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Ask the Expert


The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce has enlisted the help of leading industry experts to answer your business questions. Please submit your business-related questions to asktheexpert@nashvillechamber.com and receive personalized advice from this quarter’s leading experts.

Once your question has been submitted and sent to our panel of experts, you will receive a response via email within two to three business days.

To view past questions and answers, visit our online Q&A forum.

Disclaimer: The answers in this forum are provided as a source of information only and should not be intended as legal advice. The views and opinions expressed by the experts are not necessarily those of the Chamber, and the Chamber is not responsible for any statements of the experts.

Who’s answering your questions?



Martin Akin, senior vice president of business banking, First Tennessee
Areas of expertise: Business banking, commercial lending, financing

Martin Akin has had a 16-year banking career, all spent with First Tennessee. His business banking experience spans 14 years, and he has managed the Middle TN Business Banking team for the past four.

A big part of business success is going the extra mile to manage and contain costs. First Tennessee helps business owners understand their business priorities, learn how to control costs, and identify ways we can help manage their cash. Operating efficiency is more important than ever. Focus areas include reducing time and expense of bill paying; managing payroll; and managing borrowing costs.

Our goal in business banking is to work with entrepreneurs and assist them in finding financial solutions to grow their business. With our constantly changing economic environment, this never ceases to be an exciting challenge.

Our process is consultative and driven by listening, learning, and understanding your business before making any recommendations.

Akin is a graduate of the Southeastern School of Commercial Lending & Advanced Commercial Lending, and he holds investment and insurance licenses. His professional affiliations include the governing body of Athena Powerlink; he serves on the boards of Friends of Warner Parks and the Community Resource Center.



J. Christopher Anderson, shareholder Littler Mendelson, PC
Areas of expertise: Complex litigation and jury trials; discrimination and harassment; transportation; wage and hour; policies, procedures and handbooks

Chris Anderson represents management in employment litigation and advises clients on general employment matters. Anderson represents management clients in state and federal employment litigation and in administrative proceedings before the EEOC and the U.S. Department of Labor. He also helps clients avoid litigation by assisting them with workplace investigations, disciplinary actions and employment policies. In addition to counseling clients, Anderson trains management-level employees on compliance with all state and federal employment laws such as Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Family Medical Leave Act. He currently serves on the board of directors for Monroe Harding and as vice chair of the board for Calvary Young Children’s School.
Ronald Q. Roberts, president & CEO, DVL Public Relations & Advertising
Areas of expertise: Crisis management, corporate & community affairs/relations, special events

Ronald Roberts has been with DVL Public Relations & Advertising since 1992 and was named to his current position in 2013. Roberts earned a B.S. in mass communications as well as a master’s degree in education from Middle Tennessee State University. Prior to joining DVL, he worked at Middle Tennessee State University as assistant director of public relations before becoming an instructor in the college of mass communications. He was assistant director and production assistant at the Nashville Network for four years before MTSU.

He serves on the boards of directors for 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee; Nashville Sports Council; Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee; Citizens Bank and Trust; Nashville Downtown Partnership; Nashville Downtown Rotary Club (2009-2010 programs chair, 2011-2012 recruitment chair); and the MTSU College of Mass Communications Board of Professional Visitors.

He was a member of the 2003-2004 Leadership Nashville class; a member of the program committee for the 2004-2005 Leadership Nashville class; has served on the boards of the MTSU Alumni Association, the Nashville Oasis Center, YWCA of Middle Tennessee, Bethlehem Centers of Nashville and Tennessee Minority and Supplier Development Council, and is a deacon at Lake Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville.

He and his wife Deborah have two daughters – Ashley and Erica.

Tim Shaver, president, Sandler Training
Areas of expertise: Sales and sales management

Tim Shaver is a business owner and represents Sandler Training throughout the state of Tennessee. Sandler Training is an international management development-consulting firm that specializes in training in the areas of sales, sales management and human relations skills.

Shaver is a 1974 graduate of the United States Military Academy, where he received a B.S. in engineering. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and served for five years as an infantry officer in both command and staff assignments. After leaving the military, he spent 20 years working for both family-owned and public companies. During this period he was a facility engineer, plant manager, sales manager, corporate trainer, director of operations and VP of manufacturing for 33 facilities and 2,000 employees. He has been involved in more than a dozen corporate acquisitions, which has given him an in-depth understanding of the problems facing small and mid-sized businesses.

Louis Upkins, partner, GiANT Impact
Areas of expertise: Leadership, marketing, branding

Partner of GiANT Impact, a company that produces the world’s largest one-day leadership event, and author of Treat Me Like A Customer, Louis Upkins is an entrepreneur, having spent most of his career in branding and marketing. Committed to bringing ideas to life, Upkins has worked with some of the largest names in a variety of industries, including Oprah, Starbucks, Product (RED), The Olympic Games, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, The Kings of Comedy Tour (Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer and Bernie Mac), Luther Vandross, UPS, Cracker Barrel, Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, O’Charley’s, Burger King, McDonald's, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and Fleetguard.

His products have been featured in many prominent, influential national publications, such as Time, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and People.

Upkins is the founder of Leadership Sports, which marries the worlds of professional athletes to the corporate space; is on the Friends of Warner Parks Board and YMCA Executive Board, and has served on the advisory boards of the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee, Leadership Middle Tennessee, New Hope Academy and the Nashville Chamber Public Benefit Foundation.

In May 2007, Upkins served as co-chairman of the highly successful Luis Palau Nashville Cityfest, which was attended by nearly 100,000 at Nashville’s riverfront.