Chamber Staff Directory

Chamber Administration

President

Paul Latture, IOM
(615) 893-6565
contact

Paul Latture joined the Chamber in 2009. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Mississippi, he served as the director of membership development and government affairs at the Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce. He served as the executive vice president for economic development for the Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board. He served as assistant commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. Before coming on board at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, he worked as president and CEO of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce. Latture is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute of Organizational Management. He is a member of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Executives Association, serving as president in 2007. He is currently serving as president for the Tennessee Economic Development Council.

Vice President of Operations

Stephanie Brackman, IOM
615-278-2011
contact

Stephanie Brackman joined the Chamber staff in 1999. After graduating with a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Education from the University of Tennessee, Brackman worked for Whittle Communications in Knoxville for six years. She then came to Rutherford County and worked at Middle Tennessee State University for six years on special projects for the Athletic Department and the President’s Office. She is a graduate of the Institute of Organized Management, Leadership Middle Tennessee and Leadership Rutherford. She is also a member of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Executives and American Chamber of Commerce Executives. Brackman also serves on the board of directors for the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties.

Director of Membership

Kelli Beam
(615) 278-2391
contact

Kelli Beam joined the Chamber staff in 2007. She graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a degree in Communications/Public Relations. She has worked for Gaylord Opryland Hotel in the Training/Quality Assurance/Communications department as a communications specialist and as a marketing specialist for Colliers Turley Martin Tucker, a commercial real estate firm. Beam is a member of the La Vergne Rotary and is a graduate of Leadership Rutherford.

Director of Communications

Beth Cope, IOM
(615) 278-2323
contact

Beth Cope joined the Chamber staff in 2005. After graduating with a degree in Communications from the University of Tennessee, Cope worked for Southern Living magazine. She also served as an assistant marketing director for CBL & Associates Properties. She is a graduate of the Institute of Organized Management and Leadership Rutherford. Cope is also a member of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Membership Coordinator

Emily Day
(615) 278-2387
contact

Emily Day joined the Chamber staff in 2007, after attending Middle Tennessee State University for Interdisciplinary Studies. Day is involved with the North Rutherford Kiwanis and the Only Downtown Business Alliance. She is also a first year graduate of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Executives Institute and a 2009 graduate of Leadership Rutherford.

Director of Government Affairs and Community Development

Chassen Haynes
(615) 893-6565
contact

Chassen Haynes joined the Chamber staff in 2009. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Middle Tennessee State University, Haynes began working toward his Masters in Business Administration degree with a focus in Management that will be completed in 2010. He is a member of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Executives and is involved with the Only Downtown Business Alliance, Smyrna Independent Merchants Association, Murfreesboro’s Noon Exchange Club, the Rutherford County Wellness Council and Rutherford County’s 2010 Census Steering Committee.

Administrative Assistant (Murfreesboro)

Susan Sams
(615) 893-6565
contact

Susan Sams has been employed at the Chamber since 1996. She attended Volunteer State in Gallatin, Tenn. Later, she attended Nashville Medical College where she studied to be a medical secretary. Sams worked at Power and Telephone in Nashville. She also worked for an engineering firm in Knoxville for six years.

Director of Accounting

Mary Rose Shadrick
(615) 278-2324
contact

Mary Rose Shadrick joined the Chamber in 2007. She graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in Accounting. In 2003, she worked as a staff accountant at National HealthCare Corporation and in 2004, she worked as a market center administrator for Keller Williams Realty in Franklin, Tenn.

Administrative Assistant (Murfreesboro)

Beverly Bevill
contact

Beverly Bevill joined the Chamber staff in 2010. For several years, Bevill served as a substitute teacher in the Rutherford County school system. In addition, she has worked in retail sales and customer service. Bevill is a lifelong resident of Murfreesboro and has been a home based business owner for several years.

Membership Account Executive

Nicole Samples
(615) 893-6565
contact

Nicole Brabender Samples joined the Chamber staff in 2010. She has worked in the marketing and sales field for more than 10 years. Her previous work experience includes the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and GrassRoots Marketing. Originally from Rutherford County, Samples moved to East Tennessee in 1995 to attend Maryville College. After graduating from Maryville, she obtained her master’s degree from UT Knoxville. She served as a volunteer with the Knoxville Chamber, the Advisory Council of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of East Tennessee and on the Allocations Committee for over 5 years with the United Way of Greater Knoxville.

Convention & Visitors Bureau

Vice-President of Convention & Visitors Bureau

Mona Herring, CTTP, TMP
(615) 278-2014
contact

Mona Herring began her career with the Chamber in 1987 and was promoted to Tourism Director in 1995. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business from Missouri Southern State University. She earned industry designations as a CTTP (Certified Tennessee Tourism Professional) from the Tennessee Tourism Roundtable and as a TMP (Travel Marketing Professional) from the Southeast Tourism Society. She is a graduate of Leadership Rutherford and currently serves as the treasurer for the Tennessee Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (TACVB). She is also a member of the Middle Tennessee Tourism Council, the Nashville Attractions Coalition (NAC), Bank Travel, American Bus Association (ABA), Tennessee Society of Association Executives (TSAE), Southeast Tourism Society (STS) and Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). She also serves on the board of directors for the Tennessee Miller Coliseum.

Director of Group Sales

Barbara Wolke, CHSP, TMP, CTTP
(615) 278-2327
contact

Barbara Wolke joined the Convention & Visitors Bureau staff in 2003. She has 28 years of experience in sales and the hospitality industry. Wolke earned her designation as a CHSP (Certified Hospitality Sales Professional) from the Educational Institute with the American Hotel & Motel Association. She earned industry designations as a TMP (Travel Marketing Professional) from the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College and as a CTTP (Certified Tennessee Tourism Professional) from the Tennessee Tourism Roundtable. She is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Training Course.

Media Relations Specialist

Wendy Bryant, CTTP, TMP
(615) 278-2328
contact

Wendy Bryant joined the Convention & Visitors Bureau staff in 1996. She received an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in Communications from Motlow State Community College and a Bachelor of Science (B.S) in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from Middle Tennessee State University. She earned industry designations as a CTTP (Certified Tennessee Tourism Professional) from the Tennessee Tourism Roundtable and as a TMP (Travel Marketing Professional) from the Southeast Tourism Society. She is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Training Course and Leadership Rutherford.

Visitor Relations Specialist

Stacie Pierce, TMP
(615) 278-2389
contact

Stacie Pierce has been employed at the Chamber since 2007. She is a cum laude graduate of Middle Tennessee State University where she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Mass Communication, concentrating in Journalism. She graduated from the Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College in 2010 and was awarded the designation of Travel Marketing Professional (TMP).

Economic Development

Vice President of Economic Development

Holly Sears
(615) 869-0345
contact

Holly Sears joined the Chamber staff in 2005. She earned a B.A. in Urban and Regional Planning and has a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Tennessee. Prior to joining the Chamber staff, Sears worked at the State of Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development and was the Executive Director of the Joint Economic & Community Development Board of Wilson County, Tenn. She also serves as Chair of the Government Affairs Council of NAIOP-The Commercial Real Estate Organization, represents Middle Tennessee on the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Economic Development Council, and serves on the Board for Tennessee Economic Partnership. In addition, Sears was named to the Middle Tennessee Medical Center Advisory Council and was appointed to serve as the Tennessee State Alliance Co-Chair representing the Public Sector for the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Economic Development Specialist

Bess Rickman
(615) 869-0345
contact

Bess Rickman joined the Chamber staff in 2009. After graduating with a B.S. in Chemistry from Middle Tennessee State University, she interned at The White House in Washington, D.C. and later worked at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. Rickman completed the Tennessee Basic Economic Development Course (TBEDC) sponsored by the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service in 2009.

Business Education Partnership Foundation

Executive Director of Business Education Partnership

Lee Rennick
(615) 278-2008
contact

Lee Rennick became the executive director of the Business Education Partnership in 2001. She received a cum laude BSBA in Marketing from the University of Missouri and upon graduation was hired into Dillard’s Buyer Training program. She worked for more than eight years in store management and as a buyer for the company. Rennick then spent eleven years in advertising, media, marketing and event planning in Davidson and Rutherford Counties. She is a graduate of Leadership Rutherford, InterPlay Leadership Training and LionsQuest Service Learning Training. In 2009 she completed a certificate in Non-Profit Supervision from the Center for Non-Profit Management and is currently working to complete a certificate in Non-Profit Management. Rennick has been a member of the Murfreesboro Noon Rotary Club for more than 14 years, she is a founding member of Rutherford CABLE, serves on the Middle Tennessee State University Women in STEM Advisory Board, Damar College Community Advisory Committee, Murfreesboro City and Rutherford County TSCPP Advisory Committees and serves as chair of the Rutherford County CTE Advisory Board.

Community Relations Specialist

Laura Beth Jackson
(615) 278-2008
contact

Laura Beth Jackson joined the Business Education Partnership in 2006 after interning with the organization in 2005. She received her B.A. in English and Writing from Middle Tennessee State University. Her work has included editing and writing internships with Thomas Nelson, Middle Tennessee State University News and Public Affairs, and freelance journalism. Jackson is currently pursuing her Masters in English at MTSU. She has received a certificate in LionsQuest Service Learning training and is a member of the Read to Succeed board of directors.

Branch Offices

Administrative Assistant (Smyrna)

Joy Galyon
(615) 355-6565
contact

Joy Galyon joined the Chamber staff in 1992 where she works as an administrative assistant at Smyrna Town Hall. After graduating from Carson-Newman College with a B.A. in Sociology, she worked as a Social Worker for the TN. Dept. of Human Services in Knoxville. She also taught 5th grade in the Blount County School System before moving to Smyrna.

Administrative Assistant (La Vergne)

Carrie Smith
(615) 793-5444
contact

Carrie Smith joined the Chamber staff in 1995. After graduating from the Nashville Business College, Smith worked as a secretary for the Easter Seals Society. At one point, Smith and her husband owned a hardware store in La Vergne. Smith worked at First Tennessee Bank as a teller. She also worked at Central State Hospital and Ellington Agriculture Center.