels, all stages, from when they were little and I was using [my sons] as

little necklace models,” she says. “It’s a business like any other — it’s a challenging business.”

With a background in engineering and marketing, William brings the analytics and numbers to Judith’s artistic expertise. He’s doing the accounting, handling taxes and navigating the tariffs for the company’s stones imported from India, among other challenges.

“Since I’ve gotten here, I’ve seen a lot of opportunities to really make things more efficient and smooth,” he says. “I want to take a prob-

lem-solving engineering mindset because we’ve got the artistry nailed down.”

William was just a kid when the business was located in Green Hills, enjoying the freedom of flitting between the candy store and the storefront. Today, he doesn’t hesitate to work the sales floor, telling customers about his mother’s business.

“I wasn’t really planning for it as soon as it happened, but as soon as I got here, I jumped in head first, and it’s been so much fun,” William

tells the Post. “It was always something that I wanted to do. I just didn’t necessarily feel ready for it. But you’re not really going to get ready for it until you just start doing it. I think I’m starting to find my footing.”

William’s role allows Judith to focus on the parts of the business she most enjoys, like serving on the boards of the Entrepreneur Center and the Entrepreneur Organization as well as the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. She would love to launch a fine jewelry line, too. She’s grateful that now the business can run without her, so that she can be out in the community giving back, including her work as a hospice volunteer at Alive Hospice. It was faith that kept her going, as many businesses fizzled out.

“It’s a roller coaster having your own business,” Bright says. “It really is. But most of it has been incredible. If you had told me 25 years ago, when I first started tinkering in my drywall-less basement, I would have told you, no way.”

Tom Stumb Chairman & CEO

Reimagining TSU

Dwayne Tucker takes a businessman’s approach to university operations

BY JULIANNE AKERS

t was a tumultuous time for Tennessee State University when the board appointed Dwayne Tucker as the school’s interim president at the end of 2024.

That March, Gov. Bill Lee signed into law a bill that vacated the historically Black university’s board of trustees following several audits pointing towards financial mismanagement. Then, the university’s previous interim president abruptly resigned after just six months in the role, citing issues working with the newly appointed board — and the state was found to have underfunded TSU $2.1 billion, according to calculations of HBCU funding by the Biden administration.

Tucker — a second-generation TSU alumnus, a retired high-ranking executive who worked with companies like Northwest Airlines and Alliance Data and a former CEO at LEAD Public Schools — assumed the role as president in an official capacity in August 2025.

Now he is running the university through a businessman’s lens.

“Students, in my opinion, are our customers, because it’s our job to meet their needs and expectations and ensure that they’re engaged and happy about the environment in which they’re operating,” Tucker says.

“The product that we get in our business at Tennessee State University is a good quality education. … Who are our shareholders or stakeholders? I think that’s the taxpayer, because the taxpayer funds and philanthropic dollars allow us to operate, so we should give them some expectations that we are good stewards of their investment into Tennessee State University.”

Tucker has worked steadily to repair some of the trust and credibility he felt the university has lost in recent years due to the reports

of erroneous financial decisions and management woes. Some of that work involved the hiring of several executive-level positions, including a chief financial officer, a director of fundraising, a vice president for institutional advancement, a chief human resources officer and a university controller.

He also began looking at ways to personally connect with TSU students, like inviting the Student Government Association president to speak monthly at cabinet meetings and even spending several days a week eating with students at the campus cafeteria.

“If we’re not in the education business, … I think we’re in the customer service business,” says Tucker. “So we’re focusing on, how do we improve our customer service to our students and families?”

He says the university has made solid strides, acknowledging the memorandum of understanding signed between TSU and the state last June, allowing the university to utilize $96 million for operations over three years.

“We’ve made quite a bit of progress. What a difference a year makes from: couldn’t pay the bills to now,” he says.

“We’re very comfortable that we can reimagine Tennessee State over the next five years,” Tucker adds. “Actually, it’s my goal to not wait for five years, but to move from negative deficits to positive deficits in two or three years. Five years is just a little bit too

long to be in purgatory and making draconian kinds of decisions about pay raises and things of that nature.”

Tucker notes that part of the recent progress involved mending the university’s relationship with the state, which had seen a strain in recent years.

“I think in the past, Tennessee State was more adversarial to the state, and then sometimes I’m sure the state would then respond back to that. But to me, that’s not the way to build a partnership,” he says.

In December, the state voted to extend the TSU Board of Trustees membership for an additional three years — a sign that things are trending positively at the university.

And while Tucker is taking a corporatized approach of sorts toward university leadership, he says he abides by the servant leadership model.

“I do not have a Ph.D. I don’t have a master’s degree. But I spent 40 years at the highest level of successful companies in the U.S. … To me, leadership is earned, and you get that way by building relationships with people and for consistency and how they go about the leadership role.”

Tucker says being referred to as “Mr. President” has taken some getting used to. He feels titles aren’t particularly important.

“You can call me Dwayne, and that’s fine with me.”

Earning trust for dollars

BY JULIANNE AKERS

ith federal policy changes, higher education operations face changes to

operations but Nashville’s universities are continuing to rake in billions from donors as the institutions’ senior leaders are shifting their approach toward fundraising.

John Lutz, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations at Vanderbilt University, says that while historically the university has seen the bulk of its gifts come from alumni, there has been an uptick in donations from the family members of former students.

“Over the last few years, we have significantly increased the proportion of our fund-

ing coming from families, meaning parents mainly. … Sometimes it’s grandparents or other family members,” Lutz says. “And that has grown significantly.”

He says parents are keen to invest in things like career opportunities and study abroad programs for students.

“Parents care extra much about those because it’s very easy to relate that to their own kids’ experience. A mentality a lot of our parents have is: ‘Hey, I can afford for this all to happen to my son or daughter. I now want to make that happen for others,’” says Lutz.

“And so it’s that same effect of people, at some level, helping the others who maybe don’t have those resources. And it’s just a virtuous circle, because then those students become successful at what they do, and then later they’re alums and they give back.”

Vanderbilt’s $3.2 billion fundraising campaign, dubbed Dare to Grow, will sunset in June, though it surpassed its initial dollar goal in November 2024. The campaign includes allocations for a wide range of initiatives, including scholarships, university athletics and endowed professorships, among other university programs. Vanderbilt reported an endowment of $10.85 billion for fiscal year 2024-25, an increase of 9.9 percent from the figure of the previous year.

Lutz says Vanderbilt has also seen an increase in funding from new donors, often in the areas of medical and educational research and the school’s recently launched Institute of National Security.

Lutz says university fundraising extends beyond the actual monetary gain.

“The level of engagement, how many alums are connecting to us in ways that might be giving, but also could be going to events, helping us as ambassadors, sharing our story,” he says. “We now have 110,000 alums, which is a big proportion of the entire alumni base of Vanderbilt, who are doing one of those things.”

At Belmont University, the $700 million Hope Transforms campaign was publicly launched in October 2025 with an end date set for 2030. David Rosselli, executive vice president of university advancement at Belmont, says a major goal of the campaign is to

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increase the school’s endowment, which sits at approximately $350 million. The campaign seeks to add an additional $300 million to that number along with $200 million each for capital investments and current use initiatives.

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“It’s a nice size endowment, but not where we would like to be. We’d like to be closer to $1 billion,” Rosselli says. “We are very reliant on tuition dollars, and that’s not the ideal place to be. The ideal place to be is supported by a large endowment.”

Rosselli notes that Belmont has grown its fundraising and

institutional advancement team in recent years as part of the university’s effort to expand its donor base, including a goal of acquiring more funds from corporations.

“In higher education, without philanthropic support, it’s going to be very difficult to survive,” he says. “Grants, federal and/or state, are very difficult to come by these days. There are those that are out there, but a healthy institution is going to have a healthy philanthropic base.”

Though cuts to federal funding have taken their toll on higher education institutions

across the U.S., both Lutz and Rosselli maintain that Belmont and Vanderbilt have not been significantly impacted.

“We’re not unaffected, but we have been far less affected than most of our peers, and I think that’s because so many of the things we emphasize and do research on are so important that, at some level, most of them have made it through the process,”

Lutz says.

“There are instances of programs or research projects that people were doing that were involved in these cuts, and there were cases where we asked donors to help bridge that.”

Reiterating that much of Belmont’s funding is derived from philanthropic and tuition dollars, and not grants, Rosselli says there is a benefit to being a teaching university. Many of the cuts to grant funding have more greatly affected research-focused universities.

“We haven’t felt a dramatic effect, because we’re not a research institution. We’re by and large a teaching institution. We do have research, but that’s not the number one driver.”

Lutz and Rosselli also both emphasize donor centricity as a key strategy for their fundraising methods.

“What we try to do, because we have so many different things you could invest in here, is spend time getting to know our prospects and our donors, to find out what they care about.” Lutz says.

“It’s not the case that everybody wants their name on the building. It’s not the case that everybody wants to do a scholarship. What is the case is if you show people enough different ways that they

might be able to see their investment, their treasure, go to work, that we’ve got so many offerings, then it’s a real luxury.”

Rosselli says Belmont has committed to getting to know its donors and their interests to help pair them with a program they might want to help fund. He notes that endowed professorships have become increasingly popular.

“Everyone wants to make a difference,” he says. “If you’re going to give, whether it’s $10 or it’s $100, you want to make sure that those funds make a difference. It’s our job as advancement professionals to demonstrate to our donor community that those funds do make a difference.”

He adds that Belmont does see trends in donations ebb and flow depending on the political and economic climate in the U.S.

“Raising funds, there’s an emotional component, and so people are going to be more inclined to feel comfortable giving when they feel stronger about how things are going in the country, emotionally,” says Rosselli. “If there’s a fear that we’re about to go into a recession and they hear that noise, they begin to feel concerned, and so that’s when you’ll begin to see donations cool down a bit.”

Still, he says this has not dramatically affected Belmont’s fundraising.

“As long as we’re doing our job connecting our parents, alumni and friends to the institution and convincing them that their contributions make an impact on these young men and women, we’re going to be fine,” he says.

Congratulations on being named In Charge 2026 by the Nashville Post. You’re a natural fit to spearhead our community involvement and corporate banking in Nashville. Your hometown commitment shines through—we are so grateful for your passionate and experienced leadership. Thank you for all you do.

Clif Tant Nashville Market President Corporate Banking Director, SVP

clif.tant@oldnational.com | 629-253-5916

Masami Tyson

Meet the chief of staff to Mayor Freddie O’Connell

BY JULIANNE AKERS

L ast summer — just a few months before Mayor Freddie O’Connell marked the halfway point in his current term — his office announced Masami Tyson would step in as chief of staff.

A Nashvillian for 30 years, Tyson came into the top adviser position at the mayor’s office with more than two decades of experience working as a lawyer across a wide range of industries. She also previously worked in state government as global director of foreign direct investment and trade at the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

Following last fall’s resignation of former Metro chief development officer Bob Mendes, Tyson also picked up the extra duty of helping strike major development deals in the city, including the one involving the Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s forthcoming East Bank venue.

As the sun begins to set on O’Connell’s current term, Tyson sat down with the Post to talk about her leadership, transition to Metro government and some of the biggest issues Nashville is facing.

You’ve held several roles as a lawyer and in state government. What made you want to transition into work with local government?

Working in public service and making Nashville a better place has been something that I did in state government. But even as I worked in the private sector as an attorney, I’ve served on nonprofit boards. And I’ve just been a part of this community and had the forum to play a small role in doing that, working for the city, and making Nashville a better place.

But the really honest story is that while I was at [Womble Bond Dickinson], I really

“What we do together in this office is such important work, and Nashvillians need to know what we’re doing, and we need to hear from them too to make sure that we’re on the right track.”

got that itch again and wanted to be back in public service full time, because I had all these opportunities in the community, nonprofit board service and whatnot where I was doing that. But I really want to be in this full time. I really want to use my skills and background and everything else to be back in that.

So I don’t recommend this, but I turned in my notice to the firm without knowing what I was going to do next. Once I turned my notice in, I had a lot of people talk to me about various opportunities, but none of them made sense. It was during that period that the mayor called. It wasn’t like there was a job posting, and I said, “Hey, I’m going to apply for that.” So that’s how it happened. I would say it was a dream job, and I didn’t know it was out there. But when the opportunity was offered to me, it was a resounding yes.

Is there anything you learned while working in the private sector that you want to bring to the table at the mayor’s office?

Everything, really. I was a transactional lawyer. I was a deal lawyer. I was also an economic development lawyer. I also did cross-border transactional work. I was a litigator, just for a hot minute when I was a young lawyer. But all those things are very helpful, certainly in my role in the development deals. But certainly, like negotiating with TPAC, for example, or people across the table, the skill set has been extremely useful. I think there are life politicians, and I think that’s valuable too. But to have experience being just an ordinary Nashvillian and having pain points, whether it was tax issues or safety or anything else, I think that’s important.

So I brought that in, and then also my relationships that I acquired being in the private sector. All of those have been wonderful opportunities and relationships to kind of go back to and work with or even pick their brains. Everything I think has been very useful.

Has there been anything that’s surprised you since taking on this role?

Many things. Working in state government, I think prepared me a little bit. But [local government] is an entirely different game.

I think the fact that this little office here, along with the Metro departments, can have such an impact. This is such an obvious thing, but when you’re in it and feeling that, it has been surprising and phenomenal. The responsibility of that, I think, is an important thing I experience every day.

I also think that the fact that this office, along with the departments, have really delivered. But the surprising piece to that was that I was unaware of so much of it. I used to think that I was really well versed in what was happening in Metro, but there were still a lot of things that I had no idea about. What we do together in this office is such important work, and Nashvillians need to know what we’re doing, and we need to hear from them too to make sure that we’re on the right track.

We’re over halfway through the mayor’s current term. What do you see as some of the office’s biggest issues looking ahead?

We are on track to fulfill some of the promises we’ve made regarding affordable housing. The mayor’s office and various community

CHRISTOPHER R. MADDUX CONGRATULATES

ON BEING NAMED TO THE NASHVILLE POST IN CHARGE 2026: LEGAL LIST

“I think what’s important is that we all realize that a win for Nashville is a win for the state. We don’t exist in silos. We impact each other, and I think we got to work together. I think people know that, and that’s where the focus is right now.”

partners have kicked off the Unified Housing Strategy initiative.

Another one is obviously the transit initiative, which I think we just celebrated our one-year anniversary back in September. And now that Nashvillians have made it clear that that is important to them, we’ve got to make headway on that. And I think that one is a tough one, because, first of all, it takes a long time to implement something like that. And so sometimes we can’t see with our eyes what’s happening.

I bet there’s going to be a time when it’s going to be like this waterfall, and so many things are actually going to be tangibly, like, presentable. But right now, we’re sort of a couple steps before that.

Obviously, development things. Those point to things like revenue, building the community, building neighborhoods, making sure that we’re working together. East Bank certainly incorporates that. So this is all intertwined.

I mean safety is a huge one. Crime is down, and it’s across the board, and that’s something we need to remind Nashvillians of, because it’s true, and we want to make sure that Nashville is not just about Broadway or all the cool stuff, which that’s important, too. But it’s all also about affordability, it’s also about safety and how all those things lead

to the city being such a fabulous place for Nashvillians.

In recent years, there’s been tension between the state and Metro. From your perspective as chief of staff, what do you think can be done to ease that tension?

I worked for the state. In fact, a lot of our colleagues here at Metro have had that experience, and so certainly those relationships matter in helping that whole narrative of how are we going to work together.

No matter what we’re hearing or these tensions or whatever it is, we’ve got to get through that. We got to work through that. And I think the good news is, what I’ve observed over and over is the people who are actually trying to make things happen, to include the mayor himself and state leaders, they want that to happen. Are there differences? Yes. Are there parts where we say, “No, that’s not what we want.” That’s true in any relationship and deal making. I think the key is that we work through them. I think what’s important is that we all realize that a win for Nashville is a win for the state. We don’t exist in silos. We impact each other, and I think we got to work together. I think people know that, and that’s where the focus is right now.

Need drives transportation innovations

Waymo, The Boring Company and TDOT find opportunities at the intersection of commerce and transportation

BY SHAUNA REYNOLDS

s Nashville continues to grow, so do difficulties traveling to, from and around the city.

These evolving traffic headaches affect visitors, commuters and residents. In 2024, Nashvillians approved Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s Choose How You Move plan, giving the go-ahead to a 15-year investment of over $3 billion into transit and infrastructure. The vote seems to signify a new way of thinking for our automobile-addicted com-

munity as it provides funding focus to the city’s WeGo Public Transit System, as well as other multi-modal methods of transportation. Slow but steady improvements have begun, including calculated changes made to sidewalks, signals and more.

But several private entities are also working toward solutions on existing and future roadways. From autonomous vehicles to subterranean roadways to faster interstate lanes, these companies hope to make a measurable

difference in a city where car culture has traditionally ruled.

WAYMO LEADS THE WAY

When faced with stop-andgo traffic or construction slowdowns, sometimes it’s better to leave the hassle of driving to someone else — or in the case of Waymo, to no one at all.

Waymo, headquartered in Mountain View, California, is owned by Google parent company Alphabet. Waymo’s autonomous electric vehicles are already trolling the streets of Nashville, mapping countless routes and intersections ahead of offering rides to customers some time in 2026. The service operates independently in some cities, and in partnership with Uber with others — but announced in September 2025 a collaboration with Lyft in Nashville.

The company sees the Nashville market as a strong opportunity.

“Waymo considers a number of factors before operating in a city,” Ethan Teicher, Waymo PR manager, told the Post via email. ”Including ride-hailing demand, the regulatory environment, the existing transportation system and how we can add to it, and what opportunities exist to align with the community around a shared mission of improving road safety and accessibility.”

Current Waymo cities include San Francisco, where a December power outage led to out-of-order traffic lights “confusing” vehicles. But the technology continues to evolve, and the company’s data suggests that its automation system, known as the Waymo Driver, is capable of reducing injury-causing accidents with pedestrians or cyclists.

“We’re continuing to rigorously validate our technology on Nashville’s roads in

preparation for our service,” Teicher says. “And look forward to serving residents, visitors, and commuters next year.”

GOING UNDERGROUND

While Waymo vehicles are likely to take riders on many of the same popular routes as existing rideshare vehicles, another newcomer is breaking new ground with the promise of a tunnel under the city.

Like Waymo, The Boring Company has targeted Nashville specifically after seeing a need for transportation innovation. The Elon Musk-founded operation surprised Nashvillians in July 2025 by announcing plans for the Music City Loop.

A TBC official could not be reached but the Music City Loop FAQ states: “Nashville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. The city’s traffic congestion, high volume of tourists, strong workforce base, and ongoing economic momentum make it an ideal location for Music City Loop. This project aligns with the city’s vision for innovative infrastructure and economic growth.”

The tunnels will not be open to motorists and their personal cars. Only employee-operated Tesla vehicles will be allowed underground. It won’t be a high-occupancy situation — the vehicles will allow for small parties of one to five passengers.

TBC’s initial release announced a new way to travel between downtown and the airport, which offers little to most residents. But with recent chaotic traffic issues surrounding BNA, reduced congestion on the roads would still make an impact.

According to TBC, the MCL could be operating as soon as the first quarter of 2027.

“This is admittedly an aggressive schedule,” the FAQ states.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS

The project with the longest wait will also have the greatest impact.

As the rising cost of living and shortage of affordable housing push would-be Nashvillians further from the city, daily interstate commutes have become increasingly com-

mon and less tolerable.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation is in the process of selecting one of four corporations to form a public-private partnership, or P3, to commence the Interstate 24 Southeast Choice Lanes project. The project will add optional toll lanes to an ever-congested stretch of Interstate 24 between Murfreesboro and Nashville.

