Events
2025 ThinkTennessee Policy Forum
“Driving Tennessee’s Prosperity”
When: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Where: Music City Center (Davidson Ballroom), 201 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN 37203
This first-of-its-kind policy forum will bring together leaders, experts, and community members to engage in meaningful dialogue around some of the most pressing issues facing Tennesseans today: housing, transportation, child care, and workforce development.
To tackle these pressing policy issues, our sessions throughout the day will feature panelists and speakers from across Tennessee, from city mayors and regional leaders to issue-area experts and policymakers.
We can’t wait to host these valuable discussions and begin the hard work of moving Tennessee forward.
Register now, and stay tuned for more details!
Interested in becoming a sponsor? View our sponsorship packages and then contact us for more information.
Agenda
8:00-8:30 AM: Networking & Breakfast
8:30-9:00 AM: Welcome Speaker
- Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, TN Dept. of Economic & Community Development
9:00-10:15 AM: What’s Next for Tennessee’s Economy – Panel of business leaders explore what’s on the horizon for the state’s economy
- Moderator: Ralph Schulz, former president & CEO, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
- Bill Dunavant, III, Chairman & CEO, Dunavant Enterprises
- Dr. Keith Gray, President & CEO, UT Medical Center
- Matt Kisber, Co-Founder & Chairman, Silicon Ranch Corporation
- Janelle Reilly, CEO, CHI Memorial Health System
10:15-10:30 AM: Break
10:30 AM-12:00 PM: Morning Panels (Housing & Childcare)
Housing Panel:
- Moderator: Dhathri Chunduru, Director of Research & Planning, THDA
- Dr. Christie Cade, Vice President, Enterprise Community Partners
- Nicole Heyman, Chief Policy Officer, City of Chattanooga
- Matt Wiltshire, President, Pathway Housing Fund
- Sharon Younger, President & founder, Younger Associates, Inc.
Child Care Panel:
- Moderator: Danielle Barnes, CEO & President, Girls Scouts of Middle Tennessee
- Chuck Carter, Director, Sullivan County Schools
- Heather Hicks, Executive Director of Statewide Services, Signal Centers
- Gwen Laaser, Director, Child Care Services, TN Dept. of Human Services
- Blair Taylor, Founder, President, & CEO, Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (TQEE)
12:00-1:15 PM: Lunch Session – Making Politics Work for Tennesseans: Bipartisan leaders explore how we can be builders together
- Governors Phil Bredesen & Bill Haslam
1:15-2:45 PM: Afternoon Panels (Transportation & Workforce Development)
Transportation Panel:
- Moderator: Tanisha Hall, Founding Principal & CEO, Fairpointe Planning
- Mayor Rogers Anderson, Williamson County
- Mayor Freddie O’Connell, Metro Nashville-Davidson County
- Commissioner Will Reid, TN Dept. of Transportation (TDOT)
- Leeann Sinpatanasakul, Director of Policy, National Association of Regional Councils (NARC)
Workforce Development Panel:
- Moderator: Dr. Monty Burks, Deputy Director, Governor’s Faith-Based & Community Initiatives
- Dr. Keri Randolph, Executive Director, Chattanooga 2.0
- Dr. Jeff Sisk, Executive Director, Center for Workforce Development, Tennessee Board of Regents
- Commissioner Deniece Thomas, TN Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development
- final panelist details coming soon!
2:45-3:00 PM: Break
3:00-4:00 PM: Closing Session – Regional leaders explore how our state’s regions are thriving
- Moderator: Demetria Kalodimos, Executive Producer, Nashville Banner
- Mayor D. Gary Davis, Bradley County
- Mayor Craig Fitzhugh, City of Ripley
- Mayor Paul Montgomery, City of Kingsport
- Mayor Ken Moore, City of Franklin
Travel & Logistics
Our room blocks at downtown hotels have now closed, but you may use the link below for a discount code to book at the AC Hotel for the night of Monday, September 29.
AC Hotel Nashville Downtown
410 Rep. John Lewis Way S, Nashville, TN 37203
You may use this discount code to book at AC Hotel.
Host Committee
Zachary Amos, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis
Nicole Austin, Kingsport Chamber of Commerce
Hal Cato, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
Dhathri Chunduru, Tennessee Housing Development Agency
Stephanie Coleman, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Alfred Degrafinreid, Leadership Tennessee
Greg Dotson, PE, Gresham Smith
Kevin DuBose, Housing & Neighborhood Development, City of Knoxville
Tammi Ford, Blount Partnership
Maeghan Jones, Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Matt Largen, Williamson, Inc.
Dr. Bill (William) Lyons, UT Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs
Dr. Kimberly McCorkle, East Tennessee State University
Anna McQuiston, MidSouth Development District
Mayor Paul Montgomery, City of Kingsport
Ashley Northington, RW Jones Agency; Moving Forward of Middle Tennessee
Dr. Carol Rothstein, Jackson State Community College
Dr. Mina Sartipi, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Lesley Scearce, United Way of Greater Chattanooga
Gary Shorb, Urban Child Institute
Dr. Paul Stumb, Cumberland University
