Leadership Tennessee, a collective with a mission to foster non-partisan dialogue on issues of state importance, has selected 32 individuals for its ninth class.

Leadership Tennessee NEXT is the state’s only statewide leadership program focusing on Tennessee’s existing and emerging leaders and spanning geographic and industry boundaries.

This year’s class includes representatives from 11 Tennessee counties with diverse professional experience in a wide range of sectors and industries.

During each class session, members will be able to engage with those from the Signature Program, learn about issues and opportunities specific to Tennessee, and engage in personal skill development.

This year’s participants are:

Middle Tennessee

• Denise Atwater, director of supported employment, Park Center, Davidson County

• Taylre Beaty, state broadband director, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Davidson County

• Destiny Brown, senior management consultant, Customer Focused Government, State of Tennessee, Davidson County

• D’Llisha Davis, educator/entertainment, MNPS/Nashfeels, Wilson County

• David DelRio, assistant controller, Blatter Technologies, Marshall County

• Michael Deurlein, deputy executive director of policy and research, Tennessee State Board of Education, Davidson County

• Katie Hazelwood, program officer, Scarlett Family Foundation, Davidson County

• Timothy Hughes, first vice president, NAACP Nashville Branch, Davidson County

• Brynn Plummer, vice president/director, diversity, equity and inclusion, AllianceBernstein, Davidson County

• Robert Wallace, executive officer – resource strategy, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, Davidson County

• Bryce Warden, director of education-to-work initiatives, State Collaborative On Reforming Education (SCORE), Davidson County

• John Williams, associate vice chancellor for government relations, Tennessee Board of Regents, Williamson County

East Tennessee

• Kirsten Ert Acuff, city manager, City of Lakesite, Hamilton County

• Shadrina Booker, director of community engagement, city of Chattanooga, Hamilton County

• Gabby Billiot, associate education designer, Education Design Lab, Washington County

• Ebony Capshaw, enrollment and program adviser, Knoxville College, Anderson County

• Kelli Fletcher, marketing and communications director, Ballad Health, Washington County

• Candice Graham, executive director, Mainstreet Dayton, Rhea County

• Randal Harrell, market executive, Synovus Bank, Hamilton County

• Matt Hensley, assistant professor, East Tennessee State University, Greene County

• Quincy Jenkins, vice president, organizational culture and engagement, Chattanooga State Community College, Hamilton County

• Amy Lowdermilk, adult education instructor and career coach, Southeast Tennessee Adult Education – TCAT Athens, Hamilton County

• Tenasa Lucas-McGhee, chief operating officer, The Nonprofit Resource Center, Hamilton County

• Kia Ruffin, mental health clinician, Intentional Healing Empowerment Center, Hamilton County

• Brad Scott, chief executive officer, Prep Public Schools, Hamilton County

• Mark Stevans, director of communications, special projects and WIOA, First Tennessee Development District, Greene County

• McKenzie Templeton, programming and engagement director, Northeast Tennessee Regional Hub, Washington County

West Tennessee

• Lindsay Dawkins, chief of staff, Greater Jackson Chamber, Madison County

• Brandi Linsey, campus coordinator, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Memphis – Bartlett Campus, Shelby County

• Nekishia Woods Dobbins, manager-advocacy operations communications, Memphis Education Fund, Shelby County

• Edmond McDavis, III, director, Tennessee Delta Alliance, Shelby County

• Pedro Velasquez, executive director, Lifedoc Health, Shelby County

Candidates are selected by an anonymous selection committee and evaluated based on the following criteria: professionals who excel in their fields, are engaged in service to their various communities and are dedicated to improving the lives of Tennesseans.

Since Leadership Tennessee’s founding, more than 600 members have graduated from both Leadership Tennessee NEXT and the organization’s Signature Program.

The cohort’s work will begin in August and run through November 2024.

Tristar Skyline selects Whitmer as its new COO

TriStar Skyline Medical Center has named Natalie Whitmer chief operating officer of the 407-bed multicampus system of care. This role will focus on continuing to enhance and grow our high-acuity services, including Level 1 trauma, burn and wound care, comprehensive stroke center and others.

Whitmer joins TriStar Skyline from TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center, where she served as the chief operating officer. She is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a degree in marketing and a MBA. She also holds a master’s degree in health administration from Trinity University.

Ginzel joins Music City Center leadership

Richard Ginzel has been named general manager of food & beverage for the 2.1 million-square-foot Music City Center convention facility. The position is contracted through the facility’s exclusive food and beverage provider, Sodexo Live!

Ginzel studied at Wayne State University. His background includes more than 20 years of hospitality, food service and convention center experience. He’s directed and managed food service operations for large-scale event venues in New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Diego and Sacramento. Most recently, he served as vice president of operations for the Indiana Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis Zoo and Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis.

Ginzel will oversee operations related to the procurement, production, preparation, service and sale of food and refreshments within the building. His direct reports will include the directors and managers of those areas.

Ginzel is replacing Doug Zimmerman, who announced his retirement in March after 11 years with MCC.

Bank of America names 2024 Student Leaders

Bank of America has chosen three Middle Tennessee high school rising seniors as Student Leaders, an eight-week paid summer internship connecting students to employment, skills development and service.

The students will gain practical work and leadership experience and receive financial education coaching through Bank of America’s Better Money Habits curriculum and their time working with Special Olympics Tennessee – all while earning competitive wages.

This is the 20th year Bank of America has offered this competitive paid intern program in Nashville, with more than 80 high school students selected as Student Leaders since the program began in 2004.

Bhattacharya attends Ravenwood High School and founded a nonprofit to assist underrepresented students needing school supplies and spearheaded a food drive that raised more than 25,000 pounds of food as president of Interact Club. Siona was selected as a student board member for AWAKE Nashville, where she organized a mental health awareness event. She was chosen as a House Representative out of 500+ students in the Volunteer Girls State Program and a National Qualifier in Speech and Debate.

Jamal attends Franklin High School, where she has earned a perfect GPA, ACT and PSAT scores. In 2021, she founded a nonprofit to promote access to quality education in underserved communities, impacting hundreds of students worldwide. She also is an accomplished speaker and serves as president of the Speech and Debate team and Model UN and has won awards for her oratory skills.

Ivanov of Hermitage attends Pope John Paul II Preparatory School, where she is active in two varsity sports. She is also in the top 5% of her class and has earned national awards for her essay writing and Spanish proficiency. Additionally, she volunteers hundreds of hours of her time helping her neighbors in need and is lead lifeguard at Opryland.

Along with Student Leaders, Bank of America is connecting 10 teens and young adults to paid jobs and internships with the restaurant and culinary training program, Café Momentum, through its Summer Youth Employment Program.