January 26, 2017

Titans Join Pinnacle Financial Partners to Host Leadership Tennessee Dinner

January 26, 2017

Mayor Megan Barry, Ron Samuels, Representative Diane Black

January 23, 2017 - By Lynne McCracken

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans partnered with Pinnacle Financial Partners to host members of “Leadership Tennessee” Monday at Nissan Stadium.

Leadership Tennessee is a 10-month program that brings together influential thought leaders from diverse backgrounds to not only learn more about the rich cultural heritage of our state, but also tackle tough issues that affect our state's success. Through dialogue and an expanding network, Leadership Tennessee members are taking what they see and learn on a statewide level and put it into action in their own communities.

Established in 2013, the class includes 40 business, government, education and nonprofit leaders from across Tennessee.

Ron Samuels, vice-chairman of Pinnacle Financial Partners, joined the 2015-16 class and also served on the “Just Build It” committee that helped build Nissan Stadium and bring in season ticket holders.

“This is an action,” Samuels said. “Leaders really value action and this is a leadership program. Some of the class members have taken off on projects of bringing a new business to their community or helping the state as they go out and recruit companies.

“I was very fortunate to work with the Nashville Sports Council 20 years ago now and we had the desire to have a professional sports team here. Never in all my wildest dreams would I have thought that we would have been involved in a professional sports franchise, but that was fantastic! We get a chance to help people across the state, feel a part of the Titans organization. We also have the chance to do things like we are doing tonight to bring people together and it’s a lot of fun! We are committed to the community and committed to the Titans at Pinnacle and I love it!”

Leadership Tennessee brings together all the disparate parts of our state to build partnerships and unify leaders behind a common cause for the betterment of citizens and Pinnacle takes that mission very seriously.

Said Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, a guest speaker at the event: “Nashville is a community that says, ‘What can I do for you?’”

Barry discussed the priorities of improving the educational outcomes at public schools, public safety, engaging regional and state partners to develop a unified vision, a plan for transportation, creating more affordable housing options for residents of all backgrounds, including the homeless and veterans, and continuing to grow our economy, while ensuring all parts of Davidson County share in the prosperity. “Nashville is a special place,” Barry said.

“I am here as part of a program called Leadership Tennessee and it’s a group of individual leaders from across the state of Tennessee where we get together for a 10 month period and visit different areas across the state,” said Valoria Armstrong, president of Tennessee American Water. “From a networking standpoint, it has been phenomenal. For me personally, it’s allowed me to learn more about my state of Tennessee, what’s happening and really a lot of the great treasures we have that we really don’t know about.”

“The Titans have been so gracious to welcome us to the stadium for dinner tonight as we have some conversations about how wonderful our state is and ways we can improve our state and individual communities,” said Judge Brandon Gibson. Tennessee Court of Appeals. “I’ve been very involved in my community in west Tennessee from a variety of perspectives from before I was on the court and after I was on the court and it’s a good opportunity to maybe borrow some great ideas for our own communities.”

“Being Tennessee’s NFL team, it’s an honor to partner with Pinnacle in bringing these visionaries from all over our great state to Nissan Stadium,” said Titans Director of Marketing Brad McClanahan. “It’s our sincere hope these leaders will take what they learn here and ingrain those ideas into their own communities throughout the entire state.”

Members of the 2016-17 Leadership Tennessee class include:

Alamo: Judge Brandon Gibson, Tennessee Court of Appeals

Chattanooga: Steven Angle, chancellor, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; Valoria Armstrong, president, Tennessee American Water; Alexis Bogo, executive director, Hamico Inc.; Bruce Hartmann, president, Chattanooga Times Free Press; JD Hickey, president and CEO, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee; Jill Levine, chief academic officer, Hamilton County Department of Education; Maura Sullivan, chief operating officer, City of Chattanooga

Franklin: Mendy Mazzo, vice president, Skanska; Jerry Stump, president and COO, Volkert, Inc.

Gallatin: Congressman Diane Black, United States Congress

Jackson: Kyle Spurgeon, president and CEO, Jackson Chamber

Johnson City: Bill Greer, president, Milligan College

Kingsport: CeeGee McCord, director, Global Public Affairs and Corporate Responsibility, Eastman; Commissioner Kevin Triplett, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

Knoxville: Christi Branscom, deputy to the mayor/COO, City of Knoxville; Krissy DeAlejandro, executive director, tnAchieves; Steve Diggs, president and CEO, Emerald Youth Foundation; Justin Maierhofer, vice president, government relations, Tennessee Valley Authority; Steve Mangum, Dean & Stokely Leadership Foundation Chair, Haslam College of Business, University of Tennessee Knoxville; Frank Rothermel, president, Denark Construction; Anthony Wise, president, Pellissippi State Community College

Lookout Mountain: Miller Wellborn, chairman, SmartBank and SmartFinancial, Inc.

