Leadership Tennessee on Tuesday announced the third class of Leadership Tennessee NEXT, a program designed to offer personal and professional career development for Tennessee’s "best and brightest early and mid-career professionals while fostering a greater understanding of Tennessee." There are nine participants from Chattanooga.
The third class of Leadership Tennessee NEXT is welcoming 29 up-and-coming professionals from every region of the state, representing a myriad of professional sectors and industries. Over the course of the program, participants will have opportunities to grow their professional skills and connect to a cross-generation network of state leaders, while participating in collaborative, non-partisan dialogues on issues of state importance.
“One thing is evident, the future of the state is bright, with these upcoming leaders,” said Cathy Cate, Leadership Tennessee executive director. “Leadership Tennessee has always been focused on building a network of problem solvers who are rooted across all regions of the state and who come together to build a stronger, better Tennessee; Leadership Tennessee NEXT adds a necessary layer to that network. By investing in these upcoming leaders now, Tennessee will be well prepared for the future.”
In its eighth year, Leadership Tennessee has developed a network of over 300 members, which includes 55 Leadership Tennessee NEXT members. During the pandemic, the organization postponed in-person gatherings and quickly turned to a virtual setting, conducting more than 30 discussions on topics that included crisis leadership, racial inequality, mental health awareness, and industry-focused updates, along with sessions with special guests, such as, former Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam and John Meacham. Learn more about the virtual series here.
To learn more about Leadership Tennessee, visit www.leadershiptennessee.org.
Leadership Tennessee NEXT Class III
Jasmine Boyd, Senior Account Manager - Business Development, ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis)
Julia Bursch, Director of Operations & Special Projects, River City Company (Chattanooga)
Brittany Ennen, Real Estate Agent, Todd Henon Properties (Chattanooga)
Evann Freeman, Director of Government Relations & Economic Development, EPB- Chattanooga (Chattanooga)
Danielle Gore, Program Manager, ZeroTo510 Medical Device Accelerator, Epicenter Memphis (Memphis)
Adam Green, Chief of Staff, East Tennessee State University (Johnson City)
Samantha Gutter, Senior Director of Postsecondary Impact, State Collaborative on Reforming Education (Nashville)
Tanika Harper, CEO/Founder, Shora Foundation (Knoxville)
Donna Elle Harrison, Director of Cultural Tourism, Chattanooga Tourism Co. (Chattanooga)
Kevin Hensley, Associate Director of Public Policy, Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation (Columbia)
Victoria Hirschberg, Director of Business Development, State of Tennessee- Economic and Community Development (Nashville)
Miles Huff, Senior Director, Talent Initiatives, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce (Chattanooga)
John Hunter, CEO / President, Beacon Financial Credit Union (Johnson City)
Jenna Johns, Chief Operating Officer, RDI Technologies, Inc. (Knoxville)
Ken Jones, Director of Procurement & Vendor Relations, EPB (Chattanooga)
Raquel Leal, Founder/Director, Latinas Time (Lenoir City)
Kirby Lewis, Site Development Director, State of Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (Nashville)
Amanda Martin, Director of Neighborhood, Community and Government Relations Lipscomb University (Nashville)
Jeffery Norfleet, Director of Academic Affairs, Tennessee Higher Education Commission (Clarksville)
Patrick O'Hagan, Interim Director, Kimball Site, Chattanooga State Community College (Chattanooga)
Michael Parker, Director of Economic Development, NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership (Blountville)
Nick Patterson, Joint operations officer, Honest Abe Log Homes and sister companies (Red Boiling Springs)
Daniela Peterson, Community Strategies - Senior Advisor, The Trust for Public Land (Chattanooga)
Rachel Powers Selbe, Strategic Planner, Governors COVID-19 Unified Command Group (Mt. Juliet)
JB Smiley, Jr., Managing Attorney, Smiley & Associates, PLLC (Memphis)
Callie Starnes, News Director, WRCB-TV (Chattanooga)
Avery Swinson, Director of Admissions and Enrollment Development, Walters State Community College (Morristown)
Haowei Tong, Senior Director of the Appalachian Highlands, Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians (Johnson City)
Alicyn York, Director of Scheduling/Executive Assistant, Office of U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (Nashville)