Global Nashville with Karl Dean

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Global Nashville with Karl Dean will be live on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm alternating with our Global Dialogue: International Affairs Speakers program.

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A Conversation With Ralph Schulz

CEO, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

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Karl Dean | Welcome to the new Global Nashville.

A Conversation with Ralph Schulz
CEO Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

April 14, 2020

In this episode Karl Dean, former Nashville Mayor, talks with Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Ralph Schulz about the business environment in Nashville during this time of pandemic. What sectors are impacted the most and in what ways? How has the global economy and business relocations that are important to the region be affected? How are Nashville businesses and Nashvillians looking at the prospects for recovery?

We invite you to listen to this Webinar and join us for future editions of “Global Nashville with Karl Dean” — check TNWAC.org/calendar for Webinar schedules.

Runtime: 31:58

00:01 Welcome / Introduction — Invitation to friends in the business community to sponsor “Global Nashville with Karl Dean.” Contact [email protected]
02:30 Prior to pandemic how was business in Nashville?
03:36 How has the business community been affected by the pandemic?
05:35 What role has the Nashville Chamber had dealing with these circumstances?
07:04 Is hospitality the hardest hit sector in the pandemic?
08:10 Healthcare sector impact.
08:46 Tell us about business expansions and relocations.
09:18 Interest on the part of global tech in Nashville.
09:30 How is the Federal response, money flow from Washington?
09:59 PPP and other programs have been life preservers for some businesses.
10:33 What connections have you had with other chambers? Best practices?
11:02 Today’s chambers’ call – interesting range of cities, where they are in the pandemic.
11:55 People are working toward the ‘things’ that will help companies come back.
12:13 Businesses most interested in their plan going forward, adaptation to the current situation is done. How fast can we get back to being fully productive?
12:48 Hot topic is reopening, getting back to “normal.” How will that play out?
13:29 Some sort of “phasing” will be necessary to return to “normal.”
14:30 Education is a major focus of the Chamber; how do you see school situation?
16:09 Global economy and Nashville: what has the Chamber’s approach been?
18:15 How has the pandemic impacted the global economic sector?
18:42 Nashville’s “calling card” is how it responds to adversity.
19:18 Alliance Bernstein an example of business approach to Nashville culture.
19:48 Like coming out of the flood and recession Nashville will demonstrate how to bounce back.
20:15 Optimism makes Nashville a special place.
20:40 Is the pandemic the biggest challenge you’ve faced at the Chamber?
21:08 The recovery from the flood was “no small task” either.
21:50 Hopefully we can be helpful and supportive of businesses and the public sector.
22:20 More “unknowns” and “uncertainty” in the pandemic recovery – vast array of problems.
23:10 Unknowns are compounded by progression of the virus. Scary in some ways, energizing in some other ways. Confronting issue out of necessity.
23:59 Entrepreneurship. Nashville has benefited greatly. How do you keep that spirit of optimism in entrepreneurship going?
24:46 Entrepreneurs in Nashville are drawn to the next big challenge.
25:00 24% of economy in the region is driven by entrepreneurship.
25:33 Key for Nashville is to be a community to attract and retain creative people.
25:55 New enterprises will come out of the crisis because entrepreneurs are here.
26:20 Do you see a role for the Chamber in support to small businesses.
26:42 Small businesses are the largest and most fragile part of the economy under these circumstances.
27:22 Nashville has the ability to adapt, but small businesses have a tough outlook, but Nashville small business owners usually find a way when others don’t
27:49 What about Metro’s response?
28:53 City has a lot to be proud of.
29:13 Proud of Chamber’s staff. Adjusting to new circumstances. Delivering value.
29:57 Last thoughts? Nashville is “well positioned to exceed expectations” coming out of this crisis. You, Mayor Dean, were personally a big part of establishing that personality for Nashville that has led to our momentum. A lot of faith in Nashville and its people.
30:50 Nashville’s best days are ahead.
31:07 Invitation to friends in the business community to sponsor “Global Nashville with Karl Dean.” Contact [email protected]

About Ralph Schulz

Ralph Schulz was named president and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce by the Chamber’s board of directors in November 2006, following a 30-year career in nonprofit management, marketing and fundraising. In taking the position, he accepted a leadership role at one of Middle Tennessee’s oldest and largest business federations, an organization dating back to its founding in 1847.

During his tenure, the Chamber has played a key role in helping the region emerge from the 2007 recession to a period of unprecedented growth with a business relocation and expansion strategy known as Partnership 2020. Additionally, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce was the lead organization in the creation of the nationally recognized Nashville Entrepreneur Center and the passage of a public referendum supporting construction of the Music City Center convention facility. Since Schulz has taken on the role of president and CEO, the Chamber has also led the movement to improve public school performance through the creation of the Academies of Nashville, established the Moving Forward initiative to ensure the creation of a regional transportation solution through a cohesive community effort and developed into a respected publisher of data on the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area with the annual publication of the Vital Signs report.

In 2009, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce was named “Chamber of the Year” by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), recognizing the Nashville Chamber’s organizational excellence, service to members, development of leaders and volunteers and its impact on key community priorities. The ACCE award referenced the Nashville Chamber’s role in the creation of Nashville for All of Us,a campaign made up of community leaders aligned to defeat a 2009 charter referendum which would have prohibited Nashville city government from conducting business in a language other than English. The Chamber was also praised for its creation of A Leading Edge, a broad range of programs aimed at helping Chamber members navigate the turbulent waters of the recession.

GLOBAL TENNESSEE

Executive Producer: Hon. Karl Dean
Co-Host/Senior Producer: Patrick Ryan
Technical Advisor: Bill Ryan
Voice of Global Tennessee (and the Penn Jones Conspiracy Band): Ben Olson

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