The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce has announced the hiring of Bradley Jackson, a well-known business insider on Capitol Hill, as the new President & CEO of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
“We are excited to name Bradley as President of the Tennessee Chamber,” Greg Martz, Chairman of the Tennessee Chamber Board of Directors, said.
“He has demonstrated beyond any doubt his ability to effectively run a complex organization, and we are excited about his vision for the Chamber.”
Established in 1912, the Tennessee Chamber also serves as the Tennessee Manufacturers Association and counts Tennessee’s most prominent businesses as members. The Tennessee Chamber also maintains a statewide grassroots organization that includes local Chambers of Commerce and economic development professionals. The Chamber is the official state affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the American Chemistry Council.
Mr. Martz further noted, “After a number of conversations with elected officials and business leaders across Tennessee, we came to the unanimous conclusion that, based on Bradley’s vision and the respect that he carries with legislative and business leaders, he is the right choice to lead the Chamber long term.”
Mr. Jackson has more than a decade of experience in leading some of the business community’s most successful initiatives. In his prior role with the Chamber, Mr. Jackson served as the Vice President for Government Affairs, heading up the implementation of the Chamber’s annual legislative agenda. During his tenure, the Chamber achieved a number of successes in the areas of workers’ comp reform, business taxes, and workforce initiatives. The Chamber succeeded in accomplishing more than 90% of its legislative goals during the time that Jackson steered Government Affairs.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Mr. Jackson worked in a variety of roles in Tennessee state government. He was on the research staff of the powerful Senate and House Finance Ways & Means Committees, headed up lobbying for the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions, and played a strategic role on behalf of the Governor’s office in a number of operational and strategic initiatives.
“The Tennessee Chamber has a bright future, and I am honored to be selected to this position,” Jackson said. “I will work to continue our tradition of strong legislative advocacy and government affairs, and growing relationships with business leaders. I look forward to focusing on the needs of our member companies as we work to develop programs that benefit them and continue to make Tennessee a great state for business.”
A native of Lawrenceburg, TN, Jackson is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Mr. Jackson and his wife, Hope, have three children and live in Nashville.