“We bring a small public subsidy to the table,” TDOT P3 Communications Manager Rebekah Hammonds says. “And that allows us to partner with this private entity who will then design, build, finance, operate, and then also maintain the facility.”

This partnership is expected to be announced in the third quarter of 2026, Hammonds said.

The chosen company will also take on the necessary debt to fund the project, and allow TDOT to move faster than it could without a partner. Hammonds describes the construction timeline as “so much less painful” than that of a traditional interstate widening project.

Tolls paid by eventual choice lane drivers will make this expansion possible. But frustrated commuters shouldn’t get too eager to navigate choice lanes — the new lanes should be open in 2032 at the soonest.

This project also fits into the Choose How You Move plan, Hammonds says. WeGo buses will have free use of the choice lanes.

Jessica Dauphin, president and CEO of the Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee, sees this as a big plus.

“It is absolutely a step in the right direction for regional mobility and access to opportunity,” Dauphin says. “It could absolutely have a big impact in what regional transportation looks like, especially in regards to bus ridership.”

Dauphin even sees positive possibilities in private transportation — while Waymo and the Music City Loop are boutique options that both carry fewer passengers at a higher price than public transit, she still believes they can prove beneficial.

“You’re giving more people more options and ways to get around,” Dauphin says. “I think it will be pretty cool.”

Chanelle Chanelle

Chanelle Chanelle Acheson Acheson

PERSON of the YEAR

Waddey Acheson co-founder discusses her firm, local legal sector

BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS

ERIC ENGLAND

hanelle Acheson serves as a cofounding partner of Nashville-based law firm Waddey Acheson.

Acheson has represented corporate and individual clients in cases involving intellectual property, entertainment law, state and federal civil enforcement actions, contract and fraud claims, anti-kickback allegations, privacy issues and health care fraud and abuse.

Prior to co-founding Waddey Acheson, Acheson practiced at Waller, having also previously worked for Neal & Harwell.

Acheson graduated from the University of Colorado in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, later continuing her academic work at the University of Sussex in Brighton,

England. She earned her Juris Doctorate degree from Harvard Law School in 2004.

In addition, Acheson served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps from 2005 to 2011.

The Post selected Acheson as its Leaders 2026 Person of the Year due to her exploration of AI usage in the legal industry and her newsworthy representation of the SB Initiative in the Swan Ball lawsuit in 2024, the Friends of Belle Meade Boulevard in 2025, and ongoing work for Neighbors for Safety Belle Meade Highlands as well as the heirs of Luke Lea. Acheson met with the Post to discuss Waddey Acheson, and more broadly, the Nashville legal sector.

You and Jack Waddey created Waddey Acheson to focus on intellectual property, corporate and government investigations, and artificial intelligence. What type progress has the firm made since?

Since launching Waddey Acheson in 2024, we’ve grown from a two-lawyer idea to a 12-person shop handling complex litigation and intellectual property across the country. We’ve been recognized in Chambers and in [various other] lists, which is gratifying. But the real marker of progress is the caliber of work our clients now entrust to us. We’re being hired for sophisticated, sensitive matters that typically go to much larger firms. Just as important, we’ve built a team we genuinely love working

with — diverse in background, perspective and experience, and filled with people who bring both excellence and good energy to the office. In a profession that still often assumes leadership will look a certain way, building a team full of women, veterans, first-generation professionals and people with nontraditional paths has probably been one of the most rewarding parts of this firm. That culture has become one of our biggest advantages and a big driver of the firm’s early success.

Your ré sumé includes stops at Waller and at Neal & Harwell. How did those experiences inform your work with Waddey Acheson?

Waller taught me how to manage large, complex civil matters in heavily regulated industries — health care, finance, energy — where litigation has business and regulatory consequences.

Neal & Harwell, by contrast, was a crash course in trial culture and white-collar work. You had to be unflinchingly honest about the strengths and weaknesses of a case, and frankly your own personal strengths and weaknesses, to prepare as if every matter was going to trial and stay calm in very high-pressure environments. With Waddey Acheson, we intentionally combined those worlds: big-case sophistication and trial-ready focus, but in a smaller, more tech-enabled platform. Those environments helped me recognize what I wanted to replicate — excellent lawyering — and what I wanted to build differently, especially around transparency, mentorship and opportunity for people who don’t arrive with built-in access.

What were some lessons learned while you served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps?

My Marine Corps service gave me lessons I use every day:

• Own the outcome. As an officer, there is no one else to blame. That habit of full accountability carries directly into my cases and leadership at the firm.

• Communicate clearly under pressure. Marines need concise, honest guidance when the stakes are high; clients and teams do too.

• Take care of your people. Mission success depends on a team that feels supported, respected and informed.

• Project calm in chaos. “Don’t run — it scares the men,” the underlying principle is serious: When everything is going sideways, your team calibrates off your composure. A steady, confident leader prevents panic and keeps everyone focused on solutions.

Being a woman in that environment makes clear that if you wait for permission to lead, you’ll stand still forever. Composure is not optional — it’s your power.

You have focused on the use of technology for case and client management. For a previous case, you developed a secure web-based project management tool that allowed parties to distribute work, edit documents, provide feedback and execute required voting. Thoughts?

That tool came out of necessity. I was working on a multi-billion-dollar, multi-party matter where traditional email chains and shared drives weren’t just not good enough.

They were actively creating friction and driving progress on the project backward. It was the worst. We needed a secure platform where dozens of stakeholders could assign work, edit documents, comment in real time and conduct formal votes with an auditable record.

The experience convinced me that good technology can dramatically lower the temperature in hard cases. When everyone can see the same information in real time, you get fewer misunderstandings, less duplication of effort, and more time spent on actual strategy instead of logistics.

In 2024, you represented a local group, SB Initiative Inc., that sued Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art to retain ownership of the Swan Ball trademark. In October of that year, the two parties reached an agreement related to the ownership of the annual Swan Ball trademark. What can you say regarding that legal effort?

Because there are confidentiality constraints, I’m limited to what is public. What I can say is that the women I represented were some of the

“If you wait for permission to lead, you’ll stand still forever.”

most dedicated, intelligent and hardworking people I’ve ever met. Every year, they essentially stand up an entire corporation from scratch — on a completely volunteer basis — to support charitable work in this community. Their commitment is extraordinary. Throughout the dispute, they were unwavering in taking the high road, staying graceful under pressure and keeping their focus on the future.

The resolution reached in 2024, with SB Initiative retaining ownership of the Swan Ball trademark, allowed both organizations to move forward, and I’m particularly excited about the acceleration of Friends of Warner Parks projects and programs, both on campus and through outreach at Metro Parks Community Centers, made possible by this significant funding from Swan Ball. Their plans to expand access for atrisk and underserved children across Nashville reflect exactly the kind of mission these women care so deeply about. It was a privilege to help

protect something they built with such passion and integrity.

Earlier this year, you represented neighborhood group Friends of Belle Meade Boulevard Inc., which had filed a lawsuit in an attempt to stop the City of Belle Meade from moving forward on an approximately $3.8 million plan to construct sidewalks within the median of the boulevard. In June, the Belle Meade Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance that prohibits the construction of sidewalks, yielding a victory for your clients. Your thoughts?

Friends of Belle Meade Boulevard is a group of residents who care deeply about the historical character and pedestrian safety in their neighborhood. My role was to help them translate those concerns into a clear, legally grounded argument so that the [Belle Meade city officials] could understand exactly what was

at stake. We worked closely together to analyze the city’s prior commitments, identify the procedural issues and present a path forward that respected both safety and the historic integrity of the boulevard. The board of commissioners ultimately adopted an ordinance that reflected what our filings set out, and I think it showed how effective community advocacy can be when it’s paired with careful legal work. What I appreciated most about this matter was the residents’ thoughtfulness and resolve — and I was honored to help guide the legal strategy that allowed their voices to be taken seriously.

You represent some Belle Meade Highlands residents, who are members of Neighbors for Safety BMH Inc. That group was formed related to parking, access and traffic affiliated with Cheekwood attendance. Any update?

Neighbors for Safety BMH is a group of Belle Meade Highlands residents who love Cheekwood but who also live with the very real impacts of traffic, parking and cutthrough driving. Our work there is ongoing, but the goal is straightforward: to make sure that public-safety and neighborhood-livability concerns are given the same weight as tourism and event-driven growth.

More broadly, it’s part of a pattern I’m seeing in Nashville — longstanding residential neighborhoods asking for a seat at the table as major institutions and attractions expand.

Similarly, your firm represents 16 heirs of the late Luke Lea related to Cheekwood access, potentially, via Warner Parks. Thoughts?

On the Luke Lea matter, my partner David Bridgers has taken the lead, and he’s done a remarkable job. Our firm represents 16 heirs of Col. Luke Lea, who deeded the land that became Warner Parks to the city subject to strict covenants that it be used as a public park and not for “any other use.”

The petition asks the court to clarify whether a proposed access road from Highway 100 through Percy Warner Park to Cheekwood would violate that 1920s covenant. The clients have been crystal clear: They don’t want the land back; they want the promise to Nashville kept. It’s really a case about honoring a gift to

the public and protecting a unique urban park system for the next 100 years, not just the next traffic study.

Waddey Acheson is using AI to facilitate a more manageable than otherwise and streamlined legal work process. Thoughts?

AI is a weird world. It’s an amplifier, not a replacement. We use AI to do things like firstpass document review, issue-spotting, drafting internal outlines and document formatting, which frees our lawyers and staff to focus on judgment, strategy and client counseling.

We’ve put guardrails in place — humans draft anything that goes out the door, datasecurity protocols and training so that our team understands both the power and, maybe more importantly, the limits of these tools. The end result, when we do it right, is faster work, lower cost and more time spent on the parts of lawyering that actually require a human mind.

What are your thoughts on the current state of Nashville’s legal community? For example, when Neal and Harwell ceased operations in August after 20 of the firm’s attorneys — including 15 partners — left to join the local office of national firm Womble Bond Dickinson ... that must have been noteworthy for you and your fellow attorneys citywide.

Nashville’s legal community is in the middle of a transition from being predominantly a regional bar to being part of a national — even global — legal marketplace. The closure of Neal & Harwell after more than 50 years was a symbolic moment. It showed how national firms are reshaping the landscape here. It also made clear how volatile legacy structures can be when they don’t evolve.

At the same time, we still have a strong core of local and regional firms and a deeply interconnected bar. Deals get done and disputes get resolved in part because people here will still go have a beer with each other even if they are on opposite sides of a case. That culture is worth protecting even as the market modernizes.

What are some of the main changes you have

noticed with the city’s law firm culture the past few years?

Nashville has seen the same cultural shifts as other markets, but on a compressed timeline: more national firms, more lateral movement, more emphasis on profitability metrics — and, simultaneously, more lawyers looking for humane, flexible workplaces where they can actually have a life.

On the client side, there is less tolerance for opaque billing and for “because that’s how we’ve always done it.” Clients want firms that are transparent, tech-savvy and aligned with their values. And there’s a noticeable generational shift: younger lawyers are no longer impressed by opaque hierarchies or all-white-cis-male leadership tables. They want substance, balance and inclusion —and they’re willing to move firms to find it. One reason we started Waddey Acheson was to build a culture that takes those demands seriously without losing the craftsmanship and mentorship that made this profession interesting in the first place.

Where will Nashville’s law firm community be — in terms of numbers, diversity, thrust, national influence, etc. — in, say, 10 years?

In 10 years, Nashville’s legal community will be larger, more national, and home to more genuinely sophisticated practice areas. That part is inevitable. What’s less certain is whether the culture will evolve at the same pace. Diversity will continue to lag, not because the talent isn’t here, but because the city still operates on entrenched networks where access quietly gets mistaken for merit. “Daddy-ball” hiring, where access begets access, and the same people get the same opportunities, remains efficient that way.

National firms will keep expanding and that might nudge expectations upward. We’ll also see more actual national practices emerge — beyond the version where someone handled a case in Topeka once and made it their whole personality.

But unless Nashville confronts its whoyou-know reflex, we’ll end up with a more polished market and the same homogenous conference rooms. And for a city growing this fast, that would be a wasted opportunity and a disservice to our clients.

A PASSION FOR COMPASSION.

As CEO of Nashville CARES, Amna Osman has worked tirelessly to advance our mission as Tennessee’s leading innovator in the fight to eliminate HIV. Her vision is the driving force behind our new CARES 360 Community Clinics, including recent expansions into the Springfield and Memphis markets.

It’s all about providing more access, more equity and more whole-person care. Congratulations on this nomination, Amna – your team couldn’t be prouder.

• World-class HIV prevention and care

• Psychiatry and behavioral health

• Care coordination and peer support

CARES 360 LOCATIONS

Nashville 615-499-7406

633 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37204

Memphis 901-896-0739

806 Cooper St, Memphis, TN 38104

Springfield 615-821-2099

200 Northcrest Drive, Suite 220 Springfield, TN 37172

CONGRATULATIONS, ABIGAIL SIGLER

VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

On being selected to the Nashville Post’s The Risers list. Abigail develops and executes comprehensive, strategic messaging, communications, and earned media campaigns for state, federal, and corporate clients. Congratulations, Abigail. Well deserved.

www.bakergroupstrategies.com

One of the mainstays of the Nashville Post magazine is our In Charge list. Each year, we highlight the people that make our city work. Be they newly minted or seasoned veterans, we have trimmed this year’s list to the best of the best.

ARTS

Patrick Cassidy

Artistic Director, Studio Tenn: Son of award winners Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy, the veteran producer and director began his tenure at the Franklin nonprofit theater company in 2019. In 2023 Studio Tenn opened a permanent home — Turner Theater — at The Factory at Franklin.

Seth Feman

Executive Director and CEO, Frist Art Museum: Photography expert and Nashville native, Feman spent his early career at the Chrysler Museum in Virginia. Since taking the helm in 2022 he has focused on community outreach by implementing new programs like Art on Wheels.

John Hoomes

CEO and Artistic Director, Nashville Opera: Longtime leader of venerable arts entity has led several world premiere productions. Joined organization in 1995 and has directed more than 200 productions of opera and music theater in the U.S., South America and Canada.

Martha Ingram

Chairman Emerita, Ingram Industries: Longtime stalwart of local philanthropic and arts communities, Ingram helped fund construction of Schermerhorn Symphony Center and regularly supports Nashville Symphony, TPAC, Nashville Opera and Nashville Repertory Theatre.

Daniel Jones

Producing Artistic Director, Kindling Arts Festival: Curates and markets yearly performance art festival since 2018. Also serves as manager of artistic programming at OZ Arts.

Wesley King

Artistic Director, Nashville in Harmony: Experienced composer and minister leads choir for LGBTQ community founded in 2004. Also serves as chair of faith caucus of Tennessee Democratic Party.

Cori Anne Laemmel

Managing Artistic Director of The Theater Bug: In her time with The Theater Bug, Cori has written and produced 10 original plays and directed six Theater Bug productions.

Elisheba Mrozik

President, North Nashville Arts Coalition: Tattoo artist and muralist also known as Queen Bee Ink specializes in watercolor and realism designs on skin, as well as public art and canvas paintings. Founded One Drop Ink Tattoo Parlor and Gallery in 2010.

Nick Mullikin

Artistic Director and CEO, Nashville Ballet: Trained dancer and teacher replaced Paul Vasterling in 2023, overseeing all company productions. Former school director rose in ranks after joining company in 2015.

Mark Murphy

Executive and Artistic Director, OZ

Arts Nashville: West Coast transplant and decorated teacher and director was named leader of contemporary art and performance center after brief run as artistic director in 2021.

Jamaal Sheats

Director and Curator, Fisk University Galleries: Alumnus of local HBCU and accomplished repoussé artist manages school’s permanent collection of more than 4,000 items.

Isabel Tipton-Krispin

Executive Director, The Nashville Shakespeare Festival: Former Nashville Ballet executive stepped into the role in 2022 for theater group that hosts yearly pay-what-you-can outdoor Shakespeare plays.

Jennifer Turner

President and CEO, Tennessee Performing Arts Center: Has led organization that hosts performances since 2019. Reached a new agreement with Metro in 2025 to build new home in East Bank redevelopment with $500 million in state funds and seeking a private fund match of $100 million.

Alan Valentine

President and CEO, Nashville Symphony: Decades-long leader has overseen growth of Grammy Award-winning institution, including fundraising for its 2006-built home. Announced his retirement at the end of the 2025-2026 season.

EDUCATION

Adrienne Battle

Director, Metro Nashville Public Schools: Head of city’s public school system since 2019. Led through pandemic and funding challenges. Has spent more than 20 years with system.

Dan Boone

Agenia Clark

President, Fisk University: Former CEO of Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee took over as 18th leader of HBCU in November 2023. Also previously worked for Tennessee Education Lottery and Vanderbilt.

Daniel Diermeier

Chancellor, Vanderbilt University: Leading multibillion-dollar fundraising initiative as part of school’s sesquicentennial celebration. Former University of Chicago administrator and Guggenheim fellow took over on West End in 2020.

Diarese George

President and CEO, Nashville Public Education Foundation: Former teacher, now head of group that aims to support Nashville public schools. Founded the Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance. Also previously served as director of recruitment for the Nashville Teacher Residency.

Jason Golden

Stephanie Silverman

Executive Director, Belcourt Theatre: Began leading one of state’s oldest arts institutions in 2007. Nonprofit indie theater has seen facility facelifts while maintaining its themed series.

ARTS

JANE MACLEOD

President and CEO, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

Has led sprawling gardens and event center for more than 10 years with art gallery inside its historic mansion and occasional outdoor installations. In recent years introduced four-season and evening programming.

President, Trevecca Nazarene University: Leads Church of Nazarene-a liated institution as it earns grants to support initiatives ranging from environmental e orts to support for preachers in school of theology. Has led university for nearly 20 years. Received a four-year contract extension in March 2025.

Christiane Buggs

CEO, PENCIL: Took over head role at education nonprofit in 2024 after founder Angie Adams announced her retirement. Former Metro Nashville Public Schools teacher and board member, first elected in 2016.

Kimberly Clay

Founder and CEO, Play Like a Girl: Head of organization that supports girls in sports who have STEM interests. Former public health expert and professor.

Superintendent, Williamson County Schools: Head of top-ranking school district was elevated to current leadership role in 2019. Contract runs through 2026. Has been with WCS since 2006.

Derrick Jackson

President, American Baptist College: Named 11th president of the college in August 2025 after serving as interim. Previously served on school’s board of trustees as the chair of audit and compliance committee.

Shanna Jackson

President, Nashville State Community College: Began at NSCC in 2018 after associate vice president role at Columbia State’s Williamson campus. Oversaw opening of community college’s Madison campus in 2022. Opened new building for school of health sciences in 2024.

Greg Jones

President, Belmont University: Leads growing school, which announced $700 million fundraising campaign in late 2025. Board of Trustees extended his contract through 2036. Replaced Bob Fisher in 2021.

Watechia Lawless

CEO and Founder of DLM and Associates: Heads an advisory firm for leaders in K-12 education and began work as chief of sta for the Tennessee Higher Education Association in late 2025. Previously served as Director of Children and Youth Initiatives, O ce of the Mayor. Former executive principal at Napier Elementary who moved to take community superintendent job for Hamilton County Schools.

Candice McQueen

President, Lipscomb University: Took the helm of Church of Christ-a liated university in 2021. Previous CEO of National Institute for Excellence in Teaching. Former state education commissioner under Gov. Bill Haslam and dean of Lipscomb’s College of Education.

EDUCATION

DWAYNE TUCKER

President, Tennessee State University

Named president in August 2025 after serving in the interim role since 2024. Previously served as CEO of LEAD Public Schools. Also formerly worked at First Data, Northwest Airlines and Alliance Data.

