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

Aluminum Dynamics, an aluminum recycling and manufacturing company announces plans to develop a recycled aluminum slab center in Lowndes County, Mississippi.

Aluminum Dynamics, an aluminum recycling and manufacturing company announced plans to develop a recycled aluminum slab center in Lowndes County, Mississippi. Plans for the project include creating 100 new jobs and investing more than $200M in the company’s operations. Economic development partners include 4-County EPA, Mississippi Development Authority, Golden Triangle Development LINK, and TVA. This project furthers TVA’s mission of service to help improve the quality of life for…

TRISO-X, a nuclear fuel company, announces plans to expand operations in Roane County, Tennessee.

TRISO-X, a nuclear fuel company, announced plans to expand operations in Roane County, Tennessee. The companyplans to create 1,140 new jobs and invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the new fuel facility, research and development center. Economic development partners include City of Oak Ridge Electric Department, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, U.S. Department of Energy, East Tennessee Economic Development Agency, Roane County,…

Jabil, a global engineering, supply chain and manufacturing solutions provider, announced plans to open a new facility in Marshall County, Mississippi.

Jabil, a global engineering, supply chain and manufacturing solutions provider, announced plans to open a new facility in Marshall County, Mississippi. The company plans to create approximately 2,200 new jobs and invest more than $119 million in its operations. Economic development partners include Northcentral Electric Cooperative, Mississippi Development Authority, Marshall County Industrial Development Authority, Accelerate MS, and TVA. This project…