Ogletree Deakins, a labor and employment law firm, has elected Nashville’s Liz Washko as its managing shareholder, effective immediately. Washko is the firm’s sixth managing shareholder and the first woman to serve in the role.
Washko succeeds Matt Keen, who completed an eight-year term that started in 2016 and will remain an adviser to the firm’s management committee.
Washko joined Ogletree Deakins’ Nashville office as an associate in 2000 and has since held several prominent leadership roles, most recently as one of the firm’s two managing directors. She has been a member of Ogletree Deakins’ board of directors since 2021, served on the firm’s compensation committee and led the Nashville office from 2010-18.
For more than three decades, Washko has represented management in a wide variety of employment matters, at the agency level and in litigation. She co-founded Ogletree Deakins’ pay equity practice group in 2016 and served as co-chair until 2024.
Bradley’s Bahou appointed to court’s AI Committee
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP partner A.J. Bahou has been appointed to serve on the newly formed Artificial Intelligence Committee for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Chief Judge Mary H. Murguia has convened and selected the committee to aid the court in evaluating appropriate rules and uses of AI. The committee, chaired by Judge Eric D. Miller, is charged with identifying issues related to the use of AI and their impact on the practice of law and the courts. The committee will present suggestions on practices that should be promoted or prohibited.
Bahou serves as Bradley’s AI practice leader and was selected to the AI Committee based on his expertise in the field, frequently serving as an author and speaker on AI and ChatGPT and how they factor into the future practice of law, as well as their ethical implications in other industries.
Mr. Bahou is a technology lawyer and concentrates his practice on the intersection of law and AI technology.
MarketStreet elevates executive leaders
MarketStreet Enterprises, the master developer of The Gulch and master planner of Park Commons, the mixed-use district at the Nashville Fairgrounds adjacent to GEODIS Park, has announced the promotions of two of its executive leaders: Jay Turner, co-founder of MarketStreet, assumes the role of CEO, while Dirk Melton, a longstanding partner of the firm, is now president.
The elevation of the leadership team comes as the firm approaches the 25th anniversary of its first acquisition of what would become The Gulch neighborhood redevelopment project. This new phase of leadership demonstrates the firm’s continuous efforts spearheading innovative and sustainable development in Nashville.
MarketStreet is nearing the completion of 445 Park Commons, the first phase of Park Commons and the largest privately developed mixed-use, mixed-income project in Nashville, as well as envisioning the next 25 years of the Gulch.
Turner co-founded MarketStreet Enterprises in 1999, was appointed the firm’s managing director in 2007 and is now responsible for its strategic direction. He also was a founding board member of CapStar Bank, for which he serves as board chair.
Turner is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Law School.
Melton joined MarketStreet as development director in early 2008. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations for the firm, Melton is responsible for all real estate investment and development activities, including the management of commercial, residential, retail and mixed-use projects for the firm’s portfolio.
Melton holds a master’s degree in real estate development from The Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School and dual undergraduate degrees in architecture and environmental design from Ball State University. He is also an adjunct professor of management at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management.
You Have the Power names board, chair
Irma Paz-Bernstein has been appointed new board chair of You Have the Power, a Nashville organization that focuses on information, prevention, and policy through the lens of survivors.
Teresa Nacarot and Sareda Nur are joining the board, which consists of Andrea Conte (founder), Melanie Davenport, Chief John Drake, Natilee Duning, David Hart, Kimberly Hatley, Jacqueline Hayes, Natasha Metcalf, Crescent Moore, Julia Motis, Linda Payne, Tina Whitley and Victor Wynn.
Paz-Bernstein grew up bilingual and bicultural, traveling from Mexico to the United States. After completing her communication science and techniques degree in her hometown Guadalajara, she moved to the States where she continued her studies at UCLA extension program.
Her experience extends from sales and advertisement to working at the security department in a major motion picture studio. Before becoming a business owner, she was an independent television producer for a span of 10 years.
She moved to Nashville in 2001 to partner with her sister to open Las Paletas, which quickly became an iconic Nashville business. The gourmet frozen pop shop operated in the 12 South neighborhood for more than 20 years before shutting down during the pandemic.
For the past two decades, she’s been an engaged community volunteer serving on projects, organizations and boards.
FINN Partners selects executive creative director
Independent marketing and communications firm FINN Partners announces the promotion of Sean Williams to executive creative director, Integrated Marketing Southeast. He previously was the department’s creative director.
Williams joined FINN Partners in 2010 as an associate designer, working for clients in multiple industries including health care and consumer products, as well as clients in the nonprofit and professional services sectors. Williams was promoted to associate creative director in 2018 and to creative director one year later.
Williams is a graduate of the Watkins College of Arts and Design and holds a degree in public relations from Harding University. Before working at FINN, he was deputy press secretary to the governor of Tennessee and as the assistant press secretary to the governor of Colorado.
McNeely Brockman promotes staff members
McNeely Brockman Public Relations, a Nashville-based communications firm, has promoted Honor Garrett to senior account executive and Olivia Blumb to account executive.
Garrett previously served as an account executive, and Blumb as an assistant account executive.
This marks Garrett’s third promotion since joining MBPR in May 2020. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she earned a degree in consumer journalism with an emphasis in advertising and a certificate in new media studies.
Blumb’s promotion comes as she celebrates her second anniversary with MBPR. She is a Belmont University graduate with a degree in public relations.
Pierce Public Relations announces 3 hires
Pierce Public Relations has added Danielle Gordon as senior account manager and Evan Dorian and Abigail Roering as account coordinators.
Gordon leads program strategy and execution for several of the firm’s corporate and nonprofit clients. She is a graduate of the University of California, Davis.
Dorian joins Pierce PR as an account coordinator after interning for the firm for more than a year. He manages website analytics and analysis, media research, and email strategy and development across several client accounts. He earned a degree in public relations from Belmont University.
Roering manages media relations, data analytics and content creation and development across multiple accounts. She previously was an account coordinator at FINN Partners: Southeast. She holds a degree in public relations and social media management from Belmont University.
Reed promotes 1, adds to account team
Reed, a full-service public relations and marketing agency, has added two team members, marking six new hires this year, and promoted Louise Paterson to account manager.
Jenna Costanzo and Megan Silverman have joined the agency full-time as account coordinators after completing Reed’s internship program.
Costanzo earned a degree in strategic communication from Butler University and a degree in psychology and public relations from Belmont University. After working as a program associate for CreatiVets, she joined Reed as an intern before joining the team full-time as an account coordinator.
Silverman is a University of Georgia graduate with a degree in public relations. She most recently worked for Choice Communications before her internship at Reed and joining the team full-time as an account coordinator.
Paterson joined the firm as an intern in January 2022 after graduating from the University of South Carolina.