Leadership Tennessee class goes statewide

38 new members are from rural, urban areas

Leadership Tennessee announced its Class VIII, which will convene in January 2021 to engage in collaborative, non-partisan dialogue on issues of statewide importance.

The 38 new members are from rural and urban communities across Tennessee and represent professional industries from healthcare, tourism, and education to economic development, government, and agriculture. The goal is to bring together leaders with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to ensure members can learn from each other, build new relationships, and foster productive discourse.

To accommodate travel and group size restrictions across the state, Leadership Tennessee Class VIII will convene in January 2021 and complete the program with an accelerated yet fully comprehensive schedule. Leadership Tennessee is committed to providing the same experiences and conversations offered to previous classes while also taking necessary steps to help ensure the health and safety of class members and hosts.

Leadership Tennessee Class VIII members

Jacky Akbari, managing principal, Worthington Advisory (Nashville)

Michael J. Banks, attorney, Banks Law Firm, P.A. (Brownsville, Tenn.)

Julie Bennett, vice president and general counsel, Bristol Motor Speedway, LLC (Bristol, Tenn)

Jerri Bryant, chancellor, state of Tennessee (Athens, Tenn.)

Latanya Channel, Tennessee state director, US Small Business Administration (Old Hickory, Tenn.)

Marshall E. Crawford, Jr., president and CEO, The Housing Fund (Nashville)

Adam Dickson, director, Langston Centre, city of Johnson City (Jonesborough, Tenn.)

Tracy Guarino, CEO, Guarino Advisors (Nashville)

T. Ryan Hughes, executive director, Tennessee Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs (Knoxville)

Dr. Jim Lancaster, senior medical director - midsouth, Cigna Healthcare (Franklin, Tenn.)

Linda Latimer, MD, self-employed (Johnson City, Tenn.)

Linda C. Martin, vice president academic affairs and student success, University of Tennessee (Knoxville)

Keekee Mathis, supplier diversity manager, Volkswagen Group of America (Chattanooga)

Jeannette Mills, executive VP and chief external relations officer, TVA (Knoxville)

Sara H. Morrison, executive director, Tennessee State Board of Education (Nashville)

Jennifer Nichols, commissioner, Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (Nashville)

Robert Pack, associate dean and professor, ETSU College of Public Health (Johnson City, Tenn.)

Carey Parker (Curtsinger), CEO, LHP Capital (Knoxville)

Mandy Pellegrin, policy director, The Sycamore Institute (Nashville)

Reginald Porter, Jr., SVP corporate social responsibility/chief diversity officer, ALSAC/ST. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis)

David Roddy, chief of police Chattanooga Police Department (Chattanooga)

Jason Schmitt, chief executive officer, Old Time Pottery (Murfreesboro)

James E. Shamiyeh, MD, MBA, senior vice president and chief quality officer, University of Tennessee Medical Center (Knoxville)

Jonathan Skrmetti, chief deputy attorney general, Tennessee Attorney General's Office (Franklin, Tenn.)

Laura Smith, vice president - general counsel, Nashville Electric Service (Nashville)

Zulfat Suara, assistant controller, Meharry Medical College (Nashville)

Deniece Thomas, deputy commissioner, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.)

John Tolsma, president and CEO, Knowledge Launch, LLC (Knoxville)

Brad Turner, commissioner, Tennessee Department of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (Smyrna, Tenn)

Nancy Vanreece, councilmember, Nashville and Davidson County Metropolitan Council (Madison, Tenn.)

Kevin Vaughan, principal, Township Development Services (Collierville, Tenn.)

Laura Ward, senior vice president talent development, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce (Nashville)

Bo Watson, senator, Tennessee General Assembly (Hixson, Tenn.)

H. Alan Watson, FACHE, chief executive officer, Maury Regional Health (Columbia, Tenn.)

R. Marie Webb, Sr., vice president human resources, EPB (Chattanooga)

Craig L. Weiss, vice president/ceo, Tower Ventures/central Defense Security and Staffing (Memphis)

Andrea D. Willis, SVP chief medical officer (Chattanooga)

Joe Woolley, chief executive officer, Nashville LGBT Chamber (Nashville)

For more about Leadership Tennessee, visit www.leadershiptennessee.org.