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].

ULI Spring Meeting 2026

Jody Moody (The Mathews Company) and Brittney Rowe (BWE), Co-Chairs

In May 2026, Nashville will host over 5,000 ULI members at the annual ULI Spring Meeting! In preparation, ULI Nashville members will help create 30 tours around Nashville and Middle Tennessee, plan six panels focused on CRE issues in Tennessee, welcome ULI’s 70 Product Council flights, and more. If you would like to help in planning an outstanding Spring Meeting, contact Jennifer Carlat at [email protected].

Management Committees

COMMUNICATIONS/MARKETING COMMITTEE – HYBRID – Katie Wainman (Hardaway Construction) and Jackie Winkle, 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 – HYBRID – 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 – HYBRID – 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 – Brantley Beeler (Gresham Smith) and Jonathan Holmes (Manganaro TN), 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 – Katie Feldhaus (The Mathews Company) 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 Adam Milner (DeAngelis Diamond), Co-Chairs
Gather for project tours and networking other ULI Nashville NEXT members.

NEXT COFFEE CLUB – Rachael Spangler (InForm Advisory), Chair
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.

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE STEERING COMMITTEE AND SUB-COMMITTEES – Hunter Beyke (Steelcase) and Elizabeth Holland (Winstead PC), 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 STUDIO AFTER DARK – Sera Cremona (Cremona Consulting), 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 (Barton Malow) and Orlando Cordero (Valterra), 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 (Valterra) 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 Nick Siragusa (Thomas & Hutton), 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 – Arthur Butler (Urban Housing Solutions), Chair
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) – VIRTUAL – John Vick (Tennessee Department of Health), Chair
The Building Healthy Places Action Council focuses 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
The Capital Markets Action Council explores trends, challenges, and opportunities in real estate finance and investment across Middle Tennessee. The council hosts the annual ULI Nashville Emerging Trends in Real Estate event, one of the district’s signature programs, drawing over 400 leaders to examine national and local market dynamics. In addition to creating programming for the broader ULI Nashville membership, the Council meets monthly and engages in dialogue about current issues in real estate investment. 

CIVIC LEADERSHIP FORUM (CLF) – VIRTUAL – Michelle Beauvais (EOA Architects) and John Gore (Barge Civil Associates), Co-Chairs
The Civic Leadership Forum strengthens Nashville’s future by fostering dialogue between local leaders and the land use and development community. CLF promotes the value of strong communities built on mutual understanding and collaboration, offering ULI Nashville members opportunities to engage with Metro leaders and explore exemplary public/private development partnerships.

EAST TENNESSEE STEERING COMMITTEE – VIRTUAL – Rebekah Jane Justice (City of Knoxville) and Ben Skidmore (Kimley-Horn), Co-Chairs
The East Tennessee Steering Committee helps plan the growth, programming, and direction of ULI Nashville’s work in East Tennessee. Local East Tennessee members are also instrumental in providing introductions, understanding the cities’ CRE issues, and helping with events.

HOUSING ACTION COUNCIL (HAC) – HYBRID – Will Rosenthal (OpenWorks) and Kelsey Wilson (Nelson Community Partners), Co-Chairs
The HAC monitors the status of housing in Nashville, discussing policy and programming solutions with an emphasis on promoting affordable housing.

INFRASTRUCTURE ACTION COUNCIL (IAC) – HYBRID – Kyle McGavin (MarketStreet Enterprises), Lisa Milligan (Metro Nashville Planning Department), and Travis Todd (Thomas & Hutton), Co-Chairs
The Infrastructure Action Council engages ULI Nashville Members in shaping sustainable infrastructure solutions for Nashville/Davidson County be serving as a strategic partner to public and private sectors. IAC explores tools, funding, and strategies to support predictable, economically viable infrastructure development, enabling private investment to help meet Metro’s growth needs.

MOBILITY ACTION COUNCIL (MAC) – HYBRID – Beth Ostrowski (KCI Technologies) and Marty Sewell (NDOT), Co-Chairs
The Mobility Action Council 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, MAC convenes and educates locally and utilizes the expertise and best practices of ULI America’s network.

URBANPLAN – Stacy Deru (Opus Strategy Group) 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.

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