OUR TEAM

Meet Our Site Selection Specialists

We’re here to help you discover our region, access resources, and find the site that’s right for your business.

Find What You’re Looking For

Finding the right site is easier with the right people to guide you. Our team of economic developers and site selection specialists know the Valley region. We offer no-cost, confidential location assistance and tailored programs, services, and incentives to companies planning new or expanding facilities.

Corporate Managers

John Bradley

Senior Vice President

| Economic Development

Heidi Smith

Vice President

| Economic Development

Adam Murray

Senior Director

| Global Business

Spencer Sessions

Director

| Economic Development Incentives

Millie Callaway Parkes

Manager

| Community Development & Support

Harry Schmidt

Manager

| Field Operations

Ginger Lawyer

Manager

| Economic Incentives

Bess Hubbard

Manager

| Economic Development Services

Thomas Buehler

Manager

| Economic Investments

Target Market Specialists

Tyler Chaffee

Food & Beverage, Aerospace & Defense, Life Sciences

Meryl Harris

Energy Systems and Industrial Technologies

Will West

Transportation and Information Systems

Product Development

Bill Adams

Senior Program Manager, Industrial Development

Josh Thornton

Senior Program Manager

Selecting the Perfect Site

The seven-state Valley region has a large and varied selection of sites and buildings for your consideration. Whether you’re looking for shovel-ready land, spec buildings, sustainable communities, or commercial or industrial properties, our interactive mapping tool can get your search started.

Area Representatives — Alabama

Penny Townson

Consultant

Aaron Stewart

Consultant

Area Representatives — Kentucky

James Bundren

Consultant

Christian Howard

Consultant

Area Representatives — Middle Tennessee

Emily Jones

Consultant

Courtney Sloven

Consultant

Nick Cunningham

Consultant

Area Representatives — Mississippi

Bryant Henley

Consultant

Chelsea Baulch

Consultant

Area Representatives — Northeast Valley

Tim Tidwell

Consultant

Derrick Collins

Consultant

Area Representatives — Southeast Valley

Scott Cooper

Consultant

Taylor Belcher

Consultant

Area Representatives — West Tennessee

Eugene Johnson

Consultant

Chuck Marquis

Consultant

  • Economic Development for me is not just a profession but a passion. I actually get paid to do something that I really love doing. It is so rewarding to watch a community, region or state create jobs and opportunities for its citizens.

    -Heidi Smith, TVA Economic Development Director of Global Business

  • I am grateful to be able to help communities in the Valley achieve their vision of economic success. This career allows me the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the residents of the communities which I serve.

    -Emily Jones, TVA Economic Development Regional Development Specialist

  • Nothing is more rewarding than being a part of a team who bands together to improve the quality of life in a community. As President Truman once said, ‘It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.’

    -Katrina Smith, TVA Economic Development Training & Development

In the News

Energizing Tennessee: Recruiting for the Nuclear Renaissance with Derrick Collins, TVA

Advanced energy 🤝 economic development. Derrick Collins, Regional Economic Development Consultant for the Tennessee Valley Authority joins Energizing Tennessee to discuss: Click here to listen. About Energizing Tennessee: Energizing Tennessee, powered by the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council, explores the latest news and insights about the advanced energy sector. Hear from advanced energy leaders and experts…

Bridgetown Natural Foods, a sustainable food producer, announces plans to expand operations in Wilson County, Tennessee.

Bridgetown Natural Foods, a sustainable food producer, announced plans to expand operations in Wilson County, Tennessee. Plans for the project include creating 237 new jobs and investing more than $24 million, adding additional lines at the company’s facility. Economic development partners include Middle Tennessee Electric, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, and the Joint Economic and…

Redwire Corp., an aerospace and defense manufacturer, announces plans to expand operations in Huntsville, Alabama.

Redwire Corp., an aerospace and defense manufacturer, announced plans to expand operations in Huntsville, Alabama. The company plans to create 150 new jobs and additional capital investment in the manufacturing, integration, and technical operations. Economic development partners include the Huntsville-Madison Chamber of Commerce, City of Huntsville, Madison County Alabama, Alabama Department of Commerce, and Huntsville Utilities.  This…