
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2020 TVC Virtual Summit Series
Though we were disappointed when the 25th Anniversary National Summit had to be shifted to a virtual format, thanks to the generous support from our Summit sponsors and Leadership Council and because of your willingness to log in each week and engage with our panels, this year’s Virtual Summit was a big success.
Nearly 600 people from across the Corridor tuned in over the five-week series to hear from an amazing lineup of keynote presenters and ask questions during our informative, engaging panel discussions.
During the final session of the Virtual Summit, Congressman Phil Roe was presented the 2020 TVC Corridor Champion Award. Thank you to Congressman Roe for your dedication to the members and mission of the Tennessee Valley Corridor.
Click below to watch the live-recorded events and read analysis from each session. Plus, find agendas, speaker bios and session sponsors.
In this session hear about the Appalachian Highlands most important assets and plans within the region to promote more compelling stories to achieve greater economic growth.
TVC celebrates 25th anniversary with first session in five-part series that continues next week
It was not the type of celebration that Darrell Akins, John Crisp and the leadership of the Tennessee Valley Corridor (TVC) organization planned at the beginning of 2020 to commemorate the silver anniversary of the annual “TVC National Summit” series, but those plans were clearly turned upside down with the COVID-19 pandemic.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
Congressman Phil Roe, Tennessee’s 1st Congressional District
Tim Thomas, Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Co-Chair
FEATURING:
Senator Lamar Alexander (video)
Former Congressman Zach Wamp (video)
Dr. Bill Greer, President, Milligan University
Bill Tindal, TVC Board Chair
PANELISTS:
Dr. Brian Noland, President, East Tennessee State University
Gene Cossey, Executive Director, Tri-Cities Airport Authority
Dr. Mike Browder, CEO, Bristol Tennessee Essential Services

Keynote Speakers: Congressman Phil Roe & Tim Thomas
Sponsored by:
A majority of the TVC’s annual $75 billion in federal investments are made in the historic communities of Huntsville and Oak Ridge. Learn more about the federal missions based there and how they impact our nation and world.
Thomas Zacharia challenges region to think really big during yesterday’s “TVC Virtual Summit Series”
It was not the type of celebration that Darrell Akins, John Crisp and the leadership of the Tennessee Valley Corridor (TVC) organization planned at the beginning of 2020 to commemorate the silver anniversary of the annual “TVC National Summit” series, but those plans were clearly turned upside down with the COVID-19 pandemic.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Jim Bridenstine, NASA Administrator
FEATURING:
Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District
Kristina Hendrix, Director of Communications, Dynetics
Kevin Bumpus, Business Development Manager, UniTech
PANELISTS:
Andy Page, President/CEO, Oak Ridge Associated Universities
Jay Mullis, Manager, Environmental Management, DOE Oak Ridge
Dr. Thomas Zacharia, Director, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Preston Jones, Associate Technical Director, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Dr. Philip Oldham, President, Tennessee Tech University

Keynote Speaker: NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
Sponsored by:
Reliable and affordable power is critical to the TVC’s federal missions and the region’s overall economic growth. Learn how our public power model creates unique local, state and federal partnerships.
Third session of “TVC Virtual Summit Series” casts spotlight on importance of public power
It was “hump day,” so to speak, for the “Tennessee Valley Corridor’s Virtual Summit Series” yesterday with a focus on the important role that public power plays in the economic vitality of the multi-state region.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
Jeff Lyash, CEO, TVA
Jeff Dykes, CEO, BrightRidge
FEATURING:
Bert Robinson, Director, District, State & Local Government Relations, TVA
Betsey Kirk McCall, EVP, Market Strategy & Corporate Operations, Seven States Power Corporation
PANELISTS:
Greg Williams, EVP/General Manager, Appalachian Electric Cooperative
Ozlem Kilic, Associate Dean of Academic & Student Affairs, Tickle College of Engineering, UT Knoxville
Pete Owens, VP, Marketing and Public Relations, The Dollywood Company
Cindy Herron, VP, Energy Right Solutions, TVA
Mike Bolin, Vice President, Knoxville Utilities Board
Many TVC federal partners provide leadership in addressing our nation’s national security challenges. Hear discussions about the scope of these threats and how our region’s expertise and technology address them.
Sean Williams paints a sobering picture during fourth session of the “TVC Virtual Summit Series”
The President and Chief Executive Officer of Knoxville-based Protection Strategies Incorporated (PSI) painted a very sobering picture in his opening comments during yesterday’s fourth session of the “Tennessee Valley Corridor’s (TVC) Virtual Summit Series.”
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Admiral Charles Richard, Commander, U.S. Strategic Command
FEATURING:
Sean Williams, President/CEO, Protection Strategies, Inc.
Gard Clark, VP, Energy & Environment, Teledyne Brown
PANELISTS:
Ted Sherry, Vice President, Performance Excellence, Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC
Blake Scott, Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC
John Stewart, President, Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc.
Skip Bartol, Associate Dean for Research, Auburn University
Jason Coker, Vice-Director, Arnold Engineering Development Complex

Keynote Speaker: Four Star Admiral Charles Richard, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command
Sponsored by:
An educated and motivated workforce is the major challenge facing business and federal partners in the TVC. Hear discussions about workforce strategies creating local, state and federal partnerships.
Outgoing Congressman Phil Roe presented the “Corridor Champion Award” as the TVC silver anniversary celebration comes to a close
After four 90-minute virtual sessions the past four Thursdays, the Tennessee Valley Corridor commemorated the 25th anniversary of its annual Summit series yesterday with a closing session focused on the all-important topic of education and workforce development and the presentation of the “Corridor Champion Award.”
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Dr. Penny Schwinn, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Education
FEATURING:
Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District
Randy Boyd, President, University of Tennessee
Mark Cox, Senior Vice President, Eastman
Greg Vital, President/CEO, Morning Pointe
PANELISTS:
Dr. Stacey Patterson, Vice President for Research, Outreach and Economic Development, University of Tennessee
Lottie Ryans, Director of Workforce & Literacy Initiative, First Tennessee Development District
Heath McMillian, Executive Director of Economic and Workforce Development, Northeast State Community College
Tanya Foreman, Education Manager, Eastman

Keynote Speaker: Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn
Sponsored by:
SESSION SPONSORS
SESSION CO-SPONSORS
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
Make Plans for the 2021 TVC National Summit
With hopeful anticipation of once again convening in-person, we are excited to announce that the 2021 National Summit will be held on the campus of UT Knoxville in June 2021.
UT President Randy Boyd and UT Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman announced the news during the final session of the 2020 TVC Virtual Summit Series.
More information coming soon!