Leadership Tennessee Announces new classes for 2025

Leadership Tennessee, a collective with a mission to foster non-partisan dialogue on issues of state importance, announced 48 individuals to its 2024–2025 Signature Program Class XI and 32 individuals to its 2024 Fall Leadership Tennessee NEXT Program Class IX.

The two cohorts comprise individuals from across 20 Tennessee counties and bring with them diverse professional experiences, including representatives from business, government, education, medical, and nonprofit sectors. Each cohort will visit all three Grand Divisions to analyze the state’s most pressing challenges. Their statewide study will result in a strong network of statewide leaders emboldened to work together to address the most serious issues uncovered.

“We are proud to challenge our cohorts to think critically about advancing our state in a variety of areas,” Alfred Degrafinreid II, president and CEO of Leadership Tennessee, said in a news release. “These classes in particular will experience the program at the height of this year’s election. This will no doubt lead to even deeper and more thoughtful dialogue as state and federal discourse will be spiking in this moment.”

The Signature Program, the organization’s flagship program, is a ten month, seven session study for the state’s most influential leaders from every region and varying professional industries. The program aims to continue building an increased statewide network of proven leaders and change agents who participate in collaborative conversation and build concrete plans to continue dialogue and actions beyond the yearlong commitment.

Leadership Tennessee NEXT is a shorter program offering early-to-mid career professionals in-depth personal and professional development in addition to fostering a better understanding of our state. Over the span of four months, participants engage by traveling to sessions in each Grand Division, learning about the most pressing issues, while also strengthening their professional skills. 

Signature Program Class XI

Davidson County

  • Jill Ayers, Judge, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals

  • Monty Burks, Deputy Director, Governors Faith Based and Community Initiative

  • Clay Bright, CEO, Megasite Authority of West Tennessee

  • Nikki Burdine, News Anchor, WKRN

  • Brooxie Carlton, Assistant Commissioner, Community and Rural Development, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

  • Joe Carrico, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation

  • Kate Chinn, Partner, MP&F

  • Natalie Cooper, President and CEO, Wellpoint TN

  • Steven Gentile, Executive Director, Tennessee Higher Education Commission

  • Erin Hafkenschiel, President, ThinkTennessee

  • Johari Matthews, Vice President and Executive Director, ONE Community and Titans Foundation, Tennessee Titans

  • Bert McCarter, Attorney, McCarter East PLLC

  • Martesha Johnson Moore, Chief Public Defender, Metropolitan Nashville Public Defender’s Office

  • Karl Sprules, Chief Operating Officer, AllianceBernstein

  • Carey Whitworth, Vice President of Government Relations and Advocacy, University of Tennessee System

  • Russell Ziecker, Executive Vice President, Head of Global TV Music, LIONSGATE and STARZ

Gibson County

  • Tina Prescott, Chief Operating Officer, West Tennessee Healthcare

Hamilton County

  • Casey Dungan, President and CEO, BlueCare Tennessee

  • Evann Freeman, Vice President, Government and Community Relations, EPB Chattanooga

  • Ian Leavy, Assistant General Counsel, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

  • Joe Riley, Founder/Owner, Patriot Family Homes and Quail Run Farm

  • Mina Sartipi, Professor, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Knox County

  • Ben Bentley, CEO, Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation

  • Jan Brown, VP, Talent and Culture, Tennessee Valley Authority

  • Clarice Phelps, Engineer, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Grant Rosenberg, Chief Operating Officer, City of Knoxville

  • Tammy White, President/CEO, Leadership Knoxville

Madison County

  • Monte Cooper, President and CEO, Jackson Energy Authority

  • Carol Rothstein, President, Jackson State Community College

Montgomery County

  • Lee Harrell, Chief of Staff, Montgomery County

  • Kimberly Wiggins, County Trustee, Montgomery County Government

Roane County

  • Bob Eby, Chairman, Tennessee State Board of Education

Robertson County

  • Zane Seals, Chief Financial Officer, Division of TennCare

Rutherford County

  • Dawn White, District 13 State Senator, Tennessee General Assembly

Shelby County

  • Kemp Conrad, Principal, Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Advisors, LLC

  • Michalyn Easter-Thomas, Memphis City Councilwoman, City of Memphis

  • Michael Fulton, Director of Government Affairs and Business Diversity Development, Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority

  • Tiffany Legington Graham, Chief Marketing and Development Officer, National Civil Rights Museum

  • Phillip May, President (Memphis), Pinnacle Financial Partners

  • Johnny Moore, Jr., Tennessee Regional President, Truist Financial

  • Chandell Ryan, President and CEO, Downtown Memphis Commission

  • Paul Young, Mayor, City of Memphis

Smith County

  • Bryan Wright, Executive Vice President, Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation

Sullivan County

  • Carla Karst, Principal and Founder, Landstar and Workforce Homes Foundation

  • Frank Lett, President and Chief Tourism Officer, Visit Kingsport

Sumner County

  • Chassen Haynes, Regional Manager, U.S. State and Local Government Affairs, Ford Motor Company

Williamson County

  • Matt Largen, President and CEO, Williamson, Inc.

  • Mia McNeil, State Director, AARP Tennessee


Leadership Tennessee NEXT Class X 

Davidson

  • Natalie Alvarez, Director of Strategic Alliances, Solyco Capital

  • J.D. Cressman, General Counsel, Tennessee Department of Military

  • Joshua Haston, Development Manager, LDG Development; Nashville Industrial Development Board

  • Tyler Lane, Senior Associate, KPMG

  • Lauren May, Senior Management Consultant, State of Tennessee

  • Tim Sigler, Assistant Vice President of Government Relations and Advocacy, University

  • of Tennessee System

Hamilton

  • Keith King, Manager, BlueCross Healthy Places – Community Relations and

  • Foundations BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

  • Lily Sanchez, Communications & Development Manager, La Paz Chattanooga

  • Marcherie Savage, Director of Entrepreneurial Development, The INCubator – program

  • of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce

  • Melissa White, Director of Quality, Risk Management and Compliance, Cempa

  • Community Care

  • Hayley Wood, Strategic Partnerships Manager, Western Governors University

Knox

  • Nicholas Bradshaw, Director of Fleet Services, City of Knoxville

  • Trina Gallman, Public and Community Engagement Consultant, TVA

  • Luke Lybrand, Treasurer, University of Tennessee System

Madison

  • Mike Bryant, Community President, Centennial Bank

Morgan

  • Jessica Massengill, Director of Operations, Free Medical Clinic

Shelby

  • Courtney McNeal, Chief of Staff/City Innovation Director, Innovate Memphis

  • Raquel Miranda Capocaccia, Senior Director of Development, New Memphis

  • Jevonte Porter Sr., Director of Community Relations, Youth Villages, Inc. / Memphis Allies

  • Leshundra Robinson, Director of Development, BRIDGES USA, Inc.

  • Matthew Szalaj, Special Assistant to the Mayor, City of Memphis

  • Nicholas Thompson, Public Policy Professional, St. Jude Children’s Research Hosptial

  • Rasie Dobbins-Turner, Vice President, Oteka Technologies, LLC

Sullivan

  • Jenna Lafever, Business Development Executive, Bristol Motor Speedway

  • Jessica Lambert, Health System Specialist, James H. Quillen VA Medical Center

  • Regan Pierce, State Director, Isaiah 117 House

Unicoi

  • Nathaniel Farnor, Coordinator for Leadership and Civic Engagement, East Tennessee State University

Washington

  • Larry Bowman Baranowski, Director of Enterprise Financial Systems and Analysis, Teach For America

  • Michael Hoff, Vice Provost, East Tennessee State University

Williamson

  • Emma McWeeney, Senior Director of Charter Initiatives, Tennessee State Collaborative On Reforming Education (SCORE)

Wilson

  • Danielle Allen, Senior Account Executive, MP&F Strategic Communications


ABOUT LEADERSHIP TENNESSEE

Leadership Tennessee was founded in 2013 as an initiative of the College of Leadership and Public Service at Lipscomb University, and in 2021, it launched as an independent 501(c)(3). The program fosters collaborative, non-partisan dialogue on issues of state importance, connecting and deploying a network of diverse leaders and engaged citizens. Citizens with demonstrated community and professional leadership from every region of the state bring their diverse backgrounds and experiences to an in-depth exploration of the complex issues facing Tennessee, with a focus on how leaders can collaborate to effectively address those issues. 

Classes are selected through a deliberate and competitive selection process. Nominations are now being accepted for Class XII of the Signature Program (2025-2026) and Class X of Leadership Tennessee NEXT (Spring 2025).

Member Login
Welcome, (First Name)!

Forgot? Show
Log In
Enter Member Area
My Profile Log Out