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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250423T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250423T130000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20250204T182933Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T170842Z
UID:38556-1745407800-1745413200@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Innovation\, Creativity\, Character: Equipping People for Transformative Leadership in the 21st Century
DESCRIPTION:Presents\n \nInnovation\, Creativity\, Character: Equipping people for Transformative Leadership in the 21st Century\nHigher education at its best prepares students both for their first jobs and for opportunities well into the future. Currently the curricula and mindsets of too many institutions reflect an orientation toward 1995 rather than 2050. We need frameworks that blend innovation (and an entrepreneurial mindset)\, creativity\, and character to enable students to become equipped for the leadership the world needs. \n                Belmont has long had a focus on innovation\, creativity\, and character. We are now doubling down on the importance of those themes and especially their intersections. We are focused on equipping students with the mindsets\, skills\, and character to prepare them both for their first jobs and for lifelong learning so they are equipped for jobs\, roles\, and leadership we can’t even anticipate yet – both locally and globally. \n\n  \nSpeaker: Dr. L. Gregory Jones – President of Belmont University\n \nGregory Jones is President of Belmont University. Prior to serving at Belmont Greg served in a variety of faculty and administrative leadership roles at Duke University. Greg is known as a leader and strategist whose creative engagement has helped institutions across the world and in local communities to create transformational resource models. He is known for an entrepreneurial mindset as well as emphases on character and purpose in higher education\, emphases in his leadership at Belmont. He is the author or editor of 19 books\, and has authored more than 200 essays/articles. He is known for books on forgiveness (Embodying Forgiveness and the co-authored Forgiving as We’ve Been Forgiven)\, Christian leadership (the co-authored Resurrecting Excellence) and social innovation (Christian Social Innovation). His most recent book is the co-authored Navigating the Future: Traditioned Innovation for Wilder Seas (2021). \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/innovation-creativity-character/
LOCATION:Belmont University Janet Ayers Academic Center Fourth Floor Conference Space C\, 1803 15th Ave S\,\, Nashville\, TN\, 37212\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250514T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250514T130000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20250408T180301Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250523T144551Z
UID:45935-1747222200-1747227600@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Global Geopolitics 2025: What is happening\, why\, and where is this all likely to go?
DESCRIPTION:presents \n \n  \nGlobal Geopolitics 2025: What is happening\, why\, and where is this all likely to go?\nWednesday\, May 14 I 11:30 am – 1:00 pm\n* Luncheon Event *\nVenue:\nOmni Hotel (Broadway Ballroom West)\n250 Rep. John Lewis Way South\,  Nashville\, TN 37203 \n*Parking is not included in your ticket price. Valet parking is available at the hotel for $25** \nRegister Now \n  \n\n  \nSpeaker: ADMIRAL MICHAEL S. ROGERS\, U.S. NAVY (RETIRED)\n Admiral Rogers is a member of the Board of Directors or Advisory Board to multiple companies in the private sector. He also works in the consulting and venture capital arenas across the globe while also speaking internationally to various business and academic groups in the areas of cyber security\, geopolitics\, technology\, leadership\, and crisis response. He can be seen on major media outlets across the globe on occasion addressing those same issues. He is a Senior Fellow and Adjunct Professor with Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management’s and works with DoD in the mentoring and professional development of its General and Flag officers. \nMike served in the U.S. Navy for nearly 37 years ending his service as a four-star admiral. Admiral Rogers retired from the U.S. Navy in 2018 and culminated his career in uniform with a four plus year tour as both the Commander of U.S. Cyber Command and Director\, National Security Agency – creating the DoD’s then newest combatant command (the senior-most war-fighting organizations within the DoD) and leading the largest intelligence organization in the free world. In those roles\, he worked with the senior-most leadership of the