PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
My experiences and background were the perfect fit to become the city's 12th mayor.
I understand the complexities of state and federal government and have relationships to get attention for solutions that depend on state and federal agencies. Hendersonville needs this kind of understanding to fix Saundersville Road, cooperate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, improve traffic on state roads, and to solve problems that require partnerships. I have seen what works in other communities and what leads to failure as cities grow.
My experience has also served the city well in bringing jobs to Hendersonville. Our community needs more opportunities for people who live here to work here. Having more professional jobs here improves our economy, reduces traffic headed west every morning, boosts our tax base, and gets residents more invested in the community.
During the 1990s I worked in a congressional office, at the state capitol, and for several Middle Tennessee newspapers. My first long-term employment was at the “Hendersonville Star News” and later at “Nashville Business Journal”. From 1998 through 2005, I worked as a free-lance writer and public relations consultant. Diane Black hired me to run four political campaigns for her, including her successful race for the Tennessee State Senate. My writing clients included “Nashville Scene,” “NASCAR Weekly,” “Soccer America,” “Wall Street Journal,” and “Nashville Banner.” Also, I started up a for-profit FAX newspaper for Hendersonville businesses.
In 1999, I published the second volume of “The City by the Lake”, covering 1968 to 1988. I continue to speak about our local history. My other book, “The First American Soccer Trivia Book,” was released in 2005.
In 2005 I started working for Saint Communications. My role was to help businesses navigate through permitting and zoning processes to bring jobs, infrastructure, and taxes to communities. Those companies' objectives included a Molybdenum mine, port expansion, hospital, wind farm, stadium, pipeline, library, and several other projects in 29 states and two other countries.
I helped companies grow.