Tennessee

Leadership Tennessee announces 2024-2025 Signature Program participants

Published

2 years ago

June 18, 2024

Leadership Tennessee announces 2024-2025 Signature Program participants

Leadership Tennessee announced the participants in the 11th class of its yearly program, which brings together leaders from around the state to address concerns Tennessee faces.

Leadership Tennessee is a nonprofit organization dedicated to rallying leaders from throughout the state to address critical issues and in a constructive and nonpartisan way. The 2024-2025 Signature Program Class XI consists of 48 people from 14 different counties across Tennessee, each representing distinct organizations and professional experiences.

The cohort will spend 10 months traveling the state to study the challenges Tennessee faces and work together to identify the best solutions and opportunities to improve.

“We are proud to challenge our cohorts to think critically about advancing our state in a variety of areas,” Alfred Degrafinreid II, president and CEO of Leadership Tennessee, said in a news release. “This class in particular will experience the program at the height of this year’s election. This will no doubt lead to even deeper and more thoughtful dialogue as state and federal discourse will be spiking in this moment.”

Leadership Tennessee’s 2024-2025 Signature Program Class XI participants

The following are listed alphabetically by county.

Davidson County

Jill Ayers, Judge, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals
Monty Burks, Deputy Director of Governors Faith Based and Community Initiative, Office of the Governor
Clay Bright, CEO, Megasite Authority of West Tennessee
Nikki Burdine, News Anchor, WKRN
Brooxie Carlton, Assistant Commissioner, Community and Rural Development, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
Joe Carrico, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Kate Chinn, Partner, MP&F
Natalie Cooper, President and CEO, Wellpoint TN
Steven Gentile, Executive Director, Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Erin Hafkenschiel, President, ThinkTennessee
Johari Matthews, Vice President and Executive Director, ONE Community and Titans Foundation, Tennessee Titans
Bert McCarter, Attorney, McCarter East PLLC
Martesha Johnson Moore, Chief Public Defender, Metropolitan Nashville Public Defender’s Office
Karl Sprules, Chief Operating Officer, AllianceBernstein
Carey Whitworth, Vice President of Government Relations and Advocacy, University of Tennessee System
Russell Ziecker, Executive Vice President, Head of Global TV Music, LIONSGATE and STARZ

Gibson County

Tina Prescott, Chief Operating Officer, West Tennessee Healthcare

Hamilton County

Casey Dungan, President and CEO, BlueCare Tennessee
Evann Freeman, Vice President, Government and Community Relations, EPB Chattanooga
Ian Leavy, Assistant General Counsel, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Joe Riley, Founder/Owner, Patriot Family Homes and Quail Run Farm
Mina Sartipi, Professor, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Knox County

Ben Bentley, CEO, Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation
Jan Brown, VP, Talent and Culture, Tennessee Valley Authority
Clarice Phelps, Engineer, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Grant Rosenberg, Chief Operating Officer, City of Knoxville
Tammy White, President/CEO, Leadership Knoxville

Madison County

Monte Cooper, President and CEO, Jackson Energy Authority
Carol Rothstein, President, Jackson State Community College

Montgomery County

Lee Harrell, Chief of Staff, Montgomery County
Kimberly Wiggins, County Trustee, Montgomery County Government

Roane County

Bob Eby, Chairman, Tennessee State Board of Education

Robertson County

Zane Seals, Chief Financial Officer, Division of TennCare

Rutherford County

Dawn White, District 13 State Senator, Tennessee General Assembly

Shelby County

Kemp Conrad, Principal, Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Advisors, LLC
Michalyn Easter-Thomas, Memphis City Councilwoman, City of Memphis
Michael Fulton, Director of Government Affairs and Business Diversity Development, Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority
Tiffany Legington Graham, Chief Marketing and Development Officer, National Civil Rights Museum
Phillip May, President (Memphis), Pinnacle Financial Partners
Johnny Moore, Jr., Tennessee Regional President, Truist Financial
Chandell Ryan, President and CEO, Downtown Memphis Commission
Paul Young, Mayor, City of Memphis

Smith County

Bryan Wright, Executive Vice President, Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation

Sullivan County

Carla Karst, Principal and Founder, Landstar and Workforce Homes Foundation
Frank Lett, President and Chief Tourism Officer, Visit Kingsport

Sumner County

Chassen Haynes, Regional Manager, U.S. State and Local Government Affairs, Ford Motor Company

Williamson County

Matt Largen, President and CEO, Williamson, Inc.
Mia McNeil, State Director, AARP Tennessee

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Tennessee

Tennessee Republicans unveil monument honoring unborn children at State Capitol

Published

25 minutes ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee Republicans unveil monument honoring unborn children at State Capitol

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — On the fourth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Tennessee Republicans unveiled a new monument at the State Capitol honoring unborn children.

The Roe v. Wade decision allowed states to set their own abortion laws and triggered Tennessee’s Human Life Protection Act, which bans nearly all elective abortions in the state. The law has saved about 10,000 lives each year since taking effect, according to Tennessee Right to Life.

The Tennessee Monument to Unborn Children is located on the southeast side of the Capitol grounds. Lawmakers say it recognizes unborn children whose lives ended through abortion and serves as a place for reflection and remembrance.

