ULI Nashville Management Committees, Affinity Groups, and Issue Action Councils/Initiatives

ULI Nashville members can engage in the work of ULI Nashville by volunteering to serve as part of the Management Committees, Affinity Groups, and Issue Action Councils/Initiatives. By doing so, you can work with other members to offer networking and education across the District Council. Below are brief descriptions of these opportunities as well as FY25 Chairs. Opportunities to engage in ULI Nashville Committees, Affinity Groups, and Issue Action Councils/ Initiatives are open only to ULI members. To inquire about current committee openings email [email protected].

Management Committees

COMMUNICATIONS/MARKETING COMMITTEE – Kaylen Harrison (Southeast Venture) and Katie Wainman (Hardaway Construction), Co-Chairs
The Communications/Marketing Committee is responsible for helping create ULI Nashville’s communications and marketing plan and supporting ULI Nashville’s presence on social media, and through print/tv media relations with consistent ULI Nashville messaging.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE – Chris Ferguson (Wolfram Development) and Kevin McAdams (Aprio), Co-Chairs
The Membership Committee is responsible for ensuring ULI Nashville membership retention and growth. Committee members attend bi-monthly New Member CONNECT orientations and network with small groups of new members. They also reach out individually to new members to help them become engaged with ULI Nashville. In October this committee will host a Member Recruitment party as outreach to new and potential members.

PROGRAMMING AND AWARDS COMMITTEE– Sheena Francis (Kimley-Horn) and Bailie Klages (Commerce Bank), Co-Chairs
The Programming and Awards Committee is responsible for selecting and helping plan ULI Nashville programs outside of the work of Action Councils, Initiatives, and Affinity groups. Examples include project tours like the Content before Cocktails series and social programming like Summer Soiree in early summer. This committee also works with the Senior Associate of ULI Nashville to put on the annual Excellence in Development Awards program – ULI Nashville’s largest annual event.

SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE – Dillard Adams (Southeast Venture) and Bryan Hay (Skanska), Co-Chairs
The Sponsorship Committee is responsible for the solicitation of the vital Annual Sponsor campaign. This work runs from September– early December.The committee will also host a Sponsor Kickoff Party in the Fall and an Annual Sponsor Appreciation Party in the Spring.

Affinity Groups

NEXT STEERING COMMITTEE AND SUB-COMMITTEES – Jonathan Holmes (Manganaro TN) and Brittney Rowe (Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital), Co-Chairs
The ULI Nashville NEXT initiative provides opportunities to identify, connect, and elevate the next generation of leaders from mid-career professionals age 35 to (approximately) 45 years. Committee members help suggest, plan, and evaluate NEXT activities offered to ULI Nashville members.

NEXT LUNCH WITH A LEADER – Kaitlin Dastugue (Civic Design Center) and Katie Hawk (FSA Lighting), Co-Chairs
Three times a year gather over lunch with other ULI Nashville NEXT members for networking and small-group conversation with local leaders.

NEXT TOURS – Eric Deems (Land Advisors) and Kevin Williams (True North Advisory), Co-Chairs
Twice a year gather for project tours and networking other ULI Nashville NEXT members.

NEXT NETWORKING EXCHANGE – Ripley Bickerstaff (Hoar) and Hayley Schulist (CBRE), Co-Chairs
Connect virtually with ULI NEXT members from other district councils in peer cities.

NEXT COFFEE CLUB – Rachael Spangler (InForm Advisory) and Jafar Ware (Metro Planning), Co-Chairs
Connect monthly one-on-one with other ULI Nashville NEXT members.

PATHWAYS TO INCLUSION COMMITTEE AND SUB-COMMITTEES — James Harper (Hensel Phelps) and Youvonia Moore (Thomas Moore Properties, LLC), Co-Chairs
The Pathways to Inclusion initiative works to diversify ULI Nashville and the development industry through programs that highlight the work of and promote the advancement of diverse communities. Committee members help manage the Pathways program and related programming.

PATHWAYS STOOP TALKS – Brittany Macon (Polsinelli) and Quan Poole, Co-Chairs
Three times a year gather virtually with other ULI Nashville Pathways members for small-group conversation with local and national leaders.

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE STEERING COMMITTEE AND SUB-COMMITTEES – Hunter Beyke (Steelcase) and Lori Smith (TMPartners), Co-Chairs
The Mission of the ULI Nashville Women’s Leadership Initiative is to provide professional development opportunities for women, raise the visibility of the accomplishments of women and increase the number of women leaders in ULI and its member industries. Steering Committee members help suggest, plan, and evaluate WLI activities offered to ULI Nashville members.

WLI PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES
Twice yearly, the WLI hosts speakers on a range of professional development topics for all ULI Nashville Members. Past topics have included conversational intelligence, the intergenerational workplace, and the road to the C-suite.

WLI STUDIO AFTER DARK – Sera Cremona (Cremona Consulting), Co-Chair
The committee plans the Studio After Dark series where small groups of female members meet in homes to discuss issues of importance with a local female leader.  

WLI COFFEE CONNECT – Susan Marlow (Stantec), Chair
Connect monthly one-on-one with other ULI Nashville female members.

YOUNG LEADERS (YL) GROUP STEERING COMMITTEE AND SUB-COMMITTEES – Ashley Ayub (Bennett & Pless) and Lauren Bonfield (Holladay Ventures), Co-Chairs
ULI Nashville Young Leaders Group is organized to serve the specific goals of our ULI members under the age of 35. To serve YLG’s interest in career development, mentorship, and networking, YLG offers special programs and events. Committee members help suggest, plan, and evaluate Young Leader activities offered to ULI Nashville members.

YL MENTOR COMMITTEE – Orlando Cordero (Pearl Street Partners) and Ryan Gram (Kimley-Horn), Co-Chairs
The Mentor Committee plans and runs the successful Mentor Program each year including matching member mentor/mentee pairs and hosting programming in support of the participants.

YL POP-UP PROJECT TOURS – William Harvell (Centric Architecture) and Michael Wasyliw (EOA Architects), Co-Chairs
The Pop-Up Committee plans casual, impromptu small-group project tours that highlight the work of Young Leader members. Each tour is followed by a networking happy hour.

YL LEADERSHIP LUNCHEONS – Blair Seymour (Bohler) and Shuangwen Yang (Catalyst Design Group), Co-Chairs
This committee offers a series of lunch and learn programs for YL professionals focused on becoming a leader within your profession.

Issue Action Councils / Initiatives

BUILDING HEALTHY PLACES (BHP) – John Vick (Tennessee Department of Health) and Kathryn Withers (Barge Design Solutions), Co-Chairs
BHP members focus on how to make our city healthier for residents, employees, and visitors through thoughtful design of the built environment. BHP has taken the lead on ULI Nashville’s work on the ULI mission priority to accelerate decarbonization and achieve net zero.

CAPITAL MARKETS – Graham Gilreath (Bellwether Enterprise) and Ryan Seibels (Elmington Capital), Co-Chairs
This action council hosts the annual ULI Nashville Real Estate Outlook event, one of ULI Nashville’s signature programs, attracting over 400+ industry leaders to learn about national and local market trends.

CIVIC LEADERSHIP FORUM (CLF) – Clay Adkisson (Openworks) and John Gore (Barge Civil Associates), Co-Chairs
The mission of the ULI Nashville Civic Leadership Forum is to build Nashville’s best future by enhancing the dialogue and understanding between local decision-makers and the land use and development community. The work of the ULI Nashville CLF reinforces the timeless value that strong communities are built through mutual understanding, productive communication, and good partners. Each year CLF creates opportunities for ULI Nashville members to connect with the leaders of Metro Departments related to growth and development. CLF also creates programs that showcase developments that exhibit exceptional public/private partnerships.

HOUSING ACTION COUNCIL (HAC) – Aron Thompson (Urban League of Middle Tennessee), Chair
The HAC monitors the status of housing in Nashville, discussing policy and programming solutions with an emphasis on promoting affordable housing.

MOBILITY ACTION COUNCIL (MAC) – Beth Ostrowski (KCI Technologies) and Marty Sewell (NDOT), Co-Chairs
The Mobility Action Council (MAC) exists to improve awareness, education, and promotion of multi-modal transportation and the benefit to Nashville/Davidson County in improving transportation networks and thoughtful connection to land use. In keeping with ULI’s decision to not endorse legislation or referenda, the Mobility Action Council will convene and educate locally, and utilize the expertise and best practices of ULI America’s network. 

URBANPLAN – Tara Myers (ESa) and Malina Springer (Pillars Development), Co-Chairs
With the help of volunteers, UrbanPlan harnesses the power of experiential learning by teaching and engaging participants – high school students, university students, or public officials – to learn the fundamental process and forces that affect development in our communities. They experience challenging issues, private and public sector roles, complex trade-offs, and fundamental economics in play when proposing realistic land use solutions to vexing growth challenges. ULI Nashville UrbanPlan’s Steering Committee leads this initiative by guiding its growth within the Nashville community. The committee meets quarterly and members of the committee are expected to be trained UrbanPlan volunteers.

COMING SOON – INFRASTRUCTURE ACTION COUNCIL (IAC) – In 2025, ULI Nashville will launch an Infrastructure Action Council for members interested in contributing to thought and education on infrastructure in Nashville/Davidson County – one of the top three issues raised by ULI Nashville members during the 2023 Strategic Plan update. For more information, contact Jennifer Carlat at [email protected] 

To inquire about current committee openings email [email protected].