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

Spencer Sessions

Director

| Economic Development Incentives

Ginger Lawyer

Manager

| Economic Incentives

Harry Schmidt

Manager

| Field Operations

Bess Hubbard

Manager

| Economic Development Services

Thomas Buehler

Manager

| Economic Investments

Adam Murray

Manager

| Target Market Specialist

Target Market Specialists

Adam Murray

Aerospace & Defense

Tyler Chaffee

Food & Beverage, Industrial Technologies, Life Sciences

Will West

Automotive and EV, Information Systems & Securities

Meryl Harris

Clean Technologies

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.

FIND YOUR SITE

Area Representatives — Alabama

Penny Townson

Consultant

Area Representatives — Kentucky

Emily Jones

Consultant

Danny Isaacs

Consultant

Area Representatives — Middle Tennessee

Courtney Sloven

Consultant

Nick Cunningham

Consultant

Area Representatives — Mississippi

Bryant Henley

Consultant

Chelsea Baulch

Consultant

Area Representatives — Northeast Valley

Derrick Collins

Consultant

Tim Tidwell

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

Centrus to Expand in Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Centrus, the only uranium enrichment centrifuge manufacturing facility in the U.S., announced plans to expand operations in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Plans for the project include creating 430 new jobs and investing more than $560 million to support large-scale restoration of uranium enrichment capability. Economic development partners include Oak Ridge Electric Department, the Tennessee Department of…

Heil Trailer International Plans to Expand Operations in Athens, Tennessee

Heil Trailer International, a global manufacturer of specialty transport trailers, announced plans to expand operations in Athens, Tennessee. Plans for the project include creating 18 new jobs and investing $9.8 million following the securement of a U.S. Department of the Army contract for the company’s Tactical Fuel Distribution System. Economic development partners include the Athens…

ALUKO Group Announces New Operations in Halls, Tennessee

ALUKO Group, a South Korean aluminum manufacturer, announced plans to establish operations in Halls, Tennessee. Plans for the project include creating 285 new jobs and investing $108 million in the Lauderdale County manufacturing facility. Economic development partners include Ripley Power & Light, Lauderdale County Economic and Community Development, Lauderdale County, and the Tennessee Department of…