Sidney McPhee

President, Middle Tennessee State University: Head of one of state’s most important educational institutions for more than 20 years. Has overseen expansion of online course options. Led openings of health sciences and construction management buildings along with groundbreaking for future student-athlete performance center.

David Owens

Professor of the Practice of Management and Innovation, Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management: Executive director of VU-based innovation and entrepreneurship hub The Wond’ry. Former CEO of Gri n Technology with major brand consulting experience.

Freda Player

Chair, Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education: Elected to the board in 2020. Longtime political professional who worked with Al Gore’s presidential campaign. Worked in the administration of former Mayor David Briley.

Lizzette Reynolds

Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Education: Sworn in June 2023. Previous vice president of policy for ExcelinEd. Served as deputy legislative director under then-Gov. George W. Bush and was chief deputy commissioner at Texas Education Agency.

Congratulations, Paul Craig!

Congratulations to Paul Craig, Tennessee

Commercial Division President, on being named a 2026 In Charge honoree by the Nashville Post. This prestigious recognition highlights Paul’s exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and lasting impact on Nashville’s financial community. His dedication to excellence continues to shape the future of finance across our region. We’re proud to celebrate this welldeserved honor.

MENTORS THE

These leaders look to make the road easier for up-and-comers.

Jamari Brown Mayor’s O ce

FINANCE

Rajeev Amara

CEO, Arcline Investment Management: From Nashville, oversees private equity firm with additional o ces in New York and San Francisco. Closed $4.5 billion fund in 2023. Former managing director at Golden Gate Capital.

Teresa

J.W. Bailey

Nashville President, Waddell & Associates: Was promoted in 2023 to lead Nashville o ce of investment firm with further presence in Memphis and Aspen. Maintains wealth strategy and professional services practice.

Colin Barrett

President and CEO, Tennessee Bankers Association: Has served in role since 2013. Holds master’s degree in political management. Oversees association with about 175 member entities

John Bennett

Apryl Childs-Potter Nashville Healthcare Council

Perri duGard Owens Jarrard

Todd J. Rolapp Bass, Berry & Sims

Pat Shea Being Giveful

Davidson County President, Renasant Bank: Longtime area banker leads local operations of Mississippi-based bank. Previously spearheaded Tennessee operations of Republic Bank & Trust and First Citizens Bank.

Sam Bennett

Managing Partner, KPMG: Has worked with firm for most of career. Oversees Nashville and Knoxville o ces of Big Four firm and focuses on clients in consumer, retail and industrial manufacturing sectors.

Seth Bernstein

CEO, AllianceBernstein: Previously worked 32 years at JPMorgan Chase, most recently as managing director and global head of managed solutions and strategy at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Yielded president title to AB senior partner Onur Erzan in early 2026.

Kevin Blair

President and CEO, Pinnacle Financial Partners. Atlanta-based o cial oversees Nashville-headquartered company that merged with Synovus earlier this year in a deal valued at approximately $8.6 billion. Replaced veteran banker Terry Turner, who serves as non-executive chairman of the board of directors of the Pinnacle and Synovus holding company (Newco). Will team with Rob McCabe, the newly invented company’s chief banking o cer.

David Briggs

President, Fifth Third Bank (Tennessee): Former market president for Capital Bank and longtime Bank of America o cial (28 years) joined Cincinnati bank in 2018.

Chuck Byrge

President and CEO, Harpeth Capital: Leader since 2005 of middle market investment banking firm. Previously worked in M&A, capital raising and led FTN Financial’s i-banking team.

Sid Chambless

Managing Partner, Nashville Capital Network: Leads 2003-founded early-stage investment firm that now has about $200 million in assets under management and that has funded about 65 companies.

Lindsey Cox

CEO, Launch Tennessee: Returned to public-private entrepreneurial organization in 2022 after stints at The Company Lab in Chattanooga and U.S. Economic Development Administration. Holds two degrees from Tennessee Tech University.

Paul Craig

Tennessee Commercial Division President, Simmons Bank: Veteran banking executive joined Arkansas-based bank in 2021. Previously served as senior vice president at FirstBank.

FINANCE

CHRIS HOLMES

President and CEO, FB Financial

Chief leader at FirstBank parent for past decade. Bank is naming sponsor of Vanderbilt football stadium. FB Financial Corp. completed in July 2025 a merger with Anniston, Ala.-based Southern States Bancshares Inc., with the deal valued at about $380 million.

John Crosslin and Justin Crosslin

Co-Managing Principals, Crosslin: Brothers jointly lead CPA firm founded in 1997 by father Dell Crosslin. Team with Bryan White as co-managing principals for Crosslin Technologies, the company’s information technology and managed services arm.

Josh Derryberry

Middle Tennessee Market President, Truist: Replaced Cameron Wells in November 2025. Previously served as business banking sales manager at U.S. Bank. Has more than 20 years of leadership experience at regional and national financial institutions. Résumé includes a stint at Fifth Third Bank.

Aaron Dorn

Chairman, President and CEO, Studio Bank: Co-founded bank in 2018 after stints with Avenue. Gulchbased Studio, which also operates o ces in Clarksville and Williamson County, has grown to have about $1.26 billion in assets.

L.A. Galyon IV

Managing Director and Partner, Brentwood Capital Advisors: Oversaw 2023 move of 1999-founded investment bank from Williamson County to Midtown’s Broadwest.

Chase Gilbert

CEO, Built Technologies: Co-founded construction loan software management company that achieved “unicorn” status in 2021. Moved fintech company to 12South in 2025.

Je Goodwin

Managing Director and Region Manager, JPMorgan Chase: Oversees Nashville region middle market banking business for U.S.’s largest bank based on asset size.

Tony Gregory

Chairman, President and CEO, Volunteer State Bank: Founded Volunteer State Bank in 2021. Oversaw 2023 merger with Fourth Capital, owned by investor Gaylon Lawrence Jr.

Parker Gri th

Managing Director, Baird: The Griffith Hall Downey Group: Nearly 31 years of experience at Morgan Stanley and, since 2012, Baird. Oversees company’s work in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi.

Robyn Hari

Nashville Managing Principal, Diversified Trust: Veteran financial planner has been, since 2016, local managing principal for regional firm.

Chris Hight

Managing Principal, Baker Tilly: Was named head of what had been known as KraftCPAs in November 2024, having joined the accounting and advisory firm in 2004. Baker Tilly acquired Kraft in 2025.

Matt Jernigan

President and CEO, Ascend Federal Credit Union: Assumed leadership role in 2024 from longtime head Caren Gabriel. Tullahoma-based credit union has expanded within region during recent years.

Mike Johnson

Regional President and Head of Corporate Banking, PNC Bank Tennessee: Has led Pittsburgh-based bank’s local operations, including retail expansion, since 2018 and announced in 2025 plans for major expansion in market. Previously spent 17 years with Wells Fargo.

Kelley Kee

Tennessee President, United Community Bank: Brought on in 2024 to run Tennessee operations for bank that in 2022 acquired Reliant. Previously an EVP at Regions, at which he worked for 25 years.

Kevin Lavender

Executive Vice President and Vice Chair of Commercial Banking, Fifth Third Bancorp: Former state banking o cial joined Fifth Third in 2005. Part of group that acquired and moved Nashville City Club. Named to vice chair role in July 2025.

Gaylon Lawrence Jr.

Owner, F&M Bank, Volunteer State Bank: Has ownership in various local financial institutions. In 2023, oversaw merger of his Fourth Capital and Volunteer State banks.

Charlie Martin

Founder and Chairman, Martin Ventures: Former HCA, HealthTrust and Vanguard Health exec serves as chair of technology and health care investment firm focused on technology that he founded in 2009.

John McDearman

CEO, Wilson Bank & Trust: Leads Lebanon-based bank with assistance from President John Foster. Company o ers 33 locations, including one in Chattanooga.

Chuck McDowell

Founder, Owner and CEO, Wesley Financial Group: Runs company that has relieved more than $635 million collectively of timeshare mortgage debt, helping clients cancel their timeshares and receive a combined $9 million in refunds. MTSU graduate started career in timeshare sales.

Jim Meade

CEO and Managing Shareholder, LBMC. Has more than 26 years of accounting and auditing experience with LBMC. Serves on the board of directors for the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and on the advisory board for Nashville Capital Network. Member of Leadership Nashville.

Jennie Menzie

CEO and President, Cumberland Trust: Succeeded Pepe Presley in leadership at company. Attorney who has held several Cumberland Trust positions since 2012.

Tyson Moore

Market President, Bank of America: Runs Nashville-area operations for Bank of America. Also serves as market president for Merrill Lynch.

Jim Regnier

Regional Managing Partner, Forvis Mazars: Oversees national tax specialty services unit for Top 10 accounting firm. Relocated to Nashville 12 years ago to assist BKD (later Forvis) in establishing a local o ce. Named to current role in September 2025.

Jim Rieniets

President and CEO, INSBANK: Past chairman of Tennessee Bankers Association. Joined bank upon its inception two-plus decades ago.

Jim Schmitz

Interim CEO, Citizens Savings Bank & Trust. Began tenure in November 2025 with the departure of veteran leader Sergio Ora. Previously served almost seven years at Nashville market leader accounting and advisory firm Elliott Davis. Previously led Nashville operations for Regions Bank.

Tom Stumb

Chairman and CEO, Truxton Trust: Has served as member of Truxton’s board since firm’s inception in 2004. Worked as company president from its inception until 2016, when he became board chairman. One of company’s 20 founding organizers. Works closely with Truxton President Derrick Jones.

Clif Tant

Nashville Market President, Old National Bank: Joined Indiana institution shortly before its acquisition of CapStar was made public in 2023. Worked at CapStar upon its founding in 2008 and later held SVP role at ServisFirst.

Josh Trusley

O ce Managing Partner, Ernst & Young Nashville: Promoted in 2023 to leadership role at local o ce of high-profile accounting firm. Has worked at company for 21-plus years and serves as Adventure Science Center board chair.

Bradford Vieira

Executive Vice President and Regional CEO, ServisFirst Bank

Nashville: Belmont grad led Alabama bank’s expansion into Tennessee in 2013. In 2021, company moved operations to Midtown’s Broadwest.

Firm veteran oversees Middle Tennessee team, a role the audit and assurance practice leader has held since 2020. Graduate of MTSU.

Leads Middle Tennessee operations for bank. A former Most Powerful Women honoree.

to materialize in 2025.

FOOD

BENJAMIN GOLDBERG, MAX GOLDBERG, JOSH HABIGER

Partners, Strategic Hospitality

Brothers added James Beard best chef finalist Habiger as partner to lead company known for acclaimed restaurants, including recent Michelin star restaurants Bastion, Locust, The Catbird Seat and Michelin’s Bib Gourmand recognized Kisser.

Bob Bernstein

Owner, Bongo Productions: Veteran contributor to city’s cafe and co ee culture with his Bongo Java and sister businesses. The company’s Fido, a Hillsboro Village mainstay since 1996, is scheduled to close in June 2028.

Nick Bishop Sr.

and Nick Bishop Jr.

Co-Owners, Hattie B’s: Father-son tandem founded hot-chicken restaurant in 2012 in Midtown and have since opened locations in Atlanta, Birmingham, Las Vegas, Memphis and Huntsville with a new location planned for Chicago in 2026.

Matt Bodnar

Partner, Fresh Hospitality and Fresh Capital: Part of group involved with Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, Biscuit Love and Taziki’s, among others. Company’s real estate holdings are numerous and include Hunters Station food hall in East Nashville.

Will Cheek III

Partner, Adams and Reese: Leads law firm’s alcoholic beverage group, providing licensing and regulatory compliance advice to restaurants, hotels, art venues, bars and clubs. Key legal sector player related to Tennessee liquor law.

Craig Cli t

Owner, Midtown Cafe: Assumed ownership in September 2024 of the longstanding Southern cuisine restaurant following the death of friend and business partner Randy Rayburn. Also co-owns Elliston Place Soda Shop.

Mignon François

Founder and CEO, The Cupcake Collection: Launched bakery business in Germantown in 2008 has since opened shops in South Davidson County and Hendersonville.

Clint Gray, Derrick Moore and Emanuel “E.J.” Reed

Owners, Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria: Former TSU classmates have grown pizza and beer restaurant empire beyond North Nashville to locations in Memphis, Atlanta and Sacramento. Opened Franklin location, closed California location in 2024.

Howard Greenstone

Restaurateur and Co-Founder, Red Pebbles Hospitality: Former CEO of Emmy Squared pizza founded firm that manages Adele’s, Bajo Taco and Sadie’s. Partnered with chef Roberto Santibañez to open Fonda 12 South in 2024.

Cordia Harrington

Founder and CEO, Crown Bakeries: Former McDonald’s franchisee launched baking business in 1996, which has since grown to nine locations across the South and Midwest.

Julio Hernandez

Founder, Maíz de la Vida: Mexico native launched food truck located outside of Chopper bar, then opened brick-and-mortar location in 2024. Also manages a tortilla shop in North Nashville. Formerly worked for Hillwood Country Club, Nectar Urban Cantina.

Doug Hogrefe

Partner, 4Top Hospitality: Teams with Paul Schramkowski, David Conn and Ben Brock to operate multiple restaurants in Huntsville, Memphis and Jackson, Miss. Nashville fixtures include Amerigo, Etch, Etc., Jasper’s and Char. Etch added Franklin location in 2024.

Leina Horii and Brian Lea

Owners, Kisser: Married couple heads up East Nashville Japanese restaurant that opened in 2023. Opened Babychan, a Japanese-influenced all-day bakery and cafe, in Spring 2025.

Chris Hyndman

CEO, President and Founder, MStreet:

With real estate investor Jim Caden, helped reinvent McGavock Street (aka MStreet) in The Gulch with Virago, Moto, Saint Anejo and Kayne Prime.

Jay Jenratha

Owner, Degthai: Street truck-turnedSouth Nashville brick-and-mortar serves Thai street food-inspired cuisine. Bangkok-born owner began in 2011 and established permanent location in 2020.

Wesley Keegan

Founder and CEO, TailGate Brewery: Oversees one of state’s largest brewing operations with locations in Music Row, North Capitol, Hendersonville, East Nashville, Bellevue and in Chattanooga. Added two new locations in Antioch and Murfreesboro in recent years.

Andrew Klamar and Matt Dickerson

Vice President of Culinary and Vice President of Independent Restaurants, Southall: Previously oversaw all of the culinary programs at the luxury resort at Southall. Promoted after owner Paul Mishkin assumed control of his restaurant collaborations with Sean Brock. Expanded portfolio now includes Michelin-recognized Audrey and January, alongside growing Joyland brand.

Philip Krajeck

Owner, Chef and Managing Member, Rolf & Daughters, Folk: Was lone James Beard Award finalist from a Nashville restaurant in 2023. Opened Junior Restaurant and Wine Bar on Dickerson Pike in 2025.

Andy Marshall

Owner and CEO, A. Marshall Hospitality: Runs Franklin-based company’s restaurant locations, including Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant, Deacon’s New South and Scout’s Pub. The restaurant group has 10 family owned and operated restaurants in Tennessee and Alabama. Announced in 2025 his candidacy for Williamson County Mayor.

Pat Martin

Owner, Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint: Started business in Nolensville retail strip center and now o ers Nashville, Louisville, Birmingham and Charleston spots. Also owns Hugh Baby’s burger chain. In 2024 starred in barbecue series Life of Fire

Julie Felss Masino

President and CEO, Cracker Barrel

Old Country Store: Former Taco Bell executive o cially took the role of CEO in late 2023, replacing former CEO Sandra Cochran. Survived a push to remove her from the position following the 2025 logo controversy.

Teresa Mason

Owner, Wilburn Street Tavern, Mas Tacos Por Favor: Began operating Mas Tacos in 2014 and jump-started dive bar Wilburn Street Tavern in 2018.

Claire Meneely

Owner, Dozen Bakery: Nashville native started business as pop-up in 2009 before finding brick-and-mortar location in Wedgewood-Houston in 2015. Company moved to larger Woodbine location in 2025.

Margot McCormack

Chef and Owner, Margot Café and Bar: Oversees Five Points restaurant that helped fuel Nashville’s culinary scene. Formerly managed now-closed Marché Artisan Foods. Recently announced plans to close Margot in June 2026 after 25 years of operation.

Kendall Morales and Lauren Morales

Co-owners, TomKats: Sister team took the reigns of 1986-founded catering and restaurant business, which houses The Southern Steak & Oyster and Acme Feed & Seed, in 2024 from their father Tom Morales. Also reopened Sa re at The Factory at Franklin in 2024.

Trevor Moran

Owner, Locust: A 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist, the Ireland-born restaurateur and former Catbird Seat chef opened dumpling joint Locust in 2020. It was awarded a Michelin star in 2025.

Andy Mumma

Founder, Barista Parlor: Founded cafe chain in 2012, which grew to nine locations before Mumma cut back to three (W Hotel, East Nashville and the airport) in 2026. Also manages Chopper Tiki Bar and Moto Moda.

Arnold Myint

Co-Owner, International Market: The 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist operates reprised Belmont Boulevard Thai restaurant with sister Anna Myint. Competed in season seven of Top Chef and known for drag character Suzy Wong.

IN CHARGE – LEGAL

MARK P. CHALOS MANAGING PARTNER, NASHVILLE OFFICE

Securing justice for individuals, classes and groups of people, businesses, and public and private entities across the U.S. and globally for over five decades.

Catherine Newman and Will Newman

Owners, Edley’s Bar-B-Que and 12South Filling Station: Wife-andhusband team operates 11 barbecue locations. Couple also owns Pancho & Lefty’s Cantina.

Deb Paquette

Dung “Junior” Vo, Jon Murray, Wilson Brannock

Owners, Noko and Kase x Noko: Group joined forces in Nashville in 2022 to open their own concept after working at a hospitality group together in Atlanta. Currently working

Brian Barnes

CEO, Blakeford Senior Life: Was promoted to top spot in 2018 for company, which o ers independent living locations and at-home care for seniors. Company concluded Green Hills expansion and formed Blakeford

Susan Diamond

CEO, Wellvana: Held executive roles at Humana, including enterprise CFO and segment president. Previously worked with VC backed early-stage technology startups. Wellvana creates networks of independent health care providers.

Executive Chef, Etch: rant scene stalwart for more than 32 years. Involved with Etch in SoBro and Etc. in Green Hills. Also heads up West End’s Jasper’s in 2020 and a second Etch location in The Factory at Franklin in 2024.

André Prince Je ries

Owner, Prince’s Hot Chicken: Matriarch of original hot-chicken purveyors oversees multiple locations including downtown, South Nashville and Tanger Outlets..

Lee Rathbun

Chief Administrative O cer, Restaurant Growth Services: industry veteran joined the company in 2018 and served in various roles before being elevated to the top spot in early 2025. Currently manages O’Charley’s Restaurant & Bar and Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub, among others.

Austin Ray

Founder and President, A.Ray Hospitality: Operator of eight M.L.Rose neighborhood pubs, Von Elrod’s Beer Hall & Kitchen and Melrose Billiards (which has been open for 80-plus years). Closed Rambler, The Sutler and Sinema in recent years. Teams with fellow principals Bryan Lee Weaver and Jake Mogelson to operate parent company of Butcher & Bee, Redheaded Stranger and most recently, Fancypants on Dickerson Pike.

Alexis Soler

Entrepreneur: Bar owner opened popular spot Old Glory. More recently The Sun Room in the Drift Hotel and Vietnamese-influenced bar and restaurant Eleven11 on Dickerson Pike. Previously owned and operated No. 308.

partner, became the youngest chef in Nashville to be recognized as a James

CEO, Matthew Walker ComprehenHas led 55-yearold institution focused on a ordable

Natalie Dickson

Was named to the director role in 2025 after Gill Wright retired,

College professor.

