FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact 
Jordan LaBelle
Manager of Communications  
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Cell: 615-743-3018
jlabelle@nashvillechamber.com 

Eighteenth Annual Awards Ceremony Showcasing Nashville’s Young Professionals 

 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 16, 2025) –The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and YP Nashville today announced the finalists for the 2025 NELAS. Now in its eighteenth year, the NELAS honors the Nashville region’s emerging leaders, outstanding young professionals ages 21–40, for their career accomplishments and community contributions.  

The NELAS recognizes up to four finalists and one winner in 16 industry categories: Architecture and Engineering; Business Services; Arts, Entertainment, and Media; Entrepreneurship; Community and Nonprofit; Education; Environment and Sustainability; Financial Services; Government and Public Affairs; Hospitality and Tourism; Human Resources; Legal Services; Medical and Health Care Services; Advertising and Public Relations; Wellness; and Technology.   

Industry leaders serving as judges evaluate applications and choose finalists and winners based on submitted essay responses, professional achievement, demonstrated leadership, and community impact.  

“We’re so proud to celebrate the rising stars shaping the future of our vibrant region,” said Stephanie Coleman, President and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. “Each year, the NELAs spotlight young professionals who are not only excelling in their fields but also making a meaningful impact in our community. This year’s finalists emerged from a highly competitive process and reflect the strength of Nashville’s young professional ecosystem.” 

NELAS winners will be announced during the NELAS Awards Ceremony at Marathon Music Works on Thursday, July 31, at 5:30 p.m. with a reception immediately following. YP Nashville is presented by the Jack C. Massey College of Business at Belmont University.  

Visit https://www.nashvillechamber.com/nelas/ for more information. 

  

  

2025 Nashville Emerging Leader Award Finalists 

  

Advertising and Public Relations  

  1. Bri Carlesimo, Vice President of Client Experience, Pierce Public Relations 
  1. LaConteau Williams, Executive Director of Marketing, Media and Communications, Mt. Zion Baptist Church 
  1. Joe Tjosvold, Founder, Chezy Video Co. 
  1. Kathryn Swanton, CEO, Metkat Marketing LLC 

Architecture and Engineering 

  1. Michael Gallagher, Project Executive, Turner Construction Company 
  1. Krista Cashion, Senior Business Development Manager, Messer Construction Co. 
  1. Amira Ahmetovic, Manager, Business Development/Marketing, ESa 
  1. Adebisi Bashorun, Industrial Design Engineer, Amazon  

Arts, Entertainment, and Media 

  1. Bruce Ayers, Founder/ CEO, Musical Director, Nashville African American Wind Symphony, Inc.  
  1. Isabel Tipton-Krispin, Executive Director, The Nashville Shakespeare Festival 
  1. Karen Schillinger, Music Agent, Creative Artists Agency 
  1. Margaret Eggers, Controller, The MLC  

Business Services  

  1. Allie Williamson, CEO, Southern Domestic Diva 
  1. Amanda Smith, Managing Director, Ankura Consulting 
  1. Craig Vanbury, Service Delivery Leader, The Precisionists, Inc.  
  1. Ryan Parr, Owner and President, Nashville Painting Professionals 

Community Service and Nonprofit 

  1. Em Wilder, Twendé Program Manager, Nashville Entrepreneur Center 
  1. Allison Quintanilla Plattsmier, CEO, Edgehill Neighborhood Partnership (DBA: Empowering Neighborhood Partnerships (ENP)) & AQP Consulting 
  1. Adnan Karim, Vice President of Community Impact, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee 
  1. Jared Miller, CEO, Freedom Aviation Network

Education 

  1. Jonathan Brocco, Principal, LEAD Public Schools 
  1. Deborah Osborne, School Counselor, Metro Nashville Public Schools 
  1. Robert Wallace, Chief of Staff, Metro Nashville Public Schools 
  1. Katelyn Catalfamo, Teacher, Metro Nashville Public Schools 

Entrepreneurship 

  1. Channing Moreland, Co-Founder, EVA Entertainment, Inc. 
  1. Mark Hilton, Program Manager, Entrepreneurship, Vanderbilt University 
  1. Thomas Kelly, Owner, Creative Soulz Printing 
  1. Christina Griffin, Owner, Head Coach (GCCG); Program Manager, National Partnerships (Interise), Griffin Coaching and Consulting Group; Interise 

Environment and Sustainability 

  1. Jon D. Bumpus, Director of Communications, TennGreen Land Conservancy 
  1. Brooke Ellis, Solar Project Development, Silicon Ranch 
  1. Zach Andreasen, Environmental Manager, LaBella Associates 

Financial Services 

  1. Kandace Harris, Client Service Advisor, Pinnacle Financial Partners 
  1. Katherine Horne, SVP- Relationship Manager, Studio Bank 
  1. Joshua Ireland, Chief Executive Officer, Jefferson Bridge Capital 
  1. Matt Gentzow, Investment Strategist, Waddell & Associates 

Government and Public Affairs 

  1. Terry Vo, District 17 Metro Councilmember, Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County 
  1. Janyl Igadna, Manager of The Women’s Fund, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee 
  1. Rebecca Nofi, Manager of Volunteer and Community Engagement, Greater Nashville Regional Council (GNRC) 
  1. Sarah Elliott, State Health Plan Director, Tennessee Department of Health  

Hospitality and Tourism 

  1. Morgan Rehnberg, VP of Exhibits & Experiences, Adventure Science Center 
  1. Chelsa Lourie, Director of Workforce Development, Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association  
  1. Olivia Bane, Owner, Waldo’s Chicken + Beer 
  1. Cynthia Florez, Managing Partner, LIMO EATERY

Human Resources 

  1. Gabrielle Rodman, Global Senior Talent Projects & Programs Lead, Dell Technologies  
  1. Ausha Miles, Human Resource Manager, Parking Management Company  
  1. Robert Strobel, Human Resources Manager – Commercial & HSP Division, Parking Management Company 
  1. Christopher Keenan, Operations and Administrative Analyst, Lotus Asset Management 

Legal Services 

  1.  Hannah Webber, Associate Attorney, Bass, Berry & Sims PLC 
  1. Brittany Macon, Attorney, Polsinelli PC 
  1. Dalton Thompson, Associate, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 
  1. Garrah Carter, Attorney, Bass, Berry & Sims PLC 

Medical and Health Care Services 

  1. Ashley Danner, CEO, BrightQuest Treatment Centers 
  1. Nicole L. Boyer, Director, Visiting Angels Nashville 
  1. Evelyn Mukherji, Executive Director, Dava Foundation 
  1. Rahul Lyengar, Founder/CEO & Physician, Members Health Co 

Technology 

  1. Katy Phillips, Vice President of Technology Operations, Parking Management Company  
  1. Shoira Shamsieva, Software Development Manager, WEX Inc 
  1. Autumn Copeland, CEO | Website Architect, Quartz and Clay 
  1. Alexis Jones, Founder and CEO, SnapBack Returns  

Wellness 

  1. Reggie Ford, Wellness and Resilience Architect, RoseCrete Wellness Company 
  1. Tori Fillmore, Owner, Operator, Cedar Hill Homestead LLC 

Headshots of the finalists are available upon request. 

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About YP Nashville 

YP Nashville is an initiative of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and professional organization partners working to connect, empower, and engage young professionals to actively shape the future of the Nashville region. For more information, visit https://www.ypnashville.org/. 

About the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce 

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce is Middle Tennessee’s largest business federation, representing over 1,800 member companies. Belong, engage, lead, prosper embodies the Chamber’s focus on creating economic prosperity by facilitating community leadership. Established in 1990 as an economic development and community enhancement initiative of the Chamber, Partnership 2030 is a regional cooperative dedicated to making Middle Tennessee among the nation’s best places to live, work, and do business. Partnership 2030 is supported by a diverse group of public and private companies as well as governmental agencies from the organization’s 10-county service area. The work of the Chamber is supported by its members, Partnership 2030 investors, and sponsors; the Chamber’s Pivotal Partners (a partnership at the highest level for all Chamber programs and events) are Community Health Systems, Gresham Smith, and Regions Bank. For more information, visit www.nashvillechamber.com.