Chamber's Leadership Connect empowers competitive SMB and entrepreneurial owners for business and community gains

By Milt Capps
Published Tuesday, January 14, 2025 12:56 pm

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Connect program affords competitively selected cohorts of small-business owners and entrepreneurs opportunities to expand and improve their personal networks, while increasing their influence in shaping local and regional responses to opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

The Chamber operates one 10-person cohort each calendar year, with applications taken in October-November, with invitations to participate determined each December.

On Jan. 13, Chamber staff announced the 10 members of the six-month-long 2025 Leadership Connect Cohort, which is in its sixth iteration since 2018.

Below are the 6th Cohort's members and lists of the program's performance indicators and expectations.

► Hannah Brandt DPT, Founder, HLB Lifestyles LLC, which provides virtual fitness and nutrition coaching service, serving women who seek empowerment to achieve sustainable health goals.

► Penny Haas, Owner and Lead Planner, Penny Haas LLC, which is an event manager, experience stager and consultant to venue operators and brands.

► Tiffany Hardin, CEO and founder, Gild Creative Group, delivering influencer marketing, creator services, Conscious Hustler(TM) mindful leadership development, and the Represent Inc. pro-services platform for creators.

► Shira Levy MA, Founder, ReMaGi Laser and Skin, which operates a cosmetic practice she founded after selling shares she owned in an earlier dermatology practice that she co-founded in Memphis.

► Emerald Mitch MBA EdD, founder, Moves & Grooves Inc., 1.6K Mid-TN youth annually through after-school and summer enrichment programs, and has secured over $8MM in grants.

► Jonathan Oye, Co-Founder, Oye Coffee Co. LLC, which is the business by which he and his brother bring authentic African coffee offerings to markets.

► Demetrius Short, Founder and CEO, Transformation Life Center (fka FIYA Global Ministries Inc.), a nonprofit that cultivates leaders through its Pathway to Success Leadership Academy. Short is a health IT pro, he captains Black Men Run Nashville and is a motivational speaker.

► Liz Veyhl, Founder, Small World Yoga Inc., a nonprofit that provides yoga instruction for persons with limited access and has since 2015 operated a registered yoga school, certifying instructors, among other initiatives.

► Robert Wilson MBA, Co-Founder, Culture Shift Team LLC, a culture and communications consultancy that helps leaders understand and leverage shifting demographics and culture that create business and workplace opportunities and challenges.

► Tanisha "Tee" Wilson M.Ed. Founder, CEO and executive director, B.E. Academy for Girls, a culturally responsive STEAM-based academy for girls.

In yesterday's Chamber press release, Chamber CEO Ralph Schulz said of the Cohort, "Leadership Connect is about empowering the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our community. It's an honor to support such talented individuals, helping them grow as professionals and equipping them with the tools to make a lasting impact on our region."

Lauren Overton

Responding to VNC questions about the value and impact of the program, Chamber Director of Small Business and Growth Initiatives Lauren Overton explained, in part, "What we know is that small business leaders have ideas, strategic vision, willingness, capacity, and ability to grow &lead in the community, but haven't always had the opportunities to be at the table of those discussions and conversations, because they didn't bring the resources big companies have."

Overton further explained that the program selects candidates "who already exemplify success and stableness within their business, as well as a track- record of leadership within the community in whatever areas they are interested in. It provides them with an opportunity to be accelerated into those BIG conversations and have seats at the table where the execution is happening."

Chamber PR/Social Media Director Malick Gaye rapidly facilitated Chamber responses to further VNC questions regarding how specifically the Chamber gauges the success of each cohort by tracking numerous indicators, including:

Volume of applications received for available cohort seats
Cohort members' attendance and active participation in sessions
Member retention rate through the six-month program;
Partnerships, collaborations, or business opportunities formed among cohort members, community leaders;
Post-program survey results measuring participants' perceived growth in networking skills and connections;
Cohort members reporting increased involvement in community initiatives or leadership roles;
Growth in business performance (e.g., revenue, customer base) attributed to program participation;
Post-program satisfaction surveys to measure content relevance, speaker impact, overall program quality;
Alumni testimonials and willingness to recommend the program to peers.

We also learned that longer-term indicators include:

Continued engagement with the Chamber through event participation, alumni initiatives. LC alumni committee of current and past cohort members volunteers time to new cohorts in various ways.
Cohort alumni representation in Leadership Study Mission (LSM) trips and other Chamber programs.

Other results-to-date, according to the Chamber:

The program has seen consistent growth in applications and engagement since its launch. 70% growth in applicants from both Chamber and non-Chamber members.
Alumni have reported taking on new leadership roles, joining boards, and forming partnerships as a direct result of their participation.
Surveys indicate a 95% satisfaction rate with the program content and overall experience.

For more information about the Leadership Connect program, please contact abovementioned Lauren Overton or Chamber VP Veronica Marable Johnson, via info on Chamber's Team page.

The telegraphic descriptions above regarding cohort members' extensive individual backgrounds and pursuits, etc., were adapted by VNC from various sources, including the Chamber's full release here.

Any errors are ours and feedback and corrections are welcomed. VNC

. last edited 14 January 2025 1521