Richard Ashworth

President and CEO, Amedisys: Took the helm at Amedisys in 2023 after serving as Tivity CEO. Home health provider Amedisys agreed to be acquired by UnitedHealth for $3.3 billion months later.

Je Ballard

President and CEO, Delta Dental: Former president and CFO replaced longtime CEO Philip Wenk in 2023. Company headquarters are set to relocate to Midtown in 2025.

Je rey Balser

President and CEO, Vanderbilt University Medical Center: Has served as the medical center’s chief executive since 2009, expanding patient visits and net revenue. Also serves as dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

health care since 2015. Manages three area clinics and mobile unit.

President and CEO, Tennessee Oncology: Was promoted in 2024 to CEO after serving as chief strategy o cer since 2022. Oversees Midtown headquarters opened in 2025.

David Dill

director of Center for Medicare and ministration started fund in 2021 and launched its first company, Evergreen Nephrology. Brought in $1.18 billion for second health care fund in 2024.

Chairman and CEO, Lifepoint Health: Longtime employee took the helm at national hospital chain in 2018. Partners through joint venture with Ascension Saint Thomas to manage some Tennessee locations.

John Dunn

President and CEO, Ardent Health Hospital operations veteran oversees Ardent’s 30 facilities in six states. Launched health care innovation studio SwitchPoint Ventures in 2023 and announced plans to take

Interim Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Health; was appointed July 2025 by Gov. Bill Lee. He began his career with CDC and has expertise in epidemiology, zoonotic diseases and food safety.

Bill Frist

Co-founder of Wellvana Health and Reimagine Care has led investment firm focused on health care technology since 2018.

as CEO since the company’s start in 2014. Brentwood-based direct health care provider has locations in 46 states and recently released data claiming a 30 percent health care cost savings for users.

Apryl Childs-Potter

President, Nashville Health Care Council: Took the helm in 2022 and launched council’s first national conference, Nashville Healthcare Sessions, soon after. Leading charge as council becomes independent in 2026 from Nashville Chamber. Former CMO for Greater Memphis Chamber.

Nancy-Ann DeParle

Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Consonance Capital Partners: Former White House sta er during Obama administration manages health care private equity portfolio. Also serves as a director at CVS and HCA.

Co-Founder and Partner, Frist Cressey Ventures: Serial entrepreneur and former U.S. Senate majority leader with transplant surgery background founded venture capital firm in 2016. Also founded health equity nonprofit NashvilleHealth and holds a special partner position at private equity firm Cressey and Company.

Bobby Frist

Chairman and CEO, HealthStream: Co-founded health care workforce development company in 1990 and has served as CEO since. Company has seen several recent acquisitions.

Michael Asselta

CEO, Compassus: Replaced David Grams in early 2024 to lead Brentwood-based home health care, infusion, palliative and hospice services provider. In recent years forged partnerships with Ascension Saint Thomas, Bon Secours Mercy Health.

David Guth

CEO, Centerstone: Co-founded the nonprofit behavioral health provider in 1992. The company assists in 988 suicide prevention calls, in addition to o ering inpatient, outpatient, addiction and specialized military services.

Brian Haile

HEALTH CARE

SAM HAZEN

CEO, Neighborhood Health: Formerly worked as TennCare deputy chief of sta and at Jackson Hewitt before taking the helm in 2017. Nonprofit community health care clinic o ers primary care and social work support on a sliding scale.

Kevin Hammons

President and CEO, Community Health Systems: Assumed the role in September 2025 upon the retirement of Tim Hingtgen. Previously was CFO and has been with the company more than 28 years.

Jay Hardcastle

Partner, Bradley: Veteran partner and director works with clients in M&A, joint ventures, Medicare/Medicaid issues and whistleblower defenses, among other health care-related matters.

James Hildreth

President and CEO, Meharry Medical College: Took the helm at one of nation’s oldest and largest historically Black academic health science centers in 2015. College recently opened School for Global Public Health, saw substantial investments in clinical trial diversity, scholarships.

Brent Hill

Partner, Holland & Knight: Serves as chair of firm’s health care section, focusing on acquisitions, dispositions and joint ventures, and specializing in physician practice management.

Angela Humphreys

Chair, Healthcare Practice Group, Bass Berry & Sims: Works on health care mergers and acquisitions, operational matters and finance as leader of firm’s health care practice group. Previously spent 20 years exclusively on health care M&A.

Christopher Hunter

CEO, Acadia Healthcare: Former Humana, Onlife and BlueCross BlueShield exec took the helm at Franklin-based behavioral health company in 2022. In 2024 acquired several facilities following SEC and DOJ fines.

Shubhada Jagasia

President and CEO, Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown and West Hospitals: Former VUMC adult hospital chief of sta took the helm in 2021. Oversaw $300 million Midtown update completed in 2023 including gynecology emergency department, surgery and critical care tower and spine institute.

GIVERS THE GIVERS

They envision and work toward a better future.

Melissa Alvarez Tennessee Hispanic Action Network

Corinne Bergeron Frist Foundation

Heather Marabati Community Foundation

Adam Sansiveri AllianceBernstein

Denine Torr Dollar General

Michele Johnson

Co-Founder and Executive Director, Tennessee Justice Center: Co-founded statewide organization with attorney Gordon Bonnyman in 1996 and has since advocated for TennCare expansion and improved services for people with disabilities, among other causes.

A.J. Kazimi

President and CEO, Cumberland Pharmaceuticals: Founded publicly traded company in 1999. It is best known for intravenous ibuprofen, Caldolor, which is undergoing research and testing.

Richard MacKinnon

Executive Director, Music City PrEP Clinic: Co-founded organization that opened two locations in 2022. East Nashville location is also connected to LGBTQ-focused primary care clinic and pharmacy.

Amna Osman

CEO, Nashville CARES: Public health leader introduced mobile clinic and will oversee new o ce location for organization while fielding state HIV funding changes. Was granted opioid abatement funds for more harm reduction programming.

Jason Owen

President and CEO, Envision Healthcare: In April 2024 replaced Jim Rechtin, who announced departure during company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Tasked with leading medical group Envision Healthcare following split from AmSurg and completion of restructuring.

Michaela Poizner

Chair of Health Law and Public Policy, Baker Donelson: Oversees more than 200 attorneys and public policy advisors across 11 states and Washington, D.C. Is shareholder in the Nashville office.Works on privacy concerns, fraud, licensure and Medicare enrollment for health care companies.

Daniel Ducker

Executive Director, Tennessee Valley Health Care: Oversees health care operations for two VA medical centers and 20 outpatient clinics serving more than 140,000 enrolled veterans.

Katie Richards

President and CEO, Siloam Health: Development professional and creator of Next Generation young professionals board took the helm of nonprofit focused on providing care for uninsured and immigrant populations in 2023.

Tim Scallen

CEO, Bailey & Company: Was appointed to the role in 2024, working closely with founders Je and Jack Bailey. Joined middle market investment bank in 2020.

Abhishek Shankar

CEO, Emids: Appointed to the role in March 2025. Company provides AI-driven engineering and digital solutions for health care and life sciences industries.

Je Snodgrass

President and CEO, AmSurg: Tasked with leading ambulatory surgery company’s next chapter following post-bankruptcy split from Envision Healthcare in late 2023.

Nick Stengle

CEO, Brookdale Senior Living: Joined Brookdale in October 2025 following the departure of Cindy Baier. Prior to joining Brookdale, he served nearly three years as president and CEO of Gentiva.

Dee Anna Smith

CEO, Sarah Cannon Research Institute: Longtime leader and entrepreneur also served as CEO of the cancer institute of HCA Healthcare, Sarah Cannon, until 2022. Oversaw joint venture with US Oncology Research in recent years.

Robin Shah

Co-Founder and CEO, Thyme Care: Former OneOncology exec has led oncology care coordination company since 2020. Company raised $95 million in 2024 Series C round.

Brad Smith

Founder and CEO, Russell Street Ventures: Serial entrepreneur and former Trump administration Medicare and Medicaid exec. In 2024 agreed to sell CareBridge Health for roughly $2.7 billion.

CONGRATULATIONS!

2026 NASHVILLE POST INCHARGE HONOREE

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! APRIL

Stephen Smith

Deputy Commissioner and Director, TennCare: Former chief of sta for Haslam administration took over state health insurance agency in 2020. Oversaw rollout of TennCare waiver program and post-public health emergency disenrollment of hundreds of thousands of members.

Anderson Spickard

Dean, Belmont College of Medicine: Former VUMC exec became lead of the city’s newest medical school in 2023 ahead of welcoming its first class of students in fall 2024.

Ute Strand

President and CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee: Manages state and community partner relationships for insurance giant’s Community Plan of Tennessee. Former Amerigroup, Cigna and Anthem exec was named to lead role in 2021.

Fahad Tahir

President and CEO, Ascension Saint Thomas: Former chief strategy o cer took lead role in 2023. In 2024, hospital weathered EHR hack and announced West campus renovations.

Anne Hancock Toomey

President, Jarrard Inc.: Co-founder of health care communications firm was promoted to CEO in 2023, succeeding inaugural president David Jarrard. Firm launched health technology practice in 2024.

Jillian Wright

CEO, Onsite Women’s Health: Took the helm in late 2023 of breast imaging services company that recently moved its headquarters from Massachusetts to Nashville.

Mark Yancy

CEO, NashvilleHealth: Took the helm of Frist-founded nonprofit in 2022 and since served on White House advisory board for health equity. Organization has released data on hypertension, “workforce wellness” and the city’s COVID-19 response.

Marcus Whitney

Co-Founder and Partner, Jumpstart Health Investors: Longtime health care entrepreneur and investor. Founder of venture fund concentrated on Black-led health care startups, Jumpstart Nova. Also co-founder of Nashville Soccer Club.

LEGAL

David Anthony

Founder, Exo Legal: Banking and creditor’s attorney launched boutique o ce after more than a decade at Bone McAllester Norton. Litigation focuses on banking, business, real property, construction and commercial transactions.

Gail Vaughn Ashworth

Walt Burton

Partner and Co-founder, Thompson Burton: Commercial real estate-focused attorney co-founded Nashville-area firm in 2012 after stints in Atlanta and the Navy.

Michael Uchrin

CEO, Monogram Health: Co-founder of kidney care organization focused on in-home treatment options formed in 2019 by Frist Cressey Ventures. Named third-fastest growing company in 2024 by Inc. Magazine

David Vandewater

President and CEO, Summit BHC: Succeeded Dan Slipovich who had been serving as Interim CEO. Company operates a network of behavioral health hospitals, provides behavioral health and addiction treatment services.

Karen Winkfield

Executive Director, Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance: Experienced radiation oncologist leads strategic partnership between Vanderbilt and Meharry. Also serves as director of outreach at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

Founding Member, Wiseman Ashworth Trauger: Litigator and mediator with decades of experience in Nashville legal industry. Past president of state and local bar associations.

Albert Bart

Managing Partner, Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison: General corporate and commercial transactions attorney with over 25 years of experience. Former SVP and Associate General Counsel for Ceridian Corp., now Dayforce, and parent of Brentwood-based Comdata.

Ross Booher

Co-founder and CEO, Latitude Legal Solutions: Oversees growing company that provides on-demand legal services to companies and firms. Former Bass partner.

Laura Brown

Executive Director, Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services: Former Legal Aid and state attorney succeeded Ann Pruitt at nonprofit legal services provider.

Emily Hatch Bowman

Managing Partner, Bradley: Joined Bradley in 2000 and assumed current role in late 2025. Previously served as leader of Bradley’s real estate practice group.

Mark Chalos

Nashville Managing Partner, Lie Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein: Veteran litigator and leader of plainti s firm’s local o ce. Past president of Tennessee Trial Lawyers’ Association.

Lisa Ramsay Cole

President and Managing Shareholder, Lewis Thomason: Civil litigator with experience in labor and employment sector. Leads both firm and its Nashville o ce.

Wally Dietz

Director, Metro Department of Law: Longtime Bass Berry & Sims attorney joined Metro in 2021. Remained in post after Freddie O’Connell became mayor and is now tasked with managing city’s ongoing litigation against state, among other matters.

Gri n Dunham

Member, Dunham Hildebrand: Co-founded firm in 2016. Manages bankruptcies and financial restructuring. Former JAG attorney.

Wen Fa

Vice President for Legal A airs, Beacon Center: Promoted to VP in May 2024 at conservative think tank to expand litigation e orts aimed at government relations and other priorities.

Aubrey Harwell, Jr.

Counsel, Adams & Reese: Was a founding member at Neal & Harwell before leaving the o ce in 2025. Veteran lawyer involved in several cases garnering national attention including at the U.S. Supreme Court. Focuses practice on white-collar criminal defense and major commercial litigation.

Daniel Horwitz

Founder, Horwitz Law: Takes cases of First Amendment law and speech defense as well as post-conviction and innocence litigation. In 2024, filed a federal lawsuit against Middle District of Tennessee for attorney gag order rule and won.

Tricia Herzfeld

Founding Partner, HSGLaW: Along with several partners, split from Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings. Plainti s attorney with experience in high-profile litigation.

Jamie Hollin

Principal, Law O ce of Jamie R. Hollin: Plugged-in with Metro and state decision makers. Varied practice includes niche work related to Metro regulations and zoning.

Sam Jackson

Nashville Managing Partner, Spencer Fane: Promoted to top spot in 2025 to firm with 36 attorneys in Nashville. Focuses on labor and employment law as well as education law.

Lauren Jacques

Health Care Partner, Bradley: Former Nashville managing partner. Oversaw the firm’s o ce move to new Gulch high-rise. Health care attorney has led local o ce since 2021.

Jay Knight

Nashville Partner-in-Charge, Barnes & Thornburg: Former Bass partner helped establish new local o ce of Indianapolis-based national firm. Also co-chairs national securities and capital markets practice.

Bill Koch Jr.

President and Dean, Nashville School of Law: Former Tennessee Supreme Court justice has led local law school since 2014. Awarded membership in prestigious American Inns of Court.

Tom Lawless

Founder, Lawless & Associates: Active on state boards and as a municipal judge. Specializes in bankruptcy and creditor rights.

LEGAL

JOSHUA MULLEN

O ce Managing Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson Nashville o ce Leads local o ce of national firm, which absorbed Neal & Harwell in 2025. Practice focuses mainly on government contracts and business litigation.

Henry Leventis

Partner, Holland & Knight: Returned in late 2024 after serving two years as U.S. Attorney by President Joe Biden. He led an o ce of 85 attorneys and support personnel and oversaw the investigation and litigation of all civil and criminal cases brought on behalf of the United States.

Christopher Maddux

Firm chair, Butler Snow: Focuses on bankruptcies, business reorganizations and distressed transactions. Vanderbilt University graduate.

Ashley Mallard

Executive Director, GSRM Law: Fast-rising former Patterson IP administrator has since 2022 overseen GSRM’s operations, budgeting, business development and other functions.

CONVENERS CONVENERS THE

Ken Marlow

Partner, McDermott Will & Schulte: Named to top spot in early 2025 of Chicago-based firm establishing health care-focused o ce in Nashville. Focuses on health care and life sciences company transactions along with private equity funds.

Brian Masterson

Nashville O ce Partner-in-charge, FBT Gibbons: Appointed to the role in 2024 for Frost Brown Todd. Company merger with Gibbons completed in Jan. 2026. Works as a tax and transactional attorney with a focus on tax planning. And controversies, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures. Previously worked as certified public accountant and accounting professor.

Holly McDaniel

Founder and CEO, H. Lee Group: Former Adams & Reese lobbyist opened government a airs and business development firm in May 2024. Represents groups in education, health care, finance and telecommunications.

Rocky McElhaney

Founder, Chief Legal O cer and Lead Attorney, Rocky McElhaney Law Firm: Visible and well-known personal injury attorney. Leads eponymous firm founded in 2006.

Martesha Johnson Moore

Metropolitan Nashville Chief Public Defender: Serving second term as city’s chief public defender.

Richard Myers

O ce Executive Member, Stites & Harbison Nashville o ce: Patent and intellectual property attorney named to local leadership title in 2024.

Brian Neal

Nashville Managing Partner, Burr & Forman: The 10-year company veteran practices in the firm’s commercial litigation practice group concentrating on labor and employment disputes in addition to teaching at Nashville School of Law.

Jeremy Oliver

O ce Managing Shareholder, Winstead Nashville o ce: Previously partner at the Nashville o ce of Epstein Becker & Green and at Waller Lansden Dortch and Davis.

Gregory Parker

Nashville Managing Partner, K&L Gates: Selected as managing partner in 2025. Serves as a partner in the firm’s intellectual property practice. He focuses on intellectual property litigation, procurement and portfolio management.

John Peterson

O ce Managing Shareholder, Polsinelli: Leader of firm’s local o ce and maintains varied commercial litigation practice, including an expertise in financial services and payment card industry.

Stephen Price

O ce Managing Principal, Jackson Lewis: Helmed employment firm’s expansion to Nashville in 2022. Former Burr & Forman Nashville leader whose practice includes defending companies in employment and labor cases.

David Raybin

Co-Founder, Raybin & Weissman: High-profile criminal defense attorney, represented parents of Covenant shooter. Has defended Nashville police o cers.

Steven Riley

Managing Partner, Riley & Jacobson: Nearly 40 years of experience representing companies and individuals in commercial litigation. Serves as an adjunct professor of law at his alma mater, Vanderbilt Law School.

Allen Roberts

Nashville Managing Shareholder, Baker Donelson: Succeeded Brigid Carpenter in firm leadership role. Joined Baker in 2012 with a practice including corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions and private equity and debt o erings.

Todd Rolapp

Managing Partner, Bass Berry & Sims: Corporate and securities attorney who has led local firm for more than a decade.

Jonathan Skeeters

Chair and Managing Partner, Bradley: Practice is focused on the health care industry. Leads the Birmingham-based firm from Nashville, one of its biggest o ces.

Jonathan Skrmetti

Tennessee Attorney General: Top state attorney has not been shy about wading into national political and legal fights. Harvard grad is a former deputy AG and counsel to governor.

Nancy Stabell

Founder and Managing Attorney, Wood Stabell Law Group: Attorney who helps companies with business strategy. Involved with EO Nashville, Nashville Business Coalition and Hands On Nashville.

Joycelyn Stevenson

Office Managing Shareholder, Littler Mendelson: Former Tennessee Bar Association leader rejoined employment firm in 2022 as local office head. As chair of airport board, weathered contentious year as state sought takeover.

Gerard Stranch IV

Managing Partner, Stranch, Jennings & Garvey: Litigator whose high-profile work includes national opioid cases. Firm that bore his grandfather Cecil Branstetter’s name split in 2023.

Gif Thornton

Managing Partner, Adams and Reese: Connected attorney has run regional firm since 2015. Has served on state and city boards and committees.

James Tucker

Managing Partner, Manier & Herod: Practice focuses on workers’ compensation and civil litigation. Former assistant attorney general for the state. Graduate of Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University.

Geoffrey Vickers

Nashville Managing Partner, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough: Took over local office leadership from longtime boss Larry Papel in January 2023. Co-lead of firm’s technology and procurement practice.

Jack Waddey and Chanelle Acheson

Founders, Waddey Acheson: Started firm focused on intellectual property, corporate and government investigations, and artificial intelligence. Acheson represented Swan Ball Initiative volunteers in litigation against Cheekwood in 2024.

DarKenya Waller

Executive Director, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands: Has led public service law firm since 2018. Work during pandemic included legal support for renters facing eviction.