The monument was approved by the General Assembly in 2018 and was paid for entirely through private donations.

Republican leaders said the monument reflects Tennessee’s commitment to protecting unborn children and honoring the value of human life.

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Tennessee

Dolly Parton makes surprise public appearance amid health battle

Published

11 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Press Room

Dolly Parton makes surprise public appearance amid health battle

CORNERSVILLE, Tenn. — Out on the street, the traffic started jumpin’ as travelers made their way to Dolly Parton’s Tennessean Travel Stop on opening day.

“Dolly is on her way,” Tennessean Travel Stop owner Gregory Sachs told the media gathered at the new truck destination in Cornersville, saying Parton would cut the ribbon at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24.

The anticipation had been building all morning at the new roadside destination along Interstate 65. The 80-year-old country legend arrived wearing a blue-and-pink fringe ensemble, complete with her signature stiletto heels.

The “9 to 5” singer used the moment to make a playful quip about travel stop competitor Buc-ee’s.

“I’m sure some of you want to know why I wanted a truck stop,” Parton said. “Well, I couldn’t leave it to beavers.”

Parton ended the brief ceremony with a ribbon cutting, marked by an explosion of multicolored confetti featuring her signature butterfly.

The message drew cheers from guests who had spent the afternoon exploring the property, sampling food from DLY BBQ and trying a “Cup of Ambition” coffee, waiting to see whether Parton would make an appearance. Earlier promotional materials for the grand opening had stated that the country music icon would not attend the public festivities.

The appearance marks one of only a handful of public events for Parton in 2026.

In March, the East Tennessee star returned to Dollywood to launch the theme park’s 41st season after stepping back from several appearances while recovering from health issues and grieving the death of her husband, Carl Dean. During that appearance, Parton told fans she had been rebuilding herself “spiritually, emotionally and physically.”

Parton, who has been open about dealing with kidney stones, said in May that she is working with doctors after “my immune system and my digestive system got all out of whack over the past three years.”

What is Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop?

Located at Exit 22 off Interstate 65 in Cornersville, Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop officially opened to the public on June 24. The flagship location is a partnership between Parton, her longtime manager Danny Nozell and Gregory H. Sachs, owner of the Tennessean Travel Stop brand.

Inspired by Parton’s decades spent traveling the country by tour bus and her East Tennessee roots, the destination combines fuel services, food, shopping, live music and Tennessee-themed hospitality.

Bryan West is a music reporter at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.

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ESPN updates NBA mock draft for Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Felix Okpara in second round

Published

21 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Press Room

ESPN updates NBA mock draft for Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Felix Okpara in second round

ESPN projects Tennessee basketball’s Felix Okpara and Ja’Kobi Gillespie to be picked back to back in the second round of the NBA Draft on Wednesday night. ESPN’s updated mock draft has Okpara at No. 41 overall to the Miami Heat and Gillespie at No. 42 to the San Antonio Spurs.

Nate Ament was the No. 13 overall pick in the first round to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. Tennessee, which has now had players picked in six straight NBA Drafts, could have three players drafted for just the second time in the modern era of the draft, since it went to two rounds in 1989.

Grant Williams was a first-round pick in 2019, ahead of Admiral Schofield and Jordan Bone being picked in the second round.

Where ESPN ranks Felix Okpara, Ja’Kobi Gillespie in NBA Draft

Entering the second round, ESPN has Okpara ranked as the 12th-best player available in the draft. Gillespie is ranked No. 14.

Duke guard Isaiah Evans is ESPN’s No. 1 prospect to start the second round, ahead of North Carolina center Henri Veesaar, Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas, Cincinnati forward Baba Miller, Louisville guard Ryan Conwell and German guard Jack Kayil.

Also ranked ahead of Okpara is BYU guard Richie Saunders, Houston guard Emanuel Sharp, Purdue guard Braden Smith, St. John’s forward Dillon Mitchell and Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile. Ranked between Okpara and Gillespie is Arizona guard Jaden Bradley.

Felix Okpara ‘played his way into the two-way contract mix’

Okpara averaged 8.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 26.9 minutes per game this season, starting 34 of 35 games. He shot 59.7% from the field, 61.1% on 2-point shots and 63.5% at the foul line.

He played two seasons at Ohio State before transferring to Tennessee and anchoring the Vols on defense, serving as the rim protector defensively and a rim runner on offense.

Okpara had the fourth-highest standing reach at the NBA Draft Combine in May at 9-foot-4. He was measured at 6-foot-10 without shoes, weighed 237.4 pounds and had a 7-2 wingspan.

“Okpara had a good predraft process,” ESPN wrote, “and played his way into the two-way contract mix as a dependable big man who chips in a little bit of value on both ends.”

Ja’Kobi Gillespie ‘profiles as a potential bench option’ in NBA

Gillespie averaged 18.4 points, 5.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 34.8 minutes per game while starting all 37 games in his one and only season at Tennessee.

The Greeneville, Tenn., native started his career with two seasons at Belmont, then transferred to Maryland before his homecoming with the Vols as a senior last season.

“After starting his college career at Belmont,” ESPN wrote on Wednesday, “Gillespie had good years at Maryland and Tennessee while playing his way into the NBA picture. He profiles as a potential bench option if his scoring ability can outweigh his size concerns.”

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