We are excited to announce that this year’s National Summit will convene participants from across the Corridor and beyond for a five-week series of online sessions beginning Thursday, July 16th.
We have an amazing lineup of keynote speakers!
As large summer conferences and mass gatherings remain in doubt amidst continued social distancing recommendations from public health officials, the Tennessee Valley Corridor has decided to shift its Annual Summit and 25th anniversary celebration to a series of special virtual events this summer.
We hope you will mark your calendars and join us each Thursday from July 16th through August 13th at 1pm ET / Noon CT as we highlight many of the same speakers, topics and organizations.
Registration to this year’s Summit Series is free of charge in efforts to maximize participation and expand our Tennessee Valley Corridor partnerships through this new virtual format during the continued COVID-19 crisis.
Mark Your Calendars for the Sessions You Don’t Want to Miss!
Click on each session below for more details.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
Mary Pile, Director, Health Integrated Business and Engineering Program, University of Tennessee
Cindy Herron, VP, Energy Right Solutions, TVA
Gabe Bolas, President/CEO, Knoxville Utilities Board
Keynote Speakers: Jeff Lyash & Jeff Dykes
Sponsored by:
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.
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.
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:
