Think tank brings together Tennessee leaders, experts, and community members for a first-of-its-kind Policy Forum
NASHVILLE – Nonpartisan think tank ThinkTennessee hosted its inaugural Policy Forum, “Driving Tennessee’s Prosperity,” convening nearly 400 policymakers, business executives, nonprofit leaders, mayors, and community stakeholders from across the state on September 30, 2025, at the Music City Center in Nashville. The day‑long event focused on four of the state’s most pressing policy challenges: housing, transportation, child care, and workforce development.
“Today’s Policy Forum was about more than panels and speeches—it was about providing a space where Tennesseans can come together across sectors and political divides to shape a stronger future,” said Erin Hafkenschiel, president of ThinkTennessee. “We convened this gathering because attainable housing, high-quality, accessible child care, affordable transportation options, and effective workforce development programs are challenges too big for any one community to solve alone. By bringing leaders from across the state to the same table, we’ve taken an important step toward building shared solutions that give every Tennessee family the opportunity to thrive. This forum is not the finish line—it’s the starting point for ongoing collaboration, innovation, and action.”
Attendees participated in dynamic panels, plenary sessions, and face-to-face conversations designed to spark collaborative, evidence-based policy solutions to Tennessee’s most pressing long-term challenges. Highlights included:
- Bipartisan Leadership at Lunch: Former Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam shared the stage for a plenary on “Making Politics Work for Tennesseans.” Both leaders reaffirmed their belief that Tennessee’s long-term prosperity depends on unity over division—through cross-sector collaboration, strategic investment, and leadership rooted in data and results.
- Business Leaders on the Economy’s Future: Following opening remarks from TNECD Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, Ralph Schulz, former president and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, moderated a forward-looking discussion with Tennessee business leaders. Panelists Bill Dunavant III (Dunavant Enterprises), Dr. Keith Gray (UT Medical Center), Matt Kisber (Silicon Ranch), and Janelle Reilly (CHI Memorial Health System) explored opportunities and risks on the horizon for the state’s economy, including the importance of aligned workforce development for Tennessee jobs, community wellbeing, and infrastructure to better connect our state’s urban and rural economies.
- Housing & Child Care Challenges: Morning sessions underscored how Tennessee’s rapid growth is outpacing current housing supply and child care capacity. Experts called for regulatory reform, stronger coordination among state and local agencies and a regional perspective, innovative financing including LIHTC credits, and new incentives to strengthen the early childhood workforce, including higher wages and better training.
- Transportation & Workforce Solutions: Afternoon panels examined transit investment, connectivity, and infrastructure as essential drivers of economic mobility. Workforce conversations focused on closing skills gaps, expanding training access, and ensuring state policy keeps pace with employers’ evolving needs.
- Regional Voices, Local Impact: The forum closed with a conversation led by journalist Demetria Kalodimos, featuring mayors Ken Moore (Franklin), D. Gary Davis (Bradley County), Craig Fitzhugh (Ripley), and Paul Montgomery (Kingsport). Together, they shared candid insights into the opportunities and obstacles their communities face in sustaining growth, strengthening infrastructure, and improving quality of life.
