About Us

Purpose:

To create economic prosperity by facilitating community leadership.

Brand Promise:

Nashville is a thriving city filled with risk-takers. Positive energy and camaraderie fuel the spirit of the region. Every day, people find new ways to take advantage of opportunities offered, to make something from nothing, to make their mark, to realize their dreams. At the center of this spirit is the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.

At the Chamber, you:

Belong – Collaborating with others, energized by common drive and passion;
Engage – Sharing a vision for the future and sharing the collective influence to make it happen;
Lead – Impacting our region and transforming our future;
Prosper – Realizing opportunities that grow your business and enrich our communities.

Nashville Chamber Values:

As a regional member organization that represents the business community in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, our mission is to create economic prosperity by facilitating community leaders. These are the values that guide our work and culture:

Leadership

We focus on big opportunities and challenges for regional prosperity. Our members and staff are in the forefront of creating solutions.

Team Integrity

We collaborate with community organizations and partners on common goals. Teamwork is essential to success, and we avoid personal agendas. As we work on difficult or controversial issues, we model respect, tolerance, truthfulness and candor. We strive to provide the highest level of customer service to our members and constituents.

Accountability

We measure our work and own our results. We work quickly, with an emphasis on quality and prioritization. We set clear goals and expectations, and we strive to exceed them.

Annual Reports

2023-2024 Board of Directors

Board Officers

Chair – Robert Higgins, CEO, Barge Design Solutions

Immediate Past Chair – Wanda Lyle, retired Managing Director, General Manager, UBS Business Solutions US LLC | Nashville

Vice Chair – C. Wright Pinson, M.D., Deputy CEO, Vanderbilt Health System, Chairman, Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network, Deputy CEO, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Secretary – Carol Yochem, President Middle Tennessee Region, First Horizon

President – Ralph Schulz, President and CEO, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

General Counsel – Kolin B. Holladay, Shareholder, Polsinelli PC

Board Governance Committee Chair – Jeff Drummonds, CPA, CEO of LBMC, PC

Finance & Audit Committee Chair – Terry Hardesty, Managing Partner, Deloitte

Board Members

Missy Acosta, Vice President of Brand Strategy, Delta Dental

Tim Adams, Regional Operating Officer and Senior Vice President, Ascension

Kris Ahrend, CEO, The Mechanical Licensing Collective

Lucinda M. Baier, President and CEO, Brookdale Senior Living

Lee Blank, Middle Tennessee Market Executive, Regions Bank

David Briggs, Tennessee Regional President, Fifth Third Bank, N.A.

Teresa Broyles-Aplin, President and CEO, Nashville Electric Service

Rodney Chester, CEO, Gresham Smith

Daniel Diermeier, Chancellor, Vanderbilt University

David Dill, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, LifePoint Health

John Eakin, CEO, Eakin Partners, LLC

Rod Essig, Founding Partner of Nashville office, Creative Artists Agency (CAA)

Randy Goodman, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music Nashville

Clay Hart, Executive Vice President and Senior Lending Officer Pinnacle

Tim Hingtgen, CEO, Community Health Systems

Damon Hininger, President and CEO, CoreCivic

Chris Holmes, President and CEO, FirstBank

John Gromos, Vice President and General Manager, Turner Construction Company

Shanna L. Jackson, President, Nashville State Community College

Christine Karbowiak, retired Chief Administrative Officer, Executive Vice President, Vice Chair of the Board, Bridgestone Americas, Inc.; and retired Executive Vice President, Executive Officer and Global Chief Sustainability Officer, Bridgestone Corporation

Hal Lawton, President & CEO, Tractor Supply Company

Ken Levitan, Founder and Co-President, Vector Management

Andy Marshall, Founder and CEO, A. Marshall Hospitality

Joshua Mundy, CEO, Pivot Technology School

Burke Nihill, President & CEO, Tennessee Titans

Lindsay Porter, Vice President, Enterprise Alliances and Chief of Staff, Bridgestone Americas

Jim Regnier, Managing Partner, FORVIS

William B. Rutherford, EVP & Chief Financial Officer, HCA Healthcare

Brad Southern, Chairman and CEO, LP Building Solutions

Barry Vandevier, retired Chief Operating Officer, Asurion

Dave Walton, Senior Vice President, Caterpillar Inc. and President & CEO, Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation

Sally Williams, President of Nashville Music and Business Strategy, Live Nation Entertainment