Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Announces 2020 Leadership Connect Class

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate our newest Leadership Connect Class of 2020! Our Leadership Connect program is designed for small business professionals to engage the next generation of community and business leaders.

These business professionals were chosen through a competitive application process and will now have the opportunity to meet with top CEOs, engaging experts on regional issues and attending our Leadership Study Mission trip to San Diego in April of 2020. You can find out more about the Leadership Connect program here.

Read below to learn more about each member of the 2020 class.

Allen Bolden, HB Real Estate

Allen Bolden is the Co-Founder of HB Real Estate, a full-service commercial real estate firm that specializes in leasing and investing in medical real estate. Today, they are expanding into retail, office and industrial. Allen is passionate about mobility and transit.

Kelly Brockman, McNeely Brockman Public Relations

Kelly Brockman is the Co-Founder of McNeely Brockman Public Relations, a boutique firm focusing on high-level strategic and crisis communications, media relations and community engagement. Kelly has served as a spokesperson for Transit in Nashville and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Greenways for Nashville. Education is a top priority to Kelly.

Brittany Cole, Career Thrivers

Brittany Cole is the Founder of Career Thrivers, a leadership development firm that helps organizations develop and retain diverse talent through workshops, coaching and curriculum development. Brittany has a passion for professional development that leads to a more equitable workforce. She also enjoys supporting women with their businesses and has done so as a mentor for Pathway Women’s Business Center. In addition to her speaking, career coaching and corporate consulting, she has served as a church Youth Director, leadership development trainer for INROADS and curriculum development partner and speaker with The Next Door.

Tracy Dunn, Hip Hues, LLC

Tracy Dunn is the Co-Founder of Hip Hues, LLC, a mobile swag bar that brings live interactive screen printing to a variety of events where each attendee gets to customize and print their own product to take home. Tracy founded and lead an after-school reading program at STEMP Prep Middle School and recently joined the Finance Committee and Board of Directors for The Porch. She is currently in the process of becoming a small business mentor for Pathways Women's Business Center. Tracy is passionate about affordable housing and being apart of a diverse socio-economic community.

Julie Lilliston, Julie Lilliston Communications

Julie Lilliston is the Founder and President of Julie Lilliston Communications, a public relations agency specializing in business-to-business communications, thought leadership and reputation management. Julie is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and serves on the National PRSA Corporate Communications Section Committee. She is a past president and current board member of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Nashville Chapter. Julie is passionate about the diversity and inclusion of all small businesses, specifically women-owned businesses.

Jay Morgan, Comstasis, LLC

Jay Morgan is the Owner and CEO of Comstasis, LLC, an IT service provider that guides small businesses, schools, and non-profit organizations in implementing the technology necessary to support their business processes and manages that technology on their behalf. Jay is a board member for Carnegie Writers and volunteers with the Kentucky Department of Education’s Student Technology Leadership Program, Nashville SCORE chapter, and PENCIL. He is passionate about offering workforce development and training for technical jobs in our region.

Danny Pippin, Pippin Leadership Services

Danny Pippin is the Founder of Pippin Leadership Services, a consulting firm that helps entrepreneurs and small business owners build and grow their retail or service-based business. Danny volunteers as a mentor for the Middle Tennessee Society for Human Resource Management and Vanderbilt's Wond'ry. He is also an advisor for the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. Danny is passionate about workforce, specifically at the level of disengaged employees and skilled workers.

Brian Sexton, Creatives Day

Brian Sexton is the Founder and Executive Director of Creatives Day, an organization focused on connecting youth and young adult artists in Nashville to resources and opportunities that foster creativity and financial stability. Brian developed a partnership with the Hutton Hotel to activate Nashville’s first public-private music production residency for emerging artists. He is passionate about community engagement as well as solving the issue of inadequate access to Arts education and affordable housing for low-income community members.

Traci Snowden, Apto Global

Traci Snowden is the Founder and CEO of Apto Global, an online experiential learning platform that combines culture, language and local knowledge into immersive experiences for learners. Traci currently serves on the board of directors for the Center for International Business at Belmont University. She is also actively involved in the Nashville Chamber's International Business Council and Pathway Women’s Business Center. Traci is passionate about improving public education in Nashville.

Clint Story, Citizens Bank

Clint Story serves as the Vice President of Business Relations for Citizens Bank, the oldest continuously owned and operated African-American owned bank in the United States. Clint is a member of the Steering Committee for the newly formed Nashville Chapter of My Brother's Keeper. Clint is very passionate about providing guidance, wisdom, and encouragement to young people so that they can excel in higher education. Over the years, he has mentored several men and women enrolled in numerous colleges and universities around the country.