Liz Washko

Managing Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins: Nashville attorney who earlier this year took over firmwide leadership at Atlanta-based employment firm. Joined Ogletree Deakins in 2000 and previously spent eight years running Nashville office.

Sheree Wright

Executive Director, Tennessee Bar Association: After three-plus decades at Vanderbilt (where she earned both undergrad and law degrees), was picked to lead state bar group in June 2023, succeeding Joycelyn Stevenson.

Tom White

Partner and Founder, Tune Entrekin & White: Consummate gentleman co-founded firm in 1978 and ranks among Nashville’s preeminent land-use attorneys. Offers decades of mentoring successful legal professionals and is known in local legal circles as the “Godfather of the Nashville Bar.”

Tyler Chance Yarbro

Managing Partner, Dodson Parker Behm & Capparella: A litigator with experience in employment, personal injury and criminal law. Has led firm since 2018. Helped organize legal advocacy group focused on reproductive rights.

“I

passion.”

– Thurmeisha White, Youth Villages employee

North America: lead company’s North American arm

President and CEO, Silicon Ranch:

ber 2023 to lead performance sock brand. Former founder of consumer brands consultancy Bradhurst Ventures and executive at luggage company Away.

Steve Cook

Co-Founder and Executive Managing Director, LFM Capital: Leads private equity firm focused on manufacturing. TVV Capital ex-principal and former COO of MFG.com. Ex-Navy lieutenant holds two MIT master’s degrees.

Jon Cozens

CEO, Aries Clean Technologies: Joined wastewater conversion company in July 2023. Previously president of plastic recycling company Mura Technology’s North American arm.

Scott Damon

CEO, Bridgestone West: Was named CEO of Bridgestone West, group

Succeeded Matt Kisber at solar and carbon solutions company company in 2019. Served as state revenue commissioner for co-founder and

then-Gov. Phil Bredesen. million cost, yield 143 jobs.

Oversees operations at West Nashville auto glass maker. Company announced in late 2025 expansion plans that will carry $55

Oversees

concrete company’s organization and acquisitions. Father Mike serves as company chairman; brother Ryan, as president of SRM Materials. Company opened cement terminal along Cumberland River in 2023 and announced acquisition of Vulcan Materials Company’s 82 Texas plants in November of that year.

David Johnson

Regional Senior Vice President of Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, Nissan North America: Head of Nissan’s manufacturing operations in United States, Canada and Mexico. Took role in 2022 replacing Steve Marsh, who served less than 12 months. Has been with automaker for more than 22 years. Works closely with Jérémie Papin, Nissan Americas chair.

Alanna McDonald

Regional President, Mars Pet Nutrition: Directs full operations and brand portfolio including Pedigree, Iams and Cesar. Oversees a team of about 3,600 employees. Formerly led brand strategy for Maybelline, Garnier and

Brandon Moss

CEO, Shoals Technologies Group: Appointed in mid-2023 to company that provides solutions for solar, storage and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Previously group president of Southwire Company with more than 23 years experience in electrical industry.

Jason Ringblom

President, Manufacturing and Commercial Operations, Louisiana-Pacific. Became siding and oriented strand board maker’s highest ranking o cial after Chair and CEO Brad Southern retired in early 2026. Has been with company about 22 years. Holds a marketing degree from the University of Minnesota.

John Rutherford

President, UAW Local 1853: Leads union that represents employees of companies like Adient, American Food & Vending, Comprehensive Logistics, Leadec, Magna, Ryder and Spring Hill General Motors plant.

Avigal Soreq

President and CEO, Delek US Holdings: Served as COO, chief commercial o cer and EVP at Delek U.S. from 2012 to 2020. Was CEO of El Al Israel Airlines from 2021-22 before assuming current role at Delek. Company’s Big Spring Refinery selected for negotiations on carbon capture project by U.S. Department of Energy in February 2024.

Sam Strang

President, Alley-Cassetty: Leads brick, concrete block and mortar company founded in 1879. Named to role in 2011 when company had just nine locations, now up to 14 and about 400 employees. Previously served as general manager of brick division.

Todd Walling

President, Permobil Americas. Was named to lead Lebanon o ce of Swedish mobility and rehabilitation products company in August 2025. Former SVP of sale joined Permobil in 2007.

Dean Wegner

Founder and CEO, Authentically American: Founded company in 2017 to create manufacturing jobs in the United States. West Point grad and veteran has served on boards of Nashville Fashion Alliance and Nashville Zoo.

MARKETING

Diana Barton

Founder and Principal, Diana Barton Public Relations: Former journalist founded namesake firm in 2021 focused on hospitality clients. Also founder of Slow Food Middle Tennessee.

Gregg Boling

CEO, GS&F: Austin Peay grad originally joined company in 2011 and oversees 1978-founded Cummins Station-based marketing agency with chairman Je Lipscomb.

Julia Bonner

President, Pierce Public Relations: Founded company in 2015 and oversees team focused on architecture, engineering and construction companies.

Jennifer Brantley

Managing Partner, MP&F: Earned role of partner in 2017 after joining company as intern in 1992. Works with partners Kate Chinn, Knight Stivender and Mary Elizabeth Davis to lead firm specializing in strategic planning and media relations.

Clint Brewer

Managing Partner, Imperium Public Strategies: Former Tennessean government and politics editor, City Paper editor and executive director of Beacon Center. Leads company with co-founder Josh Helton.

Je rey Buntin Jr.

President and CEO, The Buntin Group: Leads national firm touted as Tennessee’s largest communications agency. Company celebrated 50 years in 2022 and o ers grants through AdHope charitable arm.

Libby Callaway

Founder and Principal, The Callaway: Previous New York Post writer and editor now oversees communications agency o ering branding, event execution, marketing and PR focused on companies in fashion, beauty, retail and hospitality sectors.

BUSINESS IN BLOOM

• Weekly flowers

• Employee milestones

• Elevated events

Dave Cooley

Principal, Cooley Public Strategies: Former deputy governor of Tennessee under then-Gov. Phil Bredesen spun o from MP&F in 2009. Manages team of approximately 14 in Brentwood o ce.

Beth Seigenthaler Courtney

Managing Partner, Southeast, Finn Partners: Public relations veteran assumed role in early 2019 with what had been DVL Seigenthaler. Teams with Managing Partner Ronald Roberts, former journalist and MTSU o cial, to lead firm assisting large companies.

Jamie Dunham

Founder and President, Brand Wise Collective: Longtime marketing and branding adviser whose client roster includes HCA and Twice Daily. Previously worked at BOHAN and The Buntin Group before creating Brand Wise in 2010. Also produces Lipstick Economy Podcast.

Monchiere’ Holmes-Jones

CEO, MOJO Marketing + PR: Former Cigna exec founded MOJO in 2014 and serves clients like the Titans, MetroPCS and HCA Healthcare. Works at the helm of Je erson Street Historical Society. In 2023, helped launch Young, Gifted, and Black Political Action Committee.

Jessica Howard

SVP, Integrated Communications, Dalton Agency: Area point person for national organization with over 100 employees across o ces in Jacksonville, Atlanta and Nashville. Merged with Bradford Group in 2020 and Anode in 2019.

Amanda Maynord

President and CEO, Lovell Communications: Replaced longtime leader Rosemary Plorin in February 2025. Joined the health care-focused firm in 2013, which was acquired by Michigan-based Health Management Associates in 2023.

Mark McNeely and Kelly Brockman

Founders, McNeely Brockman Public Relations: Father-daughter duo created in 2018 boutique PR firm with

Abby Trotter, Justin Wilson, Anne Marie Anderson, Nancy Floyd

Partners, Hall Strategies: Trotter helped found firm in 2004, specializing in economic development, issues campaigns and technology. Wilson became partner in 2020 and leads firm’s public relations work which is highly active in development, hospitality, nonprofits, and corporate services. Anderson and Floyd named to leadership roles in 2026.

Led company since 2019 assisting with Spanish-language radio placements in the Southeast. Previously worked for TBLC Media radio network.

local event of note — armed with

Nashville native launched firm in Wedgewood-Houston more than a decade ago. Clients include Ford, Twice Daily, Jim ‘N Nick’s Community Bar-B-Q and The Loveless Cafe.

and longtime leader of boutique public relations, event management and advertising firm. Helped open Nashville Ronald McDonald House and has served as president of board of directors.

vice president of local.

from Pepperdine University.

John Ingram

Chairman, Ingram Content Group: Princeton and Vanderbilt grad also is lead owner of Major League Soccer franchise Nashville SC. Named Ingram Industries chair in 2008.

Holly Kernan

President and CEO, Nashville Public Radio. Named to role in May 2025. Oversees radio stations and digital media platforms, including WPLN 90.3FM, Nashville’s local news and NPR member station.

Holly McCall

Editor-in-Chief, Tennessee Lookout: Began journalism career covering government and politics in Columbus, Ohio, before moving to Joplin Globe in Missouri and Nashville Business Journal.

Rosetta Miller-Perry

Publisher and CEO, The Tennessee Tribune: Local media industry legend who launched the Tribune, generally considered Tennessee’s most influential African-American-owned publication, in 1991. Background includes work with U.S. Navy, the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Veronica Salcedo

Editor, Nashville Noticias: Leads Spanish-language media venture (online and broadcasting) that has expanded from Facebook page into timeslot on Univision and news partnership with WPLN.

Erik Schelzig

Editor, Tennessee Journal: Spent 12 years as a statehouse correspondent for the Associated Press before joining the Journal. Co-author of Welcome to Capitol Hill: 50 Years of Scandal in Tennessee Politics

Mike Smith

President, FW Publishing: Oversees parent company of Nashville Scene, Nfocus, Nashville Post and Williamson Scene. Began working for Scene in 1997 and serves as alt-weekly’s publisher.

Shannon Terry

Founder, Outsider and On3: Veteran entrepreneur known for having founded Rivals and 247Sports. Terry-founded companies have generated more than $800 million in online revenue during past 10 years or so.

Joe Walker

Interim President and Chief Executive O cer, LifeWay Christian Resources: Replaced Ben Mandrell in July 2025. Previously served as chief financial o cer for seven years and has held various financial positions at the company since 1986.

Supporting Creators in Music City and Beyond

The MLC is proud to serve music creators in Nashville and around the world by ensuring songwriters and music publishers receive the royalties they’re owed.

As a Nashville-based nonprofit, we handle the collection and distribution of mechanical streaming royalties from U.S. digital services like Spotify and Apple Music. With over $3.5 billion in total royalties distributed, we’re dedicated to making sure all creators are paid accurately and on time. Learn more about our mission at themlc.com Congratulations to The MLC’s CEO, Kris Ahrend, and all of this year’s Nashville Post In Charge Honorees.

RISERS RISERS THE

These professionals have quickly established themselves, but they’ve only just begun.

Zachary Brickner Compass

Jerome Moore Deep Dish Conversations

Adam Peebles Peregrine Health

Abigail Sigler Baker Group

Morgan Stengel Girrantana

Bud Walters

President and Owner, Cromwell Group Inc.: Oversees company he began in 1969 and that owns 32 radio stations in seven markets in four states.

MUSIC

Kris Ahrend

CEO, Mechanical Licensing Collective: Former Rhino Entertainment and Warner Music Group exec leads organization formed to license and administer music rights under 2018 Music Modernization Act. Been in position since January 2020.

John Allen

President, New West Records: Vanderbilt grad has been overseeing New West, which focuses on indie rock, alternative country and Americana bands, since 2014. Roster included Jason Isbell and James McMurtry, and today includes Emily Nenni and Ben Folds.

Julie Boos

Owner, Business Manager, Chairman, FBMM: Veteran music industry financial adviser holds leadership role in firm with more than 100 sta in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles.

Doyle Davis and Mike Grimes

Co-Owners, Grimey’s New & Preloved Music: Host music events and manage renowned indie record store that moved from Eighth Avenue South to Trinity Lane in 2018. Grimes, along with co-owner Dave Brown, runs live music venues The Basement and The Basement East.

Stephen Eaves

Dean, Belmont College of Music and Performing Arts: Trained conductor manages area school’s programs in music, theater and dance, including 900 students and 160 faculty and sta .

Holly G

Founder, Black Opry: Self-proclaimed “country music disrupter.” Started collective in early 2021 for Black artists in country music and Americana. Signed Jett Holden as first artist of the newly launched Black Opry Records.

Joe Galante

Chairman, Galante Entertainment Organization: Former Sony Music Nashville and RCA leader serves on several boards including CMA and Pinnacle Financial Partners. Key figure of country music history, he was inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame in 2022.

Becky Gardenhire

Co-Head, WME Nashville: Highest-ranking female agent in Nashville, first to be named co-head of an agency. Works directly with country greats including Reba McEntire and BRELAND.

Cesar Gueikian

CEO, Gibson Brands: Named to top spot in 2023 succeeding James “JC” Curleigh, after joining as chief merchant o cer in 2018. Also serves as president and board member of Nashville-based guitar company.

Jed Hilly

Executive Director, Americana Music Association: Helped grow genre’s stature since taking charge in 2007 at advocacy group that hosts AmericanaFest. Former VP at Sony.

Mike Harris

President and CEO, Universal Music Group Nashville: Joined the company in 2013 and served as executive vice president and COO before replacing Cindy Mabe in 2025, with Dave Cobb taking the chief creative o cer spot. Country-focused label works with artists including Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, The War and Treaty and Reba McIntire, among others.

John Josephson

Chair and CEO, SESAC: Longtime leader of licensing organization oversaw its sale to Blackstone in 2017 and currently licenses public performance of 1.5 million songs and more than 15,000 songwriters, composers and publishers.

Jay Joyce

Producer, Songwriter and Session Musician: Seasoned professional transformed East Nashville church into studio and has worked with Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Emmylou Harris and Cage the Elephant. Named producer of the year by ACM in 2023.

Cris Lacy

Chair and President, Warner Records

Nashville: Named leader of label formerly known as Warner Music Nashville. Previously worked as co-president of the group alongside Gregg Nadal, who will have a yet to be announced role with the recently renamed label.

Taylor Lindsey

CEO, Sony Music Nashville: Nashville native replaces Randy Goodman, who retired at the end of 2024. She was head of A&R at Sony since 2021, working with artists like Old Dominion and Luke Combs.

Jonathan Loba

BMG President, Frontline Recordings, The Americas: Industry veteran leads team of executives across the U.S., including Nashville, Los Angeles and Miami, as well as Canada, Mexico and Brazil.

David Macias

Co-Founder and president, Thirty Tigers: Founded in 2001 firm that handles marketing distribution and publishing for artists such as Jason Isbell, Alanis Morissette and The Smashing Pumpkins.

Shane McAnally

CEO, SMACKSongs and Co-President, Monument Records: Decorated songwriter who wrote more than 40 No. 1 hit songs for Sam Hunt, Kacey Musgraves and others. Began singing career with album on Curb Records in 1999.

Michael Milom

Partner and Founding Member, Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan: Industry veteran concentrates on intellectual property and entertainment and taught copyright and entertainment law at Vanderbilt for decades. Also serves as legal counsel to Country Music Hall of Fame.

Jason Owen

CEO, The Sandbox and Co-President, Monument Records: Longtime music industry exec left Universal Music to start Sandbox artist management company in 2010. Also created Sandbox Succession, which manages estates of Country greats such as Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash.

Jackie Patillo

President, Gospel Music Association: Experienced exec at Sony has led Christian organization since 2011. Oversees downtown museum that opened in 2025. Lipscomb board member also helps produce GMA Dove Awards.

John Peets

Founder and CEO, Q Prime South: Seasoned artist manager partnered with longtime client Eric Church to establish Solid Entertainment in 2022. Q Prime opened new headquarters at East Nashville former church the same year.

Shannon Sanders

Executive Director, BMI: Tennessee State alum is Grammy, Dove and Emmy award winner who joined BMI’s Nashville o ce in 2020. Founder and original program director of local soul radio station The Ville 102.1 FM.

Mike Sistad

Bob Valentine

CEO, Concord: Longtime employee of independent record company served as president and CFO before promotion to CEO in 2023. Represents more than 1 million songs with six additional o ces internationally.

G. Preston Wilson Jr.

Director, Fisk Jubilee Singers: Former member of ensemble was named director in 2023. Historic Black singing group thought to have brought “Music City” name to Nashville, and in 2021 marked 150 years and released Grammy-winning album.

Sally Williams

President of Nashville Music and Business Strategy, Live Nation: Came to Live Nation after 20 years with Ryman Hospitality/Gaylord Entertainment. Oversees operations of area Live Nation venues Ascend Amphitheater and Brooklyn Bowl.

NONPROFITS

Danielle Barnes

CEO/President, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee: Former state of Tennessee o cial took over for Agenia Clark in late 2023 to lead nearly 100-yearold institution that serves 39 Tennessee counties.

Bari Beasley

Corinne Bergeron

CEO, Frist Foundation: Took the helm in 2022 of the organization investing in nonprofits founded by Tommy Frist in 1982. O ers grants to local nonprofits to use for operations, tech and general expenses.

Vice President, Nashville, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers: Belmont alum leads the Nashville management group of New York-based organization. Has spent more than two decades with performance rights organizations. Also has worked with The Recording Academy, Operation Song and Association of Independent Music Publishers.

Sarah Trahern

CEO, Country Music Association: Former general manager at Great American Country began leading trade group in 2014 and oversees CMA Fest, CMA Country Christmas and CMA Awards, among other events.

President and CEO, Heritage Foundation of Williamson County: Was named first CEO of 1967-established historic preservation agency in 2017. Entity produces PumpkinFest, Dickens of a Christmas and Main Street festivals and most recently began relocation and preservation of Lee-Buckner Rosenwald School.

Sunny Bray

Founder and CEO, Catalyst Collective: Launched consultancy for nonprofits in 2018. Formerly TechBridge Tennessee community leader established Nashville chapter of Network Under 40.

Hal Cato

CEO, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee: Former Thistle Farms and Oasis Center CEO began leading 1991-founded organization focused on distributing funds to nonprofits in 2022.

Glenn Cranfield

President and CEO, Nashville Rescue Mission: Oversees SoBro-based Christian operation that can house up to 745 unhoused Nashvillians nightly. Nonprofit annually lands more than $20 million in public support and opened new women’s campus in early 2024.

Sam Davidson

CEO, Nashville Entrepreneur Center: Former CEO of Batch Gifts was appointed to lead role in 2023, replacing Jane Allen. O ers accelerator services for health care companies, diversity scholarships and other services for aspiring business owners.

Marsha Edwards

President and CEO, Martha O’Bryan Center: Longtime leader of anti-poverty organization oversaw center’s move into charter schools and, most recently, a child care center. Martha O’Bryan is located within James A. Cayce Place public housing complex. Announced she would step down June 2026.

Executive Director, Humanities Tennessee

Joined organization in 1998. Began tenure as director of digital programs and operations, becoming executive director in 2012. Cuts to government funding in 2025 threatened 50-year-old organization’s mission.

Meagan Flippin

President and CEO, Center for Nonprofit Management: Former United Way of Rutherford and Cannon County lead moved to 1986-founded Nashville organization management agency in 2024, succeeding retired CEO Tari Huges.

Andrew Freeman

CEO, Safe Haven: Former YMCA executive director was named to top spot, replacing Jim Shulman in 2023 after joining organization in 2022. Nonprofit focuses on ending family homelessness.

Rachel Freeman

President, Sexual Assault Center: Began leading organization in 2018 after starting there in 2001. Agency provides free assistance to survivors of sexual assault, including rape kits and counseling.

Erin Hafkenschiel

President, ThinkTennessee: Leads nonpartisan think tank promoting civic engagement and economic security. Previously served as executive director for mobility and transportation at Vanderbilt University. Also worked as director of the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Sustainability under former Mayors David Briley and Megan Barry.

Jenny Hannon

President, Friends of Warner Parks: Oversees nonprofit arm of parks system, dedicated to preservation and conservation of Percy and Edwin Warner Parks spanning more than 3,000 acres in Bellevue area.

Clifton Harris

President and CEO, Urban League of Middle Tennessee: Former Metro homeless commission exec took the helm in 2016 for nonprofit focused on economic empowerment for Black population including education, job training, housing, entrepreneurship and workforce development.

Danny Herron

President and CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville: Veteran leader of 1985-founded organization that builds affordable homes and manages social enterprise ReStore.

Nancy Keil

President and CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank: Leads 1978-founded organization fighting food insecurity in 46 Middle and West Tennessee counties. Agency served 38.9 million meals in 2023 through grocery rescue program, emergency food boxes, mobile pantries and afterschool meal program.

Tasha Kennard

CEO, Thistle Farms: In 2022 took the helm of organization founded by Episcopal priest and entrepreneur Becca Stevens. Nonprofit manages social enterprise and cafe business benefiting women in recovery.

Liz McLaurin

President and CEO, The Land Trust for Tennessee: Former actor took over in 2016 for conservation nonprofit founded in 1999. Oversees nonprofit that has permanently conserved more than 136,000 acres in the state through 455 projects.

Steve Murff

CEO, Dismas House: Former Educare executive took the helm at the nonprofit focused on the formerly incarcerated in early 2025, replacing Kay Kretsch. Dismas House celebrated 50 years of service in 2024.

Sharon Roberson

President and CEO, YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee: In 2016, began organization that offers programs for women and girls, including state’s largest domestic violence shelter, Dress for Success, housing and advocacy services.

THE FUTURE OF LAW

C.J. Sentell

CEO, The Nashville Food Project: Vanderbilt Ph.D. with agriculture background replaced founder Tallu Schuyler in 2021. Organization gardens, cooks recovered and donated foods and shares meals with other nonprofits while growing farming opportunities in Nashville.

Martha Silva and Tara Lentz

Co-Executive Directors, Conexión Américas: Duo took lead in 2021 for nonprofit that focuses on serving Nashville’s Latino families through economic empowerment, home ownership and civic engagement, among other services.

John Tumminello

President, Centennial Park Conser-

Ward Baker

Founder and President, Baker Group Strategies: Former NRSC o cial has become go-to strategist for Tennessee Republicans. Maintains other campaign and corporate work around country.

Marsha Blackburn

U.S. Senator: Tennessee’s senior senator, now serving a second term. Currently running for Governor of Tennessee. Continues to focus on immigration and support for Donald Trump.

Michelle Brown

Senior Manager for Public Policy, Amazon: Former legislative attorney and Nashville Chamber o cial now leads Amazon’s government relations in Tennessee, with a focus on Nashville.

Scott Golden

Chairman, Tennessee Republican Party: Has led state’s dominant political party since 2016.

Bill Hagerty

U.S. Senator: Trump ally succeeded Lamar Alexander after a career as an investor, state ECD o cial and ambassador to Japan.

Joe Hall

Founder and Partner, Hall Strategies: Former newspaper reporter and Ingram Group partner leads eponymous firm. Prolific Nashville lobbyist’s clients include Bristol Motor Speedway, Greater Nashville Realtors and Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp.

Blake Harris

CEO, BHA Strategy: Former chief of sta to Gov. Bill Lee launched lobbying and PR firm in 2022. Recently brought on another top Lee adviser, Brent Easley. Clients include Ford and Vanderbilt University.

Estie Harris

Managing Principal, HB Strategies: Former principal with Harris Frazier Government Relations. Longtime Tennessee lobbyist maintains practice with clients including HCA and St. Jude.

Angie Henderson

Jack Johnson

Senate Majority Leader: Franklin-based GOP leader survived primary challenge in 2022. Now a contender to succeed Lt. Gov. Randy McNally.

Tequila Johnson

CEO, The Equity Alliance: Started civic engagement and Black empowerment group with co-founder Charlane Oliver in wake of 2016 election. Has advocated for voting rights and civil rights issues.

Kim Kaegi

Fundraiser: Longtime Tennessee political fundraiser has worked with top Republicans statewide and for Nashville mayors.

Bill Lee

Governor, State of Tennessee: Now in last year of his final term. Celebrated the passage of statewide voucher program last year. Has recently prioritized nuclear energy expansion and farm and river conservation e orts.

Katie Lentile

CEO, The Lentile Group: Founded digital marketing agency and has worked on campaigns for historic sites, fashion and design companies and nonprofits while beginning Metro lobbying work. Also COO at IV Studio. Former communications o cer for John Cooper’s campaign and o ce.

ramped up art and music program-

House Representative, District 55: House Democratic Caucus Chair and civil litigator. Vocal leader in minority party despite GOP-controlled

Vice Mayor, President of Metro Nashville: Former Green Hills-area councilmember bested incumbent Jim Shulman in 2023 election. Now tasked with running Metro Council meetings, appointing key committee leaders.

Lisa Sherman Luna

Greg Hinote

President and CEO, Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Former media professional who now leads business group and is frequent presence at community events.

Partner, Jigsaw: Longtime Nashville politico. Teams with Sam Reed and Beecher Frasier. Clients include Titans, Ryman Hospitality and Oracle.

Tom Ingram

Executive Director, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition: Has led advocacy and support group since 2020. Work includes support for New Americans and political campaigns.

David McMahan

Principal, McMahan Winstead & Richardson: Long list of lobbying clients includes Tennessee hospitals and alcohol industry. Firm in 2020 expanded to Washington.

Chief, Metro Nashville Police DepartStarted with department as a patrol cop. Later assumed top job during contentious 2020 summer.

Founder and Chairman, The Ingram Group: Veteran political strategist who helmed several statewide Republican campaigns over the decades. Has represented Google and Ballad Health.

Miriam Nemeth

Darren Jernigan

District Attorney General, Davidson Top Nashville prosecutor’s disputes with state ebb and flow. Won reelection in 2022 despite competition.

Manager, State and Federal Legislative A airs, O ce of the Mayor: First elected to state House in 2012 from Old Hickory. Now helps guide Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s relationship with state.

Executive Director, ACLU of Tennessee: Took on the role in fall of 2025 where she oversees the state’s chapter of the civil rights organization. A nonprofit leader and civil rights attorney who previously served as deputy litigation director and chief counsel at Rights Behind Bars.

Freddie O’Connell

Mayor, Metro Nashville: Transit-focused Metro councilmember beat crowded field in 2023 election. In his first term’s second half as city faces development, housing, other challenges.

Charlane Oliver

State Senator, District 19: Equity Alliance co-founder succeeded Brenda Gilmore in state legislature. Senate Democratic Caucus vice chair and key opposition voice in GOP-dominated state government.

Justin Owen

President and CEO, Beacon Center of Tennessee: Helms conservative think tank that advocates for taxpayer-funded school vouchers and regulatory reform.

Patrick Sheehy

President, Tennessee Business Roundtable: Since 2016 has led statewide business organization after stint as political adviser to Cracker Barrel and other roles.

Masami Tyson

Chief of Sta , O ce of Mayor Freddie O’Connell: Hired as top adviser to the mayor in 2025. Previously served as global director of foreign investment and trade at the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. Has also worked as an attorney at several local law firms and has served in-house legal positions.

Tori Venable

State Director, Americans for Prosperity: At helm of state chapter of prominent political organization. Leads support for school vouchers and criminal justice reform and opposition to economic development deals for big companies.

Stuart McWhorter

Deputy Governor and TNECD

Commissioner: Co-founder of Clayton Associates and former CEO of Nashville Entrepreneur Center who has held various roles in Lee administration since 2019. Appointed deputy governor in 2025 while continuing work as economic development commissioner.

REAL ESTATE

Todd Alexander

Principal-in-Charge, Director of Real Estate Services, Southeast Venture: Belmont grad began SEV career as real estate broker in 1999. Receives support from Wood Caldwell, fellow SEV principal who joined the company in 1985 and is considered its public face. Company also relies on principal and managing broker Greg Coleman.

Allen Arender

Chief Development O cer, Holladay Properties: Key local face of Indianapolis-based Holladay. Focused on work at The Factory at Franklin, Donelson Plaza and 100-acre business park Airport Logistics Park.

Jessica Averbuch

CEO and Owner, Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty: Florida native launched real estate career in 2001. Holds degree in anthropology (she once sought to study primates in the wild) and psychology from Washington University. Runs company with COOz and husband, Sam Averbuch.

Luca Barber

Managing Director, Mill Creek: Oversees local operations of Boca Raton, Fla.-based company that has done work in Germantown and Pie Town. Mill Creek’s Modera McGavock tower saw late 2025 construction completion in The Gulch. Partners with Jim Beckner to run local Mill Creek o ce.

Jenni Barnett

CEO, Onward Real Estate. Launched company in June 2024 after having previously worked at Parks. Has nearly 31 years of experience in real estate, including 25 years with Parks, serving some of that time as CFO and COO.

Charles Robert Bone

Managing Director of Real Estate Investment, Southwest Value Partners: Left top spot at Spencer Fane in early 2025 after leading Bone McAllester Norton’s merger in 2021. Works closely with SWVP Managing Partner related to company’s Nashville Yards.

Ben Bonner

Managing Partner, Magnolia Investment Partners: Leads company that, in December 2023, hired CRE industry veteran, and ex-Highwoods head, Brian Reames as partner. Firm added Warren Smith III, former Avison Young principal and managing director, in 2024, and spent $88.3 million in 2025 on Brentwood-area o ce complex housing HCA and Bell Construction.

Sean Buck

SVP and Nashville O ce Leader, JE Dunn: Member of local o ce of Kansas City-based builder since 2003. On his seventh title in 22 years with firm. Elevated from VP role in March 2022. Holds degrees from Auburn and Vanderbilt.

Allen Buchanan and Chase Manning

Principals, Dowdle Construction Group: Duo took the reins from founder Glynn Dowdle, who founded the company in 2004 and retired in early 2025. Both have been with the company for nearly 16 years.

Joseph Cain

Director of Development, Metro Development and Housing Agency: Has been in position since 1994. Oversees MDHA’s work on Envision Cayce Master Plan and is prepping for similar undertaking with agency’s Sudekum-Napier complex.

Kelly Cathey

Co-Managing Director, Gensler: Teams with co-managing director Christopher Goggin to lead Nashville operations of global design firm behemoth. Previously worked with Nashville-based Gresham Smith.

Alex Chambers

SVP and Nashville Market Leader, Highwoods Properties: Spearheads company that developed SoBro site on which rises 30-story Bridgestone Americas Tower. Company seemingly still eyes ex-Tennessean site on Broadway for mixed-use project announced in mid-2021.

Rodney Chester

CEO and Board Chair, Gresham Smith: Has worked at firm for nearly 24 years. Joined company’s board of directors in 2015 and previously served as COO since 2018 before assuming current role in January 2022. Teams with chief development o cer Kelly Knight Hodges and principal Brandon Bell to lead company.

Hunter Connelly

President, Parks | Compass Real Estate: Oversees what is billed as state’s largest residential real estate firm. University of the South grad.

Sheila Dial-Barton

Principal, EOA Architects: Leads majority women-owned design firm with partners Michael Murdock and Tracey Ford. University of Tennessee grad has been with company since 1997 and named principal in 2015.

Tim Downey

Founder and CEO, Southern Land Co.: Oversees company that developed Green Hills site of mixed-use tower Vertis. SLC in February 2023 paid $9.85M for Green Hills site GBT previously eyed for tower and $33.75 million for east side’s Lincoln Tech property slated for mixed-use project.

John Eakin

Co-Founder and Chairman, Eakin Partners: CRE sector veteran coleads, with president and longtime friend Barry Smith, company that has developed mixed-use mid-rises Roundabout Plaza, Truist Plaza, 1201 Demonbreun and Peabody Plaza.

Tarek El Gammal

Executive Managing Director, Newmark: Ex-JLL and SEV o cial launched local Newmark o ce in 2020 with Vince Lefler. Earned MBA degree from University of Chicago.

Gina Emmanuel

Principal, Centric Architecture: Partners with co-principals Jim Thompson, Justin Lowe and David Plummer to guide design firm. Has been with Centric since 2002.

Meg Epstein

Founder and CEO, CA South Development: Has undertaken projects in Edgehill, Pie Town and North Capitol. Moved company in 2022 to Wedgewood-Houston.

Managing Director, The Fallon Company

Leads Boston entity’s e orts on the East Bank. Company announced in 2025 details related to hotel and residential towers planned for what will be called Eastpoint. Tapped Nashville-based Elmington Capital Group in 2025 to oversee develop of site with a ordable housing building East Bank Flats.

David Frazier

CEO and Owner, Hardaway Construction: Acquired 100-year-old company in 2018 after serving as president and operations manager. Holds two degrees from U.S. Naval Academy and one from Vanderbilt. Partners with president Tracy Cothran to oversee company operations.

Bob Freeman

President, Freeman Webb Companies: Leads 44-year-old company with about 450 employees and nearly 18,000 apartment units and 1 million square feet of property under management in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. Replaced late father Bill Freeman (former owner of Post parent company FW Publishing), who died in November 2024. Serves in Tennessee General Assembly as a Democratic representative.

Elam Freeman

Founder and Principal, Ojas Partners: Spearheads local commercial real estate company focused on retail spaces.

Rick French

Principal, French King Fine Properties: Works with veteran broker Tim King to oversee longtime residential real estate company. Co-founder in 1985 of defunct French Christianson Patterson and Associates.

Steve Fridrich

President and Managing Partner, Fridrich and Clark Realty: Started real estate career in 1979 while a Vanderbilt student. Became full partner in 1982 of company founded by his father. Has grown Fridrich & Clark Realty from one o ce with fewer than 10 agents to two o ces with 180-plus agents. Sold then-Thomas Frist home for $32 million in 2023.

Mike Frohnappel

Nashville Managing Partner, Baker Barrios: Leads local o ce of Orlando company (which also operates o ces in Chicago and Tampa). University of Arkansas grad oversees Gulch o ce now 10 years in operation.

Gary Gaston

CEO, Civic Design Center: Principal contributor to “The Plan of Nashville.” TEDx Nashville Fellow oversees 26-year-old nonprofit and holds degrees from both the University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

Hunter Gee

Principal, Smith Gee Studio: Works with fellow principals Fleming Smith, Dallas Caudle, Greg Tidwell and Scott Morton at Germantown-based architecture firm now in 16th year of operations.

Tony Giarratana

President, Giarratana LLC: Inarguably Nashville’s most successful and high-profile developer, in part, due to bold and large-scale nature of his projects. Landed financing last year for his 750-foot residential tower under construction on portion of downtown ex-YMCA site. Unveiled in 2024 plans for future project on Elliston Place at building housing Corner Bar.

Elizabeth Goodwin

Senior Managing Director and Market Leader for Tennessee, CBRE: Previously served as firm’s managing director. Holds master’s degree from Vanderbilt in civil engineering with construction management concentration.

Jimmy Granbery

CEO, H.G. Hill Realty: Local development community veteran, and Nashville native, who has overseen projects in 12South, Five Points, Green Hills, Hillsboro Village and Sylvan Heights.

Joseph Griffin

CEO, RaganSmith Associates: Promoted to current role 2020. Joined firm in 1987. Earned engineering degree from University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

John Gromos

SVP, Mid-South, Turner Construction: Oversees Nashville office of New York-based construction management company for which the résumé includes work involving Bridgestone Arena, Hill Center Brentwood, Tennessee State Museum and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Works closely with Herbert Brown, Turner’s community and citizenship director.

Roberto Gutierrez

Managing Partner, Jackson Builders: Oversees acquisitions, financing and investor relations for boutique development business that works prolifically on infill homes in Nashville’s urban core. Focuses work on Buchanan Arts District and Bordeaux.

Kristy Hairston

Regional Vice President, Compass: Works in national firm’s Green Hills office. Former president of Greater Nashville Realtors and member of CABLE and Nashville Rotary. TSU grad who once served Compass as managing director of Nashville sales.

Kim Hartley Hawkins

Founding Principal, Hawkins Partners: Works with husband Gary Hawkins (principal emeritus) and Brian Phelps (senior partner) to lead Five Pointsbased land planning and landscape architecture firm. Company has completed work at Nashville Yards, Geodis Park and Fifth + Broadway.

Michael Hayes

CEO, C.B. Ragland: Leads development company that finished in 2024 construction of Hyatt Caption project at Gulch site last home to Whiskey Kitchen. Company finished in SoBro in 2021 Hyatt Centric hotel at ex-Listening Room site. Developed, with Hines, SoBro site of mixed-use tower 222 2nd. Still plans hotel Citizen M for Gulch.

Jeff Haynes

Founder and Managing Partner, Boyle Nashville: Oversees firm that worked with Northwestern Mutual and Northwood Ravin to develop Capitol View sites in North Gulch. Partners with Thomas McDaniel, Boyle’s director of office properties, and Phil Fawcett, managing partner, to own and manage almost 4 million square feet of office and retail space and a projected 5 million square feet in the development and planning stages.

Ray Hensler

Principal, Hensler Development Group: Veteran developer known for attention to detail and focus. Finished Peabody Union project in Rolling Mill Hill in 2025. Developed Gulch and Midtown sites with condo tower Twelve Twelve and Adelicia. Respected for urban placemaking knowledge.

Evan Holladay

Founder and CEO, Holladay Ventures: Leads company that is teaming with Evergreen Real Estate principal Aaron White on multi-element east side mixed-use project at Samaritan Recovery Community site.

Jason Holwerda

Partner, Brokerage Services, Foundry Commercial: Joined company in 2014 after spending first 10 years of career with Crescent Communities in leasing and development. Has leased buildings with more than 5 million square feet collectively in transactions that total more than $1 billion.

Tom Hooper

Executive Managing Director, JLL: Teams with co-executive managing director Bo Tyler to oversee local office of Chicago-based CRE behemoth. Washington and Lee University grad oversees staff of about 50 individuals.

THE

BUILDERS BUILDERS

E ective leaders who get things done, regardless of accolades

David Frazier Hardaway Construction

Anna Grider East Bank Development Authority

Josh Haston LDG Development

Tim Johnson Material Ventures

Robert Looper City Now Next

Bill Hostettler

Principal Broker, HND Realty; Chief Manager, Craighead Development: Industry veteran (about 45 years of experience) known for playful wit and focus on developing sites with condos and townhomes targeting young and first-time buyers.

Ken Larish

CEO, The Mainland Companies: Oversees Hillsboro Village-based company focused on Germantown work and seeking tower on Eighth Avenue South. O ers more than 21 years of development experience.

Rob Lowe

Executive Managing Director and Partner, Stream Realty Partners: Former Cushman & Wakefield senior managing director teamed with New York entity to overhaul The Arcade. Known for work with Elliott Kyle and McClain Towery. Member of team that gave overhaul to Stadium Inn.

Lisa Maki

Principal and Market Leader, Avison Young: Named top o cial at local o ce of Toronto-based giant in 2024. Has participated in sales and leasing transactions with a collective value of about $1.4 billion during 20-year career.

Bert Mathews

President, The Mathews Company: Oversees development, acquisitions, financing and institutional/investor relations. University of North Carolina grad also serves as partner with Nashville o ce of Colliers International. Teamed with Seattle’s Eagle Rock Ventures on WeHo and SoBro micro-housing projects.

Mack McClung

CEO, Vastland: Co-founded company in 1995 with J.D. Eatherly. Company is under construction at Midtown site of Voce Hotel and Residence mixed-use tower after having landed $130 million construction loan in late 2025.

Mark McDonald

Partner, Oldacre McDonald: Veteran investor and developer who partners with Bill Oldacre to steer company developing Century Farms site in Antioch. Also serves as senior partner with M Cubed Developments, which is led by Mark McGinley and is known for 12South building The Gilmore.

Susan Osterberg

CEO and President, Smith Seckman Reid: Oversees 500-employee local engineering design and consulting firm. Has served in roles since 2023. Previously was company’s chief operating o cer, a position held since April 2021. Joined SSR in 2011 as VP of HR.

Larry Papel

Partner, Nelson Mullins: Vanderbilt grad focuses work on land-use and zoning. Spends some time as real estate investor and developer who, with Mark Bloom, has been involved with numerous high-profile projects (including W Hotel and, soon, a Ritz-Carlton hotel in The Gulch).

Reggie Polk

Founder and CEO, Polk and Associates Construction: Founded company in 2011 after working as real estate broker with Benchmark Realty. Holds degree from MTSU in concrete industry management.

Patrick Poole

Vice President and Nashville Market Leader, Merus: Oversees local development e orts for Cincinnati-based company (previously called Al. Neyer); in 2025 finished work on Midtown apartment building Aspire.

David Powell

Principal, Hastings Architecture: Teams with William Hastings and David Bailey to lead firm that designed South Bank’s Peabody Union, Thompson Hotel in The Gulch and Virgin Hotel in Midtown, among many others. With firm since 1991.

Eric Pyle

Owner and President, Bell Construction: Joined Bell in 2002 and holds degree in construction management. Leads company known, in part, for work on large bridges.

Jeremiah Pyron

Partner, Sagemont Real Estate: Teams with Trent Yates and Stephen Songy to lead underrated boutique company. Holds degree in mass communications from MTSU.

Jonathon Reeser

Partner, Head of Nashville Office, SomeraRoad: Teams with Andrew Donchez (head of development) to lead Nashville office of company with presence in New York. NAIOP member and board member of Gulch Business Improvement District. Helps lead company focused on Pendry hotel project at mixed-use Paseo South Gulch.

Todd Robinson

President, Earl Swensson Associates. With local design firm since 1981. Previously held roles of senior designer, principal and executive vice president. Earned degree in architecture from University of Tennessee. Works closely with Eric Klotz, ESA principal.

Ben Rooke

Regional President, Brasfield & Gorrie: Auburn grad started career at Brasfield & Gorrie in March 2000 and works from Franklin office of Birmingham-based company. Has held current role since 2021.

Cary Rosenblum

CEO, Elmington Capital Group:

Teams with Ben Brewer (partner) to lead company that has undertaken developments in Hillsboro Village and Edgehill. Holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Georgia.

Peter Scott

President and CEO, Healthcare Realty Trust: Oversees company with healthcare facilities in multiple major cities. Company owns 579 real estate properties in 28 states totaling approximately 33.6 million square feet.

Andrew Steffens

Development Director, Wood Partners: Leads local office of Atlanta-based apartment development company. Wood bought South Nashville property in late 2025 and eyes Alta Herron for site.

Carrie Stokes

CEO and President, Barge Design Solutions: Joined Barge in 1996 as intern following graduation from the Vanderbilt engineering school. Replaced Bob Higgins in late 2024.

Lizabeth Theiss

Executive Leadership, DPR Construction: Joined company in 2019 after having served in similar role with Crain Construction. Former Texas resident focuses on marketing, media relations, customer relations and business development.

George Tomlin

President and CEO, GBT Realty: Steers Brentwood-based company known for its One22One mixed-use tower in The Gulch. Sold to Southern Land, for $9.85 million in early 2023, Green Hills site eyed for condo building. Eyeing mixed-use MidCity at ex-Beaman Automotive site in Midtown.

Jay Turner

CEO, MarketStreet Enterprises: Teams with MarketStreet President Dirk Melton to steer company focused on Gulch and Wedgewood-Houston work. Ex-company managing director focuses on strategic direction.

David Wells

CEO, Hall Emery: Leads company known, in part, thanks to efforts of the late Pat Emery. Company prepping for tower project near Musica Roundabout.

Benjamin Weprin

Founder and CEO, AJ Capital Partners: Oversees Wedgewood-Houston-based company doing major work in that South Nashville neighborhood. Company began on-site efforts in late 2025 on Belle Meade Village.

Christie Wilson

President and CEO, The Wilson Group Real Estate Services: Nashville advocate respected for her knowledge of city’s residential west side. Has been active with Greater Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity, The Women’s President Organization, The Nashville Wine Auction and The Fulcrum Society of the YWCA.

Ryan McLaughlin Wood

Executive Managing Director and Brokerage Market Leader, Colliers Nashville: Former Nashville market director for UBS Wealth Management replaced Janet Miller in role in October 2025. Harpeth Hall School graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree in risk management and insurance from the University of Georgia.

Julie Wilson

Managing Principal, Cushman & Wakefield: Replaced Dave Sansom after a roughly 24-year stint at Healthcare Realty Trust as executive vice president and leading property management, leasing and administrative efforts. Previously worked in investment banking and real estate brokerage.

AARON J. DORN CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT, & CEO

NASHVILLE’S LEADER IN TRANSPORTATION

Oversees company that owns convenience market chain known for more than 150 Twice Daily stores. Company was founded in 2000 and also owns and operates fueling facilities that accompany the

Nashville Downtown Partnership: In role since 2008. Has helped down-

John Dyke

Owner, Turnip Truck: Organic and natural foods retailer recently opened location in Midtown’s mixed-use Broadview at Vanderbilt building in January 2025. Other locations are found in West Nashville, East Nashville and The Gulch.

Monika Hartman

Senior General Manager, Fifth + Broadway: Leads soft goods and food/beverage duties for mixed-use downtown development for Northwood Investors, which paid local record $787 million for multi-building property in late 2022.

Sonya Hostetler

Divisional President, Kroger Nashville Division: Worked at Walmart for almost 31 years before joining Cincinnati-based grocery behemoth. Will be key figure in planned reopening of Belle Meade Kroger (which closed in January 2025) in ex-Harris Teeter space.

convenience markets. after conservative backlash.

President and CEO, Tractor Supply: Ex-Macy’s president leads Brentwood-based farm supply retail giant that acquired online pet pharmacy Allivet in December 2024. Company ended DEI initiatives in mid-2024

Has been active in local commercial real estate industry since 1976. Replaced father William H. Robin, who founded company in 1947. Strong knowledge of city’s pre-1970s-constructed retail buildings. Sold Second Avenue building last home to company in record deal.

Rhonda Taylor

Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Dollar General: One of five female leaders on company’s C-suite management team. Responsible for leading risk and reputation management functions for DG’s legal, public relations, internal audit, government a airs, global compliance, chief compliance o ce function and corporate social responsibility and philanthropy teams.

Mimi Vaughn

President and CEO, Genesco: Joined Genesco as vice president for strategy and business development in 2003 and replaced Bob Dennis as CEO in early 2020 after two years as COO.

CEO, The Brand House Collective

Named to role in early 2024 when company then operated as Kirkland’s Inc.

Expected to serve as CEO of Beyond Retail Group division that will oversee Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.’s portfolio following closing of transaction between two parties in early 2026.

Vice Chairman, Nashville SC

Transitioned from CEO role in January 2025, when Lindsey Paola was named chief business o cer. Named Mike Jacobs club GM in April 2025. Oversaw building of club that won U.S. Open Cup in 2025, earning state’s first major professional sports championship. Former Liverpool CEO led city’s entry into MLS and building of Geodis Park. Guided o -season deals including signing designated player Cristian Espinoza and extending manager B. J. Callaghan.

of Tampa Bay Lightning joined the Predators in 2010 and has remained in the top spot since. Announced plans in April for a $750 million renovation of Bridgestone Arena, set to begin in 2027 and be completed by 2030. Oversees organization that

drew headlines in 2025 when former Gov. Bill Haslam acquired majority ownership and former Alabama head football coach Nick Saban purchased a minority stake.

Philip Hutcheson

Director of Athletics, Lipscomb: Took current role at his alma mater in 2008. Hired men’s basketball coach Kevin Carroll in April 2025 to replace Lennie Acu , who guided Bisons to NCAA Tournament last season. Was 1990 NAIA basketball player of the year at Lipscomb.

Michelle Kennedy

President, Alternative Governor and Chief Operating O cer, Nashville Predators: Leads franchise’s dayto-day business operation, while collaborating with CEO Sean Henry on all major initiatives for arena, Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment, team, partners and events.

In his 21st year on job. Oversaw building of school’s $66

million student-athlete performance

center, which opened in July 2025. Signed men’s basketball coach Nick McDevitt to three-year extension in

East Bank stadium starting in 2027.

Oversees NFL franchise that has struggled the past few season due to coaching and personnel factors. Organization preparing to play in future

President and CEO, Nashville Sports Responsible for the day-to-

Sports Council and the TransPerfect Music City Bowl. Helped coordinate

bring NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision to Nashville for 2026, 2027.

Mark Reeves

Executive Director, TSSAA: In 18th year with organization and fourth in this role, he oversees junior and senior high school athletic programs for an estimated 110,000 participants and 426 schools.

Amy Adams Strunk

Controlling Owner, Tennessee Titans: Fired general manager Ran Carthon in January 2025, replacing him with Mike Borgonzi. Fired head coach Brian Callahan in October 2025, replacing him with interim coach Mike McCoy.

cle 615 Ventures. TechnologyAdvice recently bought business publisher

Leader of company

gies to align with its internationally recognized construction management software SuperWise.

Mark Blaze

President and CEO, Greater Nashville Technology Council: Took reins of organization that advocates for Middle Tennessee’s $8 billion information technology ecosystem in May 2025. Previously chief revenue o cer at Groove Construction and spent 18 years as regional president at Dex Imagining.

Joan Butters

CEO, Xsolis: At the helm for more than 10 years of company that markets machine learning and artificial intelligence tools. Named to Inc. 5000 list for third year in a row.

FONDA

IN CHARGE LIST FOOD congratulations to HOWARD GREENSTONE

2026

to support and develop tech startup companies in Nashville.

Greg Daily

Chairman and CEO, i3 Verticals: Trevecca grad launched company in 2012. Now i3 processes billions of dollars in transactions annually.

Sarah Daley

Global Director, Governance, Risk & Compliance, Bridgestone Americas: President of Women in Technology of Tennessee. Previously vice president and director of scholarships for nonprofit advocating for opportunities for women in tech. Has worked in IT at Bridgestone for more than 11 years.

Wellford Dillard

CEO, Avid: Has more than 20 years of experience in the software industry and, before being CEO of Marigold (2017-24), held CFO roles at vertical software leaders such as Opower and GetWellNetwork, among others.

Guru Gowrappan

CEO, Asurion: Named to role in October 2025 and replaced Tim Stadthaus. Former Yahoo/Verizon Media Group CEO o ers more than 20 years of leadership experience in the technology, media, financial services and e-commerce sectors.

Phil Henry

Co-Founder, CodeX Academy: With more than 15 years of entrepreneurial experience, started company in 2019 to help provide equal access for software development education. Chair of UpSkill Fund, which provides funding and mentorship to CodeX students.

Stephanie Johnson

CEO, Acklen Avenue: Former chief operations o cer for the software solutions company was elevated to CEO in 2024. Previously held leadership roles at Stratasan and Zycron.

Aaron Salow

CEO, XOi Technologies: Founded tech company focused on field service technicians named to the 2023 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies. Landed $11 million from investor group that includes Nashville Capital Network in 2019.

Brian Waller

Veteran fin-

tech exec created payment processor in 2018. Made 12 acquisitions since starting company. Finalist for regional entrepreneur of the year award in 2022 by Ernst & Young.

Board chair of Nashville Technology Council. Has led electronics recycling company since 2010.

nology School: formerly owned co-working space The Lab and Music City Cleaners. Started tech school in 2020 and created managed service provider to hire students to help them get job experience in the industry.

Infrastructure, Johnson Controls:

More than 25 years of experience in tech sector. Founded and led cloud software and video venture Smartvue, which he sold in 2018 to

Established company more than 21 years ago with Jay Holloman. Via acquisition and organic growth, has since

economic recovery group in 2020 to restore economic growth in the state after pandemic. Established o ce of rural tourism to assist with marketing, grants and outreach.

President and CEO, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

Veteran of the chamber who previously worked as chief growth o cer and chief talent development o cer succeeded Ralph Shultz in February 2025. Launched chamber’s public-private Partnership 2030 initiative focused on economic development in the region.

Mark Fioravanti

President and CEO, Ryman Hospitality Properties: Became CEO in 2023 succeeding Colin Reed, who now serves as company’s board executive chairman. Company in late 2024 opened entertainment complex Category 10 in building formerly home to Wildhorse Saloon in partnership with country star Luke Combs.

Deana Ivey

CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp: Elevated to role when former CEO Butch Spyridon stepped down after more than 30 years as leader of organization. Has been with NCVC for 26 years and was named president in 2022 after serving as executive vice president and chief marketing o cer.

William Je ries

Executive Director, National Museum of African-American Music: Brings to downtown cultural attraction more than 20 years of museum leadership experience. Résumé includes having secured a $2.5 million grant related to educational programming and exhibitions. Replaced retired President and CEO Dion Brown in 2025.

Bill Miller

Kal Patel

President and COO of Imagine Hospitality: Purchased historic Morris Memorial Building downtown in 2023 with plans to turn it into boutique hotel that pays homage to site’s Black history. Converted Hotel Preston near Nashville International Airport to Marriott brand Delta in December 2025.

Rick Schwartz

President, Nashville Zoo: Head of exotic wildlife park that sees 1 million-plus visitors annually. Unveiled new Komodo Dragon exhibit in 2023 and Leopard Forest project and African Safari exhibits in 2025. Considered one of zoo industry’s foremost authorities on clouded leopards and giant anteaters.

Charles Starks

President and CEO, Music City Center: Leader of SoBro convention facility. Held position since March 2005. Former director of rooms and general manager at Gaylord Opryland Hotel.

Sara Beth Urban

President and CEO, Hospitality

President and CEO, Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee: In 2017 joined the organization that works to support funding for regional transit and named leader in 2019. Oversees the Transit Citizen Leadership Academy and other transit advocacy programs. Appointed to WeGo’s board in 2021.

Tanisha Hall

Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner: Replaced Butch Eley in 2025. Will oversee department’s Transportation Modernization Act, focused on road updates. Hired at TDOT in 2014 as director of construction.

Laura Ritchey

Opened Cash

Founder and CEO, Icon Entertainment & Hospitality:

Museum in 2013 and also owns Nudie’s Honky Tonk and live magic venue House of Cards. In 2018 bought building home to restaurant Skull’s and in 2023 opened Shulman’s in East Nashville and a Frank Sinatra-themed bar in Printer’s Alley. Will open Palm Springs-centric The Greenwood (next to Shulman’s) in mid-2026.

Leah Melber

President and CEO Adventure Science Center: Hired in May 2023 to replace Steve Hinkley, who stepped down in 2022. Leads organization as it expands its gallery to include health care and technology with aim to grow conference for young women in STEM.

Dee Patel

Managing Director, The Hermitage Hotel: Joined hotel 23 years ago, rising from role of rooms executive to current role in 2019. Johnson & Wales grad oversees hotel and its Drusie & Darr and The Pink Hermit restaurants. Greater Nashville Hospitality Association 2025 chair.

tourism industry since 2022. Former executive director of Tennessee Whiskey Trail and Middle Tennessee

Founder, Fairpointe Planning: Named as Mayor O’Connell’s director of transit and mobility in December but left the position so company would not lose its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise status. Former TDOT long-range planner now consults on community and statewide

President and CEO, Americas, Geodis: Succeeded in mid-2025 Mike Honious as leader of former Ozburn Hessey-Logistics. Also serves as a member of the company’s executive board. J.D. degree holder has worked at Radial, L Brands, FullBeauty Brands and Centric Brands.

Michael Skipper

city’s public transit for nearly 12 years, overseeing bus and commuter rail op-

President and CEO, TransCore: Has served in role since April 2024. Previously chief operating o cer who has been with TransCore for almost

Executive Director, Greater Nashville Regional Council: Previously executive director of Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which became GNRC. UT grad whose more than 20-year career included stops in Austin and Seattle.

President and CEO, Ingram IndusHead of company that is over inland marine transportation company Ingram Barge and publishing industry services company Ingram Content Group. Vanderbilt grad has served on university’s board of trust.

Director, Nashville Department of Brought in to be first leader of Metro’s DOT in 2022. Previous experience as director in Tucson

Transportation: and Fort Lauderdale. Nashville Airport Authority:

President and CEO, Metropolitan Took the helm in 2017, previously COO. With many BNA upgrades now finished, focusing attention on landing international flights.

Pinnacle’s next chapter

Terry Turner on leadership, succession following $8.6 billion merger with Synovus

BY CYNTHIA YELDELL ANDERSON

or more than 25 years, Terry Turner has led Pinnacle Financial Partners through sustained growth, market expansion and industry disruption — building what he describes as a distinctive model grounded in people, service and long-term shareholder value.

That leadership chapter entered a new phase in early January with the completion of Pinnacle Financial Partners’ merger with Synovus Financial Corp. — a transaction valued at about $8.6 billion.

As part of the transition, Turner has stepped out of the CEO role and into chairman of the board, where he will continue guiding governance, accountability and strategy as the organization moves forward.

Synovus President and CEO Kevin Blair is serving as CEO and president of the recently combined company. Rob McCabe, co-founder with Turner and former Pinnacle chairman, now serves as vice chairman of the new company and chief banking officer of Pinnacle.

“Rob McCabe and I helped found this firm and led the team that built it into what it is today,” Turner said in a statement. “As board chair, I’m bringing a founder’s mentality and 25 years of experience as CEO to bear in supporting Kevin and his team as they lead us into the next chapter.”

Turner frames the Synovus transaction not as a sudden pivot, but as the natural outcome of disciplined leadership and long-standing succession planning.

He says the former Pinnacle board and management would revisit succession at least once annually, evaluating internal candidates, external talent, acquisition opportunities, merger possibilities and even potential buyers.

Within that framework, Synovus had long

existed as a potential merger-of-equals partner, even if timing and regulatory conditions previously made such a move impractical. Turner notes that regulatory headwinds, particularly the challenges associated with crossing the $100 billion asset threshold, made mergers especially risky just a few years ago.

That environment shifted as regulators became more constructive on bank consolidation and adopted a more flexible approach to compliance expectations for institutions growing into higher asset categories.

Combined with years of relationship-building and strategic alignment, those changes made the timing right. Originally announced in July 2025, the merger received shareholder and bank regulatory approvals in November.

At the center of Turner’s decision-making was one non-negotiable: the preservation of what he refers to as the “Pinnacle model.”

The origins of that model trace back to Pinnacle’s founding, when Turner and his leadership team had what he describes as the “luxury of being able to start with a clean sheet of paper.” Free from legacy systems and entrenched practices, the company built its strategy around delivering total shareholder return by creating a distinctive client experience and achieving that experience by first engaging and retaining exceptional associates.

“The end game is we got to produce a total shareholder return,” Turner says. “But the way we’re going to get that done is ... to create raving fans.”

Turner emphasizes that client loyalty and organic growth are direct reflections of employee engagement. He cites a book written by Joel Manby, Love Works, which reinforced the idea that companies cannot earn customer loyalty without first earning employee commitment.

“You can’t get clients to love your company until you get your associates to love the company,” Turner said.

That philosophy has shaped Pinnacle’s recruiting strategy. Rather than relying on traditional résumé-driven hiring, the company focused on recruiting experienced bankers through referrals and relationships. Pinnacle set a minimum experience threshold early on, choosing not to hire employees with less than

10 years of industry experience. Turner says the average new hire the last few years prior to the merger with Synovus arrived with close to 18 years of experience.

Beyond tenure, Turner stresses the importance of service-oriented values, which he says helped Pinnacle reduce turnover and maintain consistency in client relationships.

“This is a service business,” he said. “We need people that have a heart to serve.”

When investors asked if he had any deal-breakers during negotiations with Synovus, Turner said he had just one non-negotiable, which was the combined banks would need to continue running the Pinnacle model.

“I wasn’t interested in doing a deal where we left the Pinnacle model, where we quit doing business the way we do business,” Turner said.

Blair said Turner’s leadership style and consistency were central to building that model and sustaining it.

“Terry leads from the front and does so with purpose,” Blair said. “As a founder of Pinnacle, he built an exceptionally high-performing firm by setting a clear vision, investing in people and staying true to his principles. You see and feel that consistency in every interaction with him.”

Turner points to Pinnacle’s growth trajectory, strong shareholder returns and workplace culture as evidence the model works.

“We’ve likely been the fastest growing bank in the United States for 25 years,” Turner says. “We’ve produced the second highest total shareholder return of all publicly traded banks since 2002.” He adds that Pinnacle has been recognized as a best place to work across numerous Southeastern markets.

Blair said Turner’s ability to bring people together was especially evident during the merger process.

“Terry’s remarkable instinct to bring people together stood out most,” Blair says. “He created clarity around roles and decisions, encouraged candid dialogue and ensured every leader felt empowered to own the work. That approach kept both organizations advancing in lockstep.”

As chairman, Turner’s role has shifted from day-to-day management to oversight, gover-

nance and long-range accountability. Under the terms of the merger, Turner is contractually committed to the company for four years following the close, with the first two years spent as non-executive chairman.

In that role, Turner will help ensure that the same performance disciplines that defined Pinnacle’s growth remain intact.

Blair says Turner’s influence will remain critical as the organization moves forward.

“As chairman, Terry will continue to be an inspiring, steady force for culture and longterm direction. He knows what makes Pinnacle special and successful. His guidance will help us build on that strength, remain grounded in our values and keep our focus on people as we grow,” Blair says.

Slow but steady

Nashville high-profile development pace tempers but remains healthy for future projects

BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS

he Nashville of 2025 was different from what had been a high-rise booming city in 2015.

Yes, tower cranes still punctuated the skyline last year. And, indeed, local developer Tony Giarratana landed a $340 million loan toward the end of last year and began full-scale construction of what will be the 60-floor 750-foot-tall Paramount skyscraper. Major work on large buildings continues in many parts of the city. Optimism for “It City” high-profile development projects remains intact.

But let’s be clear: Nashville saw a slowing of announcements and construction starts of

large-scale urban projects in 2024 and 2025.

Multiple high-profile — and often multi-building — developments that were anticipated to have started the past two years failed to do so. Want examples? How about Hines’ nine-building project slated for the Midtown site best recognized for the former Jim Reed auto dealership. Or GBT’s MidCity, an eight-building development long planned for the former Lee Beaman auto dealership property, also located in Midtown.

Boston-based The Congress Group has yet to start construction on a trio of high-rises for its Second and Peabody project (also called Park Place) in Rutledge Hill.

Ditto for Chicago-based Centrum Realty, which scrapped plans for a three-tower Rutledge Hill development announced in 2021 and is now seeking to sell the property.

On the East Bank, RMR Group (which is headquartered near Boston) has yet to break ground on the multi-building Station East.

Similarly, Chicago-based Origin Investments has not yet moved dirt for its mixeduse Edgehill Commons, to be located south of

Gulch and within the neighborhood from which its names derives.

In late 2023, Atlanta-based Portman Residential and National Real Estate Advisors of Washington, D.C., landed concept plan approval for a three-tower North Gulch project to be called Eleven N. To date, no on-site work has been undertaken. For context: In 2025, Nashville saw the construction completion of five high-rises of 300 feet or taller: Olive, The Everett, The Emery, The Pinnacle and Modera McGavock.

In 2026, the city is slated to see the construction finish of only one such building: the 29-story Albion Music Row.

The days of seeing 30 or more tower cranes thrusting skyward in downtown and Midtown are now a distant memory. Calendar years when construction started on 10, or more, buildings of 10 floors or taller — the good old days.

From about 2013 to 2023 (and not counting 2020-21 due to the pandemic), multiple projects of note (about seven floors or taller) were announced and/or were started each year. It was not uncommon for the Metro

Development and Housing Agency Design Review Committee (which meets twice monthly) to vote on at least one such project proposal per meeting.

However, starting in 2024 and continuing through the end of 2025, the pipeline came to a trickle.

Multiple high-profile projects that were expected to start by 2024 (or 2025 at the latest) remain on indefinite hold — or have been shelved altogether.

ADEQUATE SUPPLY

Michael Hayes, president of Nashville-based C.B. Ragland Co. and a co-developer of downtown sites of the Centric and Caption hotel buildings, says the situation focuses on supply and demand.

“Nashville, and the urban core in particular, arguably has an adequate supply across most asset classes with lower density developments on the edge of the core meeting the demand caused by growth,” Hayes says.

“The hyper growth we experienced five years ago has moved back toward the norm. Urban development, let alone high-rise projects over 20 stories, take many years of planning. If you look at data from Turner, JE Dunn, Mortenson or any of the other large contractors, ‘hard construction cost shave’ increased by approximately 40 percent in the last 5.5 years, while rents have not kept up on a percentage basis.”

Likewise, Hayes says the math for highrise construction, given rents that have not kept pace with inflation, has become “challenging at best.”

“Taking a look past the supply/demand equation, lenders and equity investors have been adjusting their pricing as well throughout the last five years, making capital more difficult to obtain for any project, let alone high-rise construction.”

When asked if the slowing was anticipated, Hayes answers that nobody three years ago had a “crystal ball.”

“In the development community, we all track net migration, job growth and deliveries,” he says. “Lenders and investors do too. I do not believe anyone in the development community thought we’d see 12 towers launch

in one year given the oversupply it might cause. The idea of a slowdown is relative. We are still seeing job growth and net migration, albeit with a slowdown in new building permits due to supply that needs absorption.”

Ray Hensler, a Nashville-based developer who has co-developed the sites of Adelicia (Midtown), Twelve-Twelve (The Gulch) and Peabody Union (Rolling Mill Hill) says the pace of high-rise deliveries from 2020-2024 was “staggering and unsustainable.” The result was that the city saw an over-building of office and residential product, according to many the Post has interviewed related to this topic.

“The sentiment in 2023 was that things would stabilize by 2025, but that seems to have been pushed to late 2026 or beyond,” Hensler says.

Hensler says another five years or more could be required before Nashville sees its next major uptick in the start of high-profile projects.

“Higher interest rates and inflated construction costs should keep new starts in check for at least a few years,” he notes.

“Effective rents will have to start growing again for proformas to justify new starts. Despite all the fanfare, Nashville is still not New York, Chicago or Miami. Our ability to absorb units is much more limited — as is the ability so far to command big premiums to be above the 30th floor. We don’t have view features like the Atlantic Ocean, Central Park, Key Biscayne or Lake Michigan. Those two things — along with a cost premium to go taller — work against the case for [buildings of 30 floors and taller] in Nashville.

As to what Hensler hears other developers say about the issue?

“That it’s very difficult to get a new project to pencil on today’s rents and costs,” he says.

Luca Barber, the Nashville-based senior managing director of development for Boca Raton, Fla.-based Mill Creek Residential, has overseen multiple local developments. These include, among others, Modera McGavock and Modera Gulch, mixed-used towers located in The Gulch.

Barber says the sudden spike in interest rates in 2022, coupled with rising costs, put

significant upward pressure on return requirements and cap rates. Additionally, he notes, historic levels of supply resulted in an elevated, concessionary environment and minimal to negative rent growth. These factors resulted in a market in which stabilized acquisitions could be made at a discount to replacement cost, and the real estate sector shifted its focus to buying completed projects as opposed to investing in new development.

“While our business is cyclical, the slowdown was far more abrupt and has been more elongated in duration compared to what most expected,” says Barber, who has participated in real estate transactions with a collective value of more than $3.5 billion.

“The general economy and demand drivers in Nashville have remained strong, yet the commercial and multifamily real estate market has been highly impacted by interest rate moves and new supply. Concurrently, Nashville has also experienced historical levels of absorption/demand, and we still have major employers and growth to come. We are fortunate that we do not have a demand problem, which cannot be said for all of our peer markets.”

HEALTHY DEMAND

On the demand theme, there is reason for cautious optimism related to the possible starts of high-profile projects.

Nashville Post research shows that the city could see the construction start by year’s end on at least two of multiple high-rise buildings to house high-end hotels. These hospitality industry brands include Equinox, Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Autograph and Intercontinental.

In addition, full-scale work is expected to begin in 2026 on the Oracle campus at River North and on multiple buildings to be located in the heart of the East Bank and near the under-construction NFL stadium.

“The development community sees significant opportunity to capitalize and start new developments in 2026 due to the projected rebound in rental rates and continued employment growth in Nashville,” Barber says.

“Additionally, new projects beginning in 2026 will deliver into a tight and expan-

sionary environment in 2028, allowing for outsized returns on new development. Prudent site selection and higher investment scrutiny on new development will likely keep new supply at a slower pace than previously experienced. But we see significant opportunity to start projects in 2026 now that we have passed the peak of supply and are seeing meaningful reductions in cost.”

Hayes says he hopes the coming months will see the tariff situation subside and the labor picture become more predictable.

“The level of intensity might resume when we have a demand spike — think another global corporate headquarters like what we saw with Amazon and hope to see in the next five to 10 years with Oracle. Or perhaps the investments in the new Titans stadium, [Tennessee Performing Arts Center] complex at the East Bank and the Bridgestone Arena renovations will become big demand generators perhaps between 2028 and 2032.”

As development officials look to this year and beyond, Hayes says zoning changes that restrict structured parking above grade will likely mean Nashville will

land fewer towers standing over 20 stories during the next boom cycle. He says the exceptions will be hotel and condo developments that will achieve height with buildings of smaller than average floor plates.

“Developers will respond to the asset class that is growing, so if we see a big corporate relocation, that will drive office and residential development,” he says “If the Music City Center expands, we will see hotel growth. We are probably undersupplied a bit with ultra luxury branded residential condos. But with the number of people planning those, it may not take long to have adequate supply for the next decade.

Hayes says he is not hearing of many companies aggressively pursuing future development of sites in the city’s urban core for high-rise buildings.

“There are very few people planning 30-plus-story tower sites given the headwinds,” he acknowledges. “That said, developers with land want to be shovel ready for when the market picks back up. So I am hearing of some pretty incredible projects in the planning stage.”

dern methods.Traditional foundation .

Building icons that stand the test of time.

Dining In

Restaurant sector enters pivotal moment amid growth and mounting pressures

BY CYNTHIA YELDELL ANDERSON

espite major chains investing millions to enter Nashville’s historically booming restaurant sector, some operators and industry analysts are beginning to see signs of a slowdown.

Restaurant owners say rising food costs are the dominant challenge going into 2026, along with escalating real estate rates, labor costs and increasing competition.

University of Tennessee economist Mike Kofoed says food inflation is hitting the restaurant industry hard. The opportunity to succeed largely depends on the sub-sector, he says.

Fast food, casual restaurants and locally owned chains are feeling the impact the most, Kofoed says. As their margins are squeezed, they can’t easily raise prices because their customers aren’t willing to pay more.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, he says, fine dining restaurants tend to do well in this economy. GDP numbers show the majority of growth has been due to high-income earners, with those customers willing to pay a higher price point than otherwise.

“Your chains will be fine, because those can be subsidized across multiple different franchises. The ones that you might worry about are the mom-and-pop shops where it’s just them selling burgers and ice cream, and they don’t have a backstop to help with the increase in beef and other prices,” Kofoed says.

LOCAL OPERATORS FACE TOUGH MARGINS

Nashville’s Midtown Café is just one of the many locally based eateries feeling the pinch.

Midtown Cafe Director Craig Clift, who has spent his career in Nashville’s restaurant industry over the past 36 years, says the main challenge he has seen over the past two years has been food costs.

For example, he says, the price of Brussels

sprouts, a staple item on Midtown’s menu, increased from $40 per case to $140 a case.

“We can’t and won’t change our menu pricing over these little blips and blurbs,” Clift says. “But when you have these spikes, sometimes you have to make a business decision that I can’t lose money selling that item.”

Several longtime, locally owned restaurants announced closures in 2025.

East Nashville icon Margot Café & Bar will cease operations on June 5, after what will have been 25 years in business. Owner Margot McCormack said in a statement that the past five years have been harder than the previous 20.

The closure comes six years after McCormack decided not to reopen Marché Artisan Foods following tornado damage and pandemic-related challenges.

Hillsboro Village mainstay Fido has also announced plans to close, though not immediately. The coffee shop, located at 1812 21st Ave. S., will cease operations on June 1, 2028, after nearly 30 years in business.

In late 2025, Fido owner Bob Bernstein told several local media outlets the decision not to renew the lease was driven by rising costs.

Other closures have already taken place. Dalts American Grill announced it would permanently close in December though it will reopen under new ownership. Hillsboro Village restaurant Supper Club on Belcourt Avenue closed on Jan. 4, according to its Instagram page.

In September, Hobnob Corner Restaurant

announced it would close after 46 years, citing the nonrenewal of its lease.

Clift agrees that the last five years have been the toughest for local restaurants and when significant increases in property taxes are considered, he understands why his peers had to make difficult decisions.

“Nashville real estate is popular. When your lease is up and you want to renew your lease and it’s four times what you have been paying, that can make you make decisions that you may not want to make,” Clift says.

CHAINS ENTER MARKET

For every restaurant that closes in the Nashville area, there is likely at least one or more to replace it.

In fact, Nashville is becoming a major foodie city.

Known for its famous hot-chicken and meat-and-threes, last year Nashville was recognized for the first time in the prestigious Michelin Guide.

Three Music City restaurants, Bastion, The Catbird Seat and Locust notably scored one-star.

All are from the same restaurant group, Nashville-based Strategic Hospitality.

In addition to the three, January at Southall in Franklin was awarded a Green Star for environmental practices, seven others received Bib Gourmand recognition for “good quality, good value,” and 11 others were list-

ed as “Recommended.”

In addition to homegrown success stories, Nashville has seen an influx of national and regional chains enter the market.

Internationally known Brazilian steakhouse chain Fogo de Chão opened its first Tennessee location in downtown’s Nashville Yards. Phoenix-based parent company The Maggiore Group opened Italian restaurant

The Sicilian Butcher in Wedgewood-Houston, its first Tennessee location.

In-N-Out Burger is relocating its corporate headquarters from Irvine, California, to Franklin as part of a plan to invest $125.5 million, which represents In-N-Out’s first expansion east of Texas.

Kofoed says Tennessee has a very competitive corporate tax rate that makes it an attractive business climate for companies looking to relocate.

The other reason new chains are entering the Tennessee market is because the state is seeing an influx of new residents relocating from states such as California, New York and New Jersey, he says.

“As these people move in, they remember fondly some of their favorite restaurants and eats from their former place. That automatically creates an easy customer base,” Kofoed says.

Cees Brinkman, owner of The Pharmacy Burger, has faced a lot of competition in recent years.

In addition to the recent opening of Tennessee’s first In-N-Out Burger locations, Texas-based burger and fry chain Whataburger entered the market in January 2022 with an aggressive plan to open eight restaurants in the Nashville area.

And while Whataburger continues to expand and open new locations throughout the state, in December the company closed four of its Middle Tennessee area locations.

“Our prediction is that we are going to lose sales because people are going to try out the new places a couple of times before they come back to us,” Brinkman says. “But at the end, people will want to come back for the quality, for what we can offer as a small business.”

Brinkman says Nashville’s robust real estate market has not only caused rents to

skyrocket but also contributed to a growing number of establishments.

“Every building that has been built — all have a restaurant space. That is such a tremendous amount of businesses that are opening up. A lot of them are not making it. They are closing. But in the meantime, they also take away a lot of business from the mom-and-pop stores,” Brinkman says.

NUMBERS TELL THE STORY

State sales tax collections for eating and drinking establishments grew to $295.8 million in 2025 for the fiscal year ending June 30.

But while the industry remains solid, there are some signs growth is slowing.

Drinking establishments, such as bars that

million in 2024 and collections of $33.6 million in 2023.

Similarly, event-related food services contractors, caterers and mobile food services

tween FY2022 and FY2025, reflecting Nashville’s strong tourism and dining economy.

But will the general surge continue?

“Nashville is popular,” Midtown Cafe’s

YOU

SHOULD KNOW:

James Valencia

Urban farmer, ag-tech entrepreneur sees food as medicine

BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS

J

ames Valencia runs a business that derives its revenue from the sale of micro-greens, raw honey, gourmet mushrooms and edible flowers.

If that were not sufficiently distinctive, the Nashville-based urban farmer and agtech entrepreneur from Altadena, California, holds a double-major from Vanderbilt University: one major in environmental sociology and the other in the communication of science and technology.

And for a bit more of the unusual: Valencia’s business is called Radical Shoots, which focuses on the production, via hydroponic farming, of vegetables, herbs, and gourmet/medicinal mushrooms. The business operates a greenhouse at the Nashville Farmers Market.

After about 4.5 years of effort, Valencia’s nutrient-dense microgreen and edible products can be found at a collective 60 hotels, restaurants and country clubs.

Noting that diet-related chronic diseases (heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, several major cancers) are a major cause of death for Americans, Valencia is seeking to build supply chains for future food-as-medicine health care programs.

“My goal is to grow the business for medical usage,” he says.

Valencia was the first Vanderbilt student to undertake the aforementioned double-major, crediting Dr. David Hess and Dr. David Weintraub as his university mentors and advisors related to sustainable technology.

After graduating in 2020, Valencia undertook work at Cheeky Greens (hydroponic greenhouses) and, later, participated in the

entrepreneurship program at The Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s innovation center.

“I am forever appreciative for lessons on entrepreneurship and customer discovery,” he says. “After completing their National Science Foundation I-corp programming, Radical Shoots joined the Wond’ry entrepreneurship incubator’s first cohort of start-ups. We would not have made it this far without the support of mentors including Cynthia Cohen, Martin Renkis and Stryker Warren.”

Valencia, who also enjoys wood and metal working, wanted to work as an urban farmer after having seen a hydroponic farm (run by a Vanderbilt alumnus and located in Mt. Juliet) in 2020.

Inspired, he began a tiny urban farm growing microgreens in a 100-square-foot room inside The Forge, a local nonprofit makerspace.

As a Vanderbilt student, Valencia would bike daily to the then-location of The Forge after classes to sweep the wood and metal shops in exchange for access.

To start Radical Shoots in 2021, Valencia initially found a spot growing lettuce and basil in 14,000-square-foot greenhouse Cheeky Greens located in Bells Bend. That boutique business sold to wholesalers, cultivating mushrooms inside stacked shipping containers.

Five years later, Radical Shoots in late 2025 signed a partnership with Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, a move that allowed Valencia to increase his overall urban farm space 40 times. Radical Shoots now operates its urban farm at the hotel and resort property after having been located in both East Nashville and South Nashville.

“We are now going through the challenge of lengthy processes to establish certifications surrounding traceability protocol — processes that leave most local farmers out of the lion’s share of the food market,” he says.

Specifically, Radical Shoots is raising a preseed funding round for operating capital and personnel hiring.

“My five-year plan is regional and rooted in the impact of offering convenient food from local sources,” he says.

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