Memphis: Greg Duckett, senior vice president and chief legal officer, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation; Cato Johnson, senior vice president, Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare; Estella Mayhue-Greer, president and CEO, Mid-South Food Bank; Senator Mark Norris, Tennessee General Assembly; Terence Patterson, president, Downtown Memphis Commission; Phil Trenary, president and CEO, Greater Memphis Chamber; Representative Mark White, Tennessee General Assembly

Nashville: Michael Anastasi, vice president of news, USA Today Network – Tennessee; Executive Editor, TheTennessean; Laura Berlind, executive director, The Sycamore Institute; Harold Carpenter, executive vice president and CFO, Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc.; Trish Holliday, assistant commissioner and chief learning officer, State of Tennessee Department of Human Resources; David Mansouri, president, State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE); Pam Brooks Martin, president, Cushion Employer Services; Patricia Shea, CEO, YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee; Dwight Tarwater, counsel to the governor, Governor Bill Haslam, State of Tennessee; LoLita Toney, director of development, National Museum of African American Music; Senator Jeff Yarbro, Tennessee General Assembly

Leadership Tennessee is an initiative of Lipscomb University’s College of Leadership & Public Service and their mission fosters collaborative, non-partisan dialogue on issues of state importance connecting a network of diverse leaders and engaged citizens.

About Pinnacle Financial Partners
Pinnacle Financial Partners provides a full range of banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services designed for businesses and their owners and individuals interested in a comprehensive relationship with their financial institution. The American Banker recognized Pinnacle as the sixth best bank to work for in the country in 2016.

Pinnacle is the largest locally owned bank in Nashville and fourth overall in terms of total deposits. The firm operates 29 offices in Middle Tennessee including 10 in Davidson County, eight in Rutherford County and four each in Williamson and Wilson Counties. Pinnacle is also the official banking partner of the Tennessee Titans.

The firm began operations in a single downtown Nashville location in October 2000 and has since grown to approximately $11.2 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2016. As the second-largest bank holding company headquartered in Tennessee, Pinnacle operates in the state’s four largest markets, Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga, as well as several surrounding counties.

Additional information concerning Pinnacle, which is included in the NASDAQ Financial-100 Index, can be accessed at www.pnfp.com.

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

Patrick McAnally

July 11, 2016

Leadership Tennessee Announces Class IV

Patrick McAnally

July 11, 2016

Lipscomb University’s College of Leadership & Public Service today announced the 2016-17 class for Leadership Tennessee, a leadership education program designed to cultivate a network of business, nonprofit, education and government leaders who are committed to addressing the state’s challenges and opportunities.

The class includes 40 business, government, education and nonprofit leaders from across Tennessee.

“Since the kickoff in 2013, Leadership Tennessee has brought together influential thought leaders from diverse backgrounds to not only learn more about the rich cultural heritage of our state, but also tackle tough issues that affect our state's success. Through dialogue and an expanding network, Leadership Tennessee members are taking what they see and learn on a statewide level and putting it into action in their own communities,” said Cathy Cate, executive director of Leadership Tennessee.

Cate said the program is quickly making an impact on Tennessee.

“With the announcement of its fourth class, Leadership Tennessee has proven the level of experience and leadership and the diversity of thought, perspective and regional and professional sector representation can be sustained. The quality and number of applicants continues to grow each year and we are excited to invite this next group of Leadership Tennessee members to a network of leaders around the state who are committed to the idea that we must all work together to create a stronger Tennessee.”

Leadership Tennessee is a 10-month program that provides collaborative learning and dialogue spanning the state’s three grand divisions, issue-specific education for demonstrated leaders, a diverse representation of participants and opportunities to affect change. Last year, Leadership Tennessee received a $750,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to expand the program’s offerings, scope and impact on Tennessee.

Members of the 2016-17 Leadership Tennessee class

Alamo: Judge Brandon Gibson, Tennessee Court of Appeals

Franklin: Mendy Mazzo, vice president, Skanska; Jerry Stump, president and COO, Volkert, Inc.

Gallatin: Congressman Diane Black, United States Congress

Jackson: Kyle Spurgeon, president and CEO, Jackson Chamber

Johnson City: Bill Greer, president, Milligan College

Kingsport: CeeGee McCord, director, Global Public Affairs and Corporate Responsibility, Eastman; Commissioner Kevin Triplett, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

Lookout Mountain: Miller Wellborn, chairman, SmartBank and SmartFinancial, Inc.

“In my view, Leadership Tennessee has set the national standard in public service leadership development,” said Steve Joiner, dean of the College of Leadership & Public Service. “Since the programs inception, more than 100 highly influential leaders have completed the program and they are shaping the future of Tennessee, in no small part because of their experience with the team, past members and funders around the state. Leadership Tennessee models the mission of the College of Leadership & Public Service through ‘theory-to-practice’ education and development.”

Past classes have focused on key issues impacting the state including education, government efficiency and health and wellness. During the course of the program, each class participates in learning and conversation designed to give them a greater understanding of the complex issues affecting the success of the state. The 2016-17 Leadership Tennessee class will commence with a retreat in August.

Program participants said they have gained new perspective through Leadership Tennessee

“Leadership Tennessee has been a tremendously valuable and special experience,” said Lucia Folk, vice president for public affairs at Country Music Television (CMT) in Nashville and 2015-16 participant. “I’ve loved the opportunity to learn so much from my classmates about each region’s specific opportunities and challenges. The best part has been building new friendships and the fact that we all have the same goal—making Tennessee the best place to live in the world.”

“Everything I expected to gain from Leadership Tennessee I did but even more so. Though I had traveled our state extensively before, I discovered amazing people and places I didn’t know existed,” said Randy Boyd, Tennessee Commissioner for Community and Economic Development and member of the program’s inaugural class. “I hoped to get acquainted with others across the state, but underestimated the close and lasting friendships that would be made. And, I learned that while we often talk about the ‘grand divisions,’ far better it is to think of us a grand alliance. There is incredible strength in the diversity of our state and when we work together, anything is possible. All this and so much more I gained from my Leadership Tennessee experience.”

“But the benefits of Leadership Tennessee begin with graduation,” Boyd continued. “Since graduating, whether serving on the TICUA board, acting as chairman of United Way in my hometown or now serving in Governor Haslam’s cabinet or numerous other boards, there is one if not more of my classmates by my side. The deep and lasting friendships that are made will benefit me personally for the rest of my life, and if we put them to good use in our service to the state, they will hopefully be a benefit to our state as well.”

Mauricio Calvo, executive director of Latino Memphis Inc., has been a Memphis resident for 22 years. He said the program has “made me a proud Tennessean.”

“Leadership Tennessee has allowed me to get a much better and deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities of our state,” said Calvo, a 2015-16 participant. “We have a lot of work to do ahead of us, yet so many great resources. Leadership Tennessee is bringing light and connecting people. I have been to places, met people and had conversations that I otherwise I wouldn't have had. It is now upon me, and each one of my classmates, to act on it. That's what leaders do.”

“Leadership Tennessee is playing a catalytic role in helping our state build on its many successes and solve some of its most challenging problems,” said David Golden, senior vice president, chief legal and sustainability officer and corporate secretary at Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport, Tennessee, and 2015-16 participant. “Leadership Tennessee helps build innovative partnerships, deepen understanding, foster communication and reveal insight. Participating in Leadership Tennessee has been a deeply inspirational, educational and enjoyable experience for me.”

For more information about Leadership Tennessee visit www.leadershiptennessee.org or contact Cate at 615.966.5180 catherine.cate@lipscomb.edu.

By: Kim Chaudoin

Patrick McAnally

June 15, 2016

Leadership Tennessee announces Class IV

Patrick McAnally

June 15, 2016

The class includes 40 business, government, education and nonprofit leaders from across Tennessee.

Cate said the program is quickly making an impact on Tennessee.

Leadership Tennessee is a 10-month program that provides collaborative learning and dialogue spanning the state’s three grand divisions, issue-specific education for demonstrated leaders, a diverse representation of participants and opportunities to affect change. Last year, Leadership Tennessee received a $750,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to expand the program’s offerings, scope and impact on Tennessee.

Members of the 2016-17 Leadership Tennessee class

Alamo: Judge Brandon Gibson, Tennessee Court of Appeals

Chattanooga: Steven Angle, chancellor, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; Valoria Armstrong, president, Tennessee American Water; Alexis Bogo, executive director, Hamico Inc.; Bruce Hartmann, president, Chattanooga Times Free Press; JD Hickey, president and CEO, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee; Jill Levine, chief academic officer, Hamilton County Department of Education; Maura Sullivan, chief operating officer, City of Chattanooga

Franklin: Mendy Mazzo, vice president, Skanska; Jerry Stump, president and COO, Volkert, Inc.

Gallatin: Congressman Diane Black, United States Congress

Jackson: Kyle Spurgeon, president and CEO, Jackson Chamber

Kingsport: CeeGee McCord, director, Global Public Affairs and Corporate Responsibility, Eastman; Commissioner Kevin Triplett, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

Knoxville: Christi Branscom, deputy to the mayor/COO, City of Knoxville; Krissy DeAlejandro, executive director, tnAchieves; Steve Diggs, president and CEO, Emerald Youth Foundation; Justin Maierhofer, vice president, government relations, Tennessee Valley Authority; Steve Mangum, Dean & Stokely Leadership Foundation Chair, Haslam College of Business, University of Tennessee Knoxville; Frank Rothermel, president, Denark Construction; Anthony Wise, president, Pellissippi State Community College

Lookout Mountain: Miller Wellborn, chairman, SmartBank and SmartFinancial, Inc.

Memphis: Greg Duckett, senior vice president and chief legal officer, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation; Cato Johnson, senior vice president, Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare; Estella Mayhue-Greer, president and CEO, Mid-South Food Bank; Senator Mark Norris, Tennessee General Assembly; Terence Patterson, president, Downtown Memphis Commission; Phil Trenary, president and CEO, Greater Memphis Chamber; Representative Mark White, Tennessee General Assembly

Milligan College: Bill Greer, president, Milligan College

Nashville: Michael Anastasi, vice president of news, USA Today Network – Tennessee; Executive Editor, TheTennessean; Laura Berlind, executive director, The Sycamore Institute; Harold Carpenter, executive vice president and CFO, Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc.; Trish Holliday, assistant commissioner and chief learning officer, State of Tennessee Department of Human Resources; David Mansouri, president, State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE); Pam Brooks Martin, president, Cushion Employer Services; Patricia Shea, CEO, YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee; Dwight Tarwater, counsel to the governor, Governor Bill Haslam, State of Tennessee; LoLita Toney, director of development, National Museum of African American Music; Senator Jeff Yarbro, Tennessee General Assembly

Program participants said they have gained new perspective through Leadership Tennessee

“Leadership Tennessee has been a tremendously valuable and special experience,” said Lucia Folk, vice president for public affairs at Country Music Television (CMT) in Nashville and 2015-16 participant. “I’ve loved the opportunity to learn so much from my classmates about each region’s specific opportunities and challenges. The best part has been building new friendships and the fact that we all have the same goal—making Tennessee the best place to live in the world.”

“Everything I expected to gain from Leadership Tennessee I did but even more so. Though I had traveled our state extensively before, I discovered amazing people and places I didn’t know existed,” said Randy Boyd, Tennessee Commissioner for Community and Economic Development and member of the program’s inaugural class. “I hoped to get acquainted with others across the state, but underestimated the close and lasting friendships that would be made. And, I learned that while we often talk about the ‘grand divisions,’ far better it is to think of us a grand alliance. There is incredible strength in the diversity of our state and when we work together, anything is possible. All this and so much more I gained from my Leadership Tennessee experience.”

Mauricio Calvo, executive director of Latino Memphis Inc., has been a Memphis resident for 22 years. He said the program has “made me a proud Tennessean.”

“Leadership Tennessee is playing a catalytic role in helping our state build on its many successes and solve some of its most challenging problems,” said David Golden, senior vice president, chief legal and sustainability officer and corporate secretary at Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport, Tennessee, and 2015-16 participant. “Leadership Tennessee helps build innovative partnerships, deepen understanding, foster communication and reveal insight. Participating in Leadership Tennessee has been a deeply inspirational, educational and enjoyable experience for me.”

Patrick McAnally

October 9, 2015

Signature Program

Leadership Tennessee brings leaders from across the state to Nashville

Patrick McAnally

October 9, 2015

Signature Program

Connecting leaders from across Tennessee, creating awareness and building networks are hallmarks of Leadership Tennessee, a leadership education program designed to cultivate a network of business, nonprofit, education and government leaders who are committed to addressing the state’s challenges and opportunities.

The innovative program, a leadership education initiative of Lipscomb University’s Nelson & Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership housed in the College of Leadership & Public Service, recently launched its third cohort and made a stop in Nashville for participants to learn more about the city and its culture.

Though the third cohort of Leadership Tennessee began with a retreat in August, members of the class, which includes 34 business, government, education and nonprofit leaders from across the state, say the program is already having an impact.

“This program is about having a chance to meet people from all corners of this great state who are interested in education, improving the state of our economic development, finding partnerships across Tennessee and getting to know the leaders in other communities is already making a difference in the way I view the world,” says Ron Samuels, chairman, founder and CEO of Avenue Bank in Nashville. “Our class also has a great diversity is age, culture, industry and background which also helps give me new perspective.”

Steve Joiner, dean of the College of Leadership & Public Service, welcomed the group to the Lipscomb campus on Sept. 20 as part of their Nashville visit.

“We want to facilitate conversations about issues facing Tennessee as we travel across the state this year,” he told the group of assembled leaders. “Among the key issues are education, health care and economic development. We hope to create a greater awareness of what is important to various communities and to equip those who will be the problem-solvers in those areas with the knowledge and network to help them be more effective leaders.”

Leadership Tennessee, which earlier this year received a $750,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to expand the program’s offerings, scope and impact on the state, is expanding the perspective of its class members.

“Leadership Tennessee is giving us access to talk to other leaders in the state and to hear other leaders share their challenges, successes and perspectives on what is important to their part of the state and how they are impacted by what happens in other parts of the state,” says Agenia Clark, president and CEO of the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee. “The conversations that we are having makes me realize what a large state we are, but that we all want answers to the same questions.”

Participant Thomas Zacharia agrees.

“This program is providing a tremendous opportunity to interact with colleagues from different walks of life, from different communities and industries who have different challenges and successes,” says Zacharia, deputy director for science and technology at Oak Ridge National Laboratory near Knoxville. “We have a diversity of ideas and approaches and opportunities to contribute to the success of our state.”

Although participant Crissy Haslam may be more familiar with issues and opportunities facing Tennessee in her role as First Lady, she expects to learn a lot from her fellow classmates and from the program.

“I am looking forward to what we will see and learn this year,” she says. “It is a definite benefit for those who are making an impact on our state to get to know each other and to get to know the state better as we travel to a variety of cities and learn about other communities first-hand.”

Jason Little, president and CEO of Baptist Memorial Healthcare in Memphis, says he is “honored to be selected to participate in Leadership Tennessee and to get to come together with others throughout the state to make improvements to a place we all love.”

While in Nashville, the group met with Gov. Bill Haslam; visited Brick Church College Prep School, where Chris Reynolds, CEO of LEAD Public Schools, discussed the charter school initiative; and participated in an overview discussion about state standards with former Tennessee commissioner of education Kevin Huffman.

A discussion the Tennessee K-12 education landscape featured a panel of experts including moderator Dan Challener (current class member?), president of the Public Education Foundation; Chris Barbic, superintendent of the Achievement School District; Ron Woodard, principal of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools’ Maplewood High School; Rep. Brenda Gilmore, 54th District, Tennessee House of Representatives; and Lucia Folk (current class member), vice president for public affairs at Country Music Television.

The group also examined the Insure Tennessee plan, a two-year pilot program proposal? that introduces market principles to Medicaid, provides coverage to more than

200,000 low-income Tennesseans at no additional cost to taxpayers and leverages a payment reform initiative that is working to control health care costs and improve the quality of care.

Leading the discussion was a panel of experts that included moderator Rick Johnson, president and CEO of the Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness (past Leadership Tennessee participant); Lindsay Boyd, director of policy at the Beacon Center of Tennessee; Vaughn Frigon, physician and TennCare chief medical officer; and Mark Cate, president and principal of the Stones River Group and former Haslam administration chief of staff (past Leadership Tennessee participant).

Activities also included visiting several Nashville eateries along with a visit to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, where participants heard from the organization’s president and CEO Jaynee Day (past Leadership Tennessee participant) and had lunch at the Second Harvest Culinary Arts Center.

The next stop for the 2015-16 Leadership Tennessee class will be in Knoxville Nov. 8-9.

Leadership Tennessee, which launched in February 2013, has already had an impact in its first two years of existence as more than 60 business, government, education and nonprofit leaders from across Tennessee have participated in the program’s first two classes. For more information about Leadership Tennessee visit www.leadershiptennessee.org or contact Leadership Tennessee executive director Cathy Cate at 615.966.5180 cathy.cate@leadershiptennesse.org.