U.S. government\, the DoD and the Intelligence community as well as their international counterparts in the conduct of cyber and intelligence activity across the globe. He also assisted in the development of national and international policy with respect to cyber\, intelligence\, privacy and technology – including extensive work with corporate leadership in the finance\, IT\, telecommunications and technology – and global security more broadly. \nPrior to his final duties he also served as Commander\, U.S TENTH FLEET/Fleet Cyber Command and the Director of Intelligence for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the INDO-PACIFIC Command. He served afloat and ashore around the world during his career. \nHe is a graduate of Auburn University and holds a Masters in National Security (East Asia) and is a distinguished graduate of the National War College and a graduate of highest distinction from the Naval War College. He is also an MIT Seminar XXI Fellow and a Harvard Senior Executive in National Security alum. \n  \n\n  \n \n  \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/global-geopolitics-2025-what-is-happening-why-and-where-is-this-all-likely-to-go/
LOCATION:Omni Hotel\, 250 Rep. John Lewis Way South\, Nashville\, TN\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series,Luncheon
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250820T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250820T180000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20250630T163415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250825T152109Z
UID:46542-1755705600-1755712800@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:China's Push for Superpower Status in a World in Turmoil
DESCRIPTION:  \n \n \nWednesday\, August 20 I 11:00 am – 1:00 pm\n* Luncheon Event *\nVenue: \nHolland & Knight \n511 Union St. #2700 Nashville\, TN 37219 \nIs China the Next Global Superpower? \nChina is on the move—vying with the U.S. for dominance in trade\, technology\, and global influence. As American alliances waver and Beijing aligns with powers like Russia and Iran\, China is making strategic advances across Africa\, Latin America\, and the global South. Meanwhile\, cutting-edge technologies like DeepSeek AI and EV supremacy suggest a “Sputnik moment” for the U.S. \nBut the story isn’t one-sided. Inside China\, mounting debt\, a shrinking workforce\, and rising youth unemployment paint a more complex picture. How is President Xi’s tech-driven vision reshaping the economy\, and what does it mean for the rest of the world? \nIn this timely and provocative discussion\, China expert Dexter Tiff Roberts will unpack: \n· China’s strategy to challenge U.S. global leadership \n· Emerging tech and economic rivalries \n· Beijing’s growing influence in the Global South \n· Internal economic pressures threatening China’s rise \n· What does it all mean for global stability\, trade\, and power dynamics \nThis is a must-attend for anyone interested in global affairs\, U.S.-China relations\, and the forces reshaping the 21st century. Whether you’re a student\, policymaker\, business leader\, or globally curious\, you’ll leave with sharper insights into the world’s most consequential geopolitical rivalry. \n  \n\n \nSpeaker: Dexter Tiff Roberts\n \nDexter Tiff Roberts is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council Global China Hub; publisher of Trade War\, a weekly on US-China relations and the Chinese economy; instructor in Chinese politics at the University of Montana; author of The Myth of Chinese Capitalism (St. Martin’s Press\, 2020). He is the founder and publisher of Trade War\, a weekly newsletter on Chinese business and politics\, with over 5\,000 subscribers from government\, finance\, and academia\, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub\, and an instructor in Chinese politics and history at the University of Montana. He is a sought-after commentator on the Chinese economy and U.S.-China relations\, with his analysis featured in Foreign Affairs\, The Washington Post\, Politico\, The Wall Street Journal\, Bloomberg\, NPR\, the BBC\, and CNN. \nRoberts served for more than two decades as China bureau chief and Asia News Editor at Bloomberg Businessweek\, based in Beijing\, where he covered China’s accession to the World Trade Organization\, the impact of the Global Financial Crisis\, and the rise of authoritarian leader Xi Jinping. He has reported from all of China’s provinces and regions\, including Tibet and Xinjiang\, as well as from Mongolia\, Cambodia\, and North Korea. Previously\, he was director of China affairs at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center. \nRoberts has won numerous journalism honors for his writing\, including Overseas Press Club and Society of Publishers in Asia editorial excellence awards. He is regularly asked to share his views on China. He has spoken at the Council on Foreign Relations\, the National Endowment for Democracy\, the Asia Society\, the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco\, the Contemporary Centre for China Affairs at India’s Ministry of External Affairs\, as well as at numerous universities in the U.S.\, China and Hong Kong. He has lectured on Chinese disinformation at the Foreign Service Institute at the U.S. Department of State\, and provided testimony on the Chinese economy to the congressionally mandated U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission and the UK Cabinet Office. \nRoberts holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Stanford University and a Master of International Affairs\, with a focus on China\, from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. He studied at National Taiwan Normal University’s Mandarin Training Center in Taipei and speaks fluent Chinese. Roberts’ first book\, The Myth of Chinese Capitalism: the Worker\, the Factory and the Future of the World (St. Martin’s Press)\, was chosen as one of The Economist’s “best books of the year” for 2020\, and was a best seller in Chinese\, published by Taiwan’s Gusa Publishing. \nModerator: Jeremy Goldkorn\n \n\nJeremy Goldkorn is an editorial fellow at the Asia Society’s ChinaFile\, the editor of The China Week\, and founder of the Rhyming Chaos podcast. He co-founded the Sinica Podcast in 2010\, and was editor-in-chief of The China Project from 2016 to 2023. Goldkorn moved from his hometown of Johannesburg\, South Africa to China in 1995 and became managing editor of Beijing’s first independent English-language entertainment magazine. He later edited and founded several other publications\, including the website Danwei\, which tracked Chinese media\, markets\, politics and business\, which was acquired in 2013 by the Financial Times. While in China\, he lived in a workers’ dormitory\, produced a documentary film about African soccer players in Beijing\, and rode a bicycle from Peshawar to Kathmandu via Kashgar and Lhasa. He moved to Nashville\, Tennessee in 2015. He is a graduate of the University of Cape Town. \n\n\n\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n		\n\n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/chinas-push-for-superpower-status/
LOCATION:Holland & Knight\, 511 Union Street Suite 2700\, Nashville\, TN\, 37219\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250903T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250903T180000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20250630T180541Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250905T162332Z
UID:46551-1756915200-1756922400@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Truly a Turning Point?  Europe’s New View of Transatlantic Security
DESCRIPTION:  \n \n\nTruly a Turning Point?  Europe’s New View of Transatlantic Security\n\nWednesday\, September 3 I 11:00 am – 1:00 pm\n* Luncheon Event *\n\nThree years ago\, Germany’s leader said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine marked a turning point.  Europe could no longer count on the framework of postwar international agreements to keep war from its borders.  In February of 2022\, it seemed Europe’s threat perception had changed for good.  Three and a half years on\, we’ll examine whether that holds true.  How has Europe’s approach to security changed — and can European countries sustain it? How can we measure change in the years ahead?  What will transatlantic security look like five years from now?  Join us for a discussion about what changes we can (and can’t) expect — and what it means for the United States.\n\nVenue: \nBass Berry & Sims \n21 Platform Way S Suite 3500 Nashville\, TN 37203 \n  \n  \n\nSpeaker: Robin Quinville\n \nRobin Quinville spent more than 30 years as a U.S. diplomat\, serving primarily inEurope. Her postings included two multilateral organizations (the Organization onSecurity and Cooperation in Europe and NATO) and bilateral postings to Cyprus (2000-2003)\, Bosnia (2004-2006)\, Greece (2006-2008)\, the United Kingdom (2009-2012)\, andthree postings to Germany (1988-89; 2012-2015; 2018-2021). She also spent a year(2008-2009) in Baghdad\, Iraq. In Washington\, she directed the Office of WesternEuropean Affairs at the Department of State and spent a year as a Wilson Center State Fellow. Quinville’s last diplomatic assignment was as DCM and then Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Berlin; she left the diplomatic service after returning to Washington in July 2021. Quinville then spent a semester as the Sol M. Linowitz Visiting Professor of International Affairs at Hamilton College in Clinton\, New York in the spring of 2022; