Carol Yochem has been selected co-chair of Partnership 2030, serving alongside Mayor Freddie O’Connell. Yochem, central region president of First Horizon Bank, succeeds Lee Blank.
Partnership 2030, established in 1990, is Middle Tennessee’s largest public-private partnership that works to enhance Middle Tennessee’s economic vitality and quality of life through strategic investments in education, workforce development and infrastructure. With 250-plus corporate and community partners, the initiative drives economic inclusivity and regional collaboration across a 10-county economic market?.
The Partnership 2030 plan has three pillars – quality of place and livability, education and talent development, and job growth.
Walker joins FirstBank as commercial SVP
FirstBank has added Joe Walker to its Franklin office as senior vice president with the responsibility of leading commercial banking initiatives throughout Middle Tennessee.
Walker has 40 years of industry experience, serving more recently for 14 years at First Horizon Bank as Williamson County regional president. Before that, he spent 24 years at SunTrust/Truist Bank, leading their commercial team in Franklin.
Walker graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a degree in business administration.
Nashville Symphony names vom Saal COO
The Nashville Symphony has announced the appointment of Jeff vom Saal as the organization’s new chief operating officer. His responsibility is to ensure operational excellence and community impact through the oversight of artistic planning and orchestra operations, education and community engagement, communications and marketing. He also will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Nashville Symphony organization, focusing on strategic initiatives and orchestra operations, and ensuring the continued growth and success of the institution for future audiences.
Before accepting this position, vom Saal’s has served as the chief executive of the Marin Symphony (San Rafael, California); Quad City Symphony Orchestra (Davenport, Iowa); Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra (Fargo-Moorhead, North Dakota); Metrowest Youth Symphony Orchestra (Boston, Massachusetts); and most recently, Spokane Symphony Orchestra (Spokane, Washington), where he spent the past eight years.
Originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Jeff vom Saal graduated from the New England Conservatory with a degree in music and from the general management program at Harvard Business School.
FINN Partners hires Ernst as a partner
FINN Partners, a global independent marketing and communications firm, has hired marketing and advertising veteran Mike Ernst as partner.
In this role, Ernst will oversee the planning, execution and optimization of complex media campaigns, developing comprehensive media strategies to reach target audiences effectively, drive cross-channel integration, and deliver business impact for clients.
Ernst joins FINN Partners with 30 years of experience planning and implementing campaigns across all forms of media. His expertise spans a range of industries, including health care, hospitality, sports, home goods and professional services. During his career, he has worked with brands such as Bridgestone, Arby’s, Tropical Smoothie Café, the Nashville Predators and Tennessee Titans. Before joining FINN, Mike was group media director at GS&F, a marketing and advertising agency.
He is a graduate of Spalding University in Louisville, earning a degree in business administration with a marketing concentration.
Belmont announces new board of trust members
The Belmont University board of trust recently added six members for the start of the 2024-25 academic year. They are:
• Jim Darter, who started his career in public accounting working for Deloitte & Touche and is a licensed certified public accountant. He is principal of BLVD Capital, a Nashville-based family office and serves on several boards.
• Mackenzie Gimbel is a 2024 Belmont graduate who studied social entrepreneurship and music and is now with LBMC in executive services.
• Ray Guzman is the founding CEO of SwitchPoint Ventures and is responsible for all aspects of the business. He previously was in leadership at Intermedix/R1, where he oversaw a large, globally distributed analytics business unit. Before his journey as an entrepreneur, Guzman’s career included positions with Microsoft, Freeliant, Venture Technologies, Dialogic Communications and the U.S. Army.
• Jeremy Kees is the Richard J. and Barbara Naclerio Endowed Chair in Business at Villanova University. He is also the founding director of the Center for Marketing and Consumer Insights and editor-in-chief of a leading scientific journal. Aside from his scholarly responsibilities, he consults in both the corporate and government sectors on issues related to data-driven decision making and consumer behavior.
• Anna Thornton is a community volunteer who was the founding treasurer of Hands On Nashville, former chair of the board of The Next Door and former board member of the Francis Schaeffer Institute at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis.
• Ben Vaughn is president and CEO for Warner Chappell Nashville, where he leads the company’s Nashville operation and oversees all creative and commercial activations across A&R, administration, business development, finance and human resources. He is former chair of the ACM Board, is on the board for the CMA, a NARAS Governor and an alumnus of Leadership Music.
Veterinary network sets opens HQ, names CMO
Veterinary Innovative Partners, a network of nearly 70 veterinarian-owned/operated hospitals across 12 states, has selected Cool Springs for its established its new corporate headquarters in and appointed Dr. Emily Hubbard its chief medical officer.
Hubbard brings nearly a decade of experience to her role, having previously served as director of veterinary quality at Banfield Pet Hospital. During her tenure, she advanced through roles from associate veterinarian to regional director of medical quality, managing a team of nearly 200 DVMs. Her background includes serving as a single- and multi-unit medical director, honing her expertise in veterinary quality and operational leadership. As VIP’s new CMO, she will oversee the medical department, enhance operational efficiency, develop policies and support veterinary training. Dr. Hubbard will also play a key role in managing strategic planning, budgeting, regulatory compliance, DVM recruitment, staff development and community welfare initiatives to improve animal care.
Following recent acquisition, VIP’s network has grown from 40 to nearly 70 hospitals across Florida, Tennessee, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Texas, Colorado and California.
Thomas & Hutton expands civil team in Nashville
Thomas & Hutton has hired Baron Davies as a civil designer responsible for preparing site development construction drawings, engineering design considerations for water, sewer and storm drainage infrastructure, and permit applications associated with residential, commercial, and or industrial projects.
Davies earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of Mississippi and has experience in large-scale solar, battery energy storage systems and utility substations.
Wealth Access names Zinn chief innovation officer
Wealth Access has selected Andy Zinn as chief innovation officer. Zinn, with nearly 20 years of financial services experience, is spearheading innovation across all product lines as well as the overall company operations.
Zinn comes to Wealth Access from AllianceBernstein, where he was vice president of global market data. He also held leadership roles at Informa Investment Solutions.
Southeast Venture hires Robbins for brokerage team
Austin Robbins, who has a decade of experience in operations and sales, has joined the Southeast Venture brokerage team.
Previously, Robbins held executive roles including vice president and general manager at UBEO Business Services, where he was instrumental in expanding operations and enhancing profitability across multiple offices. Before UBEO, he served as chief operating officer at COECO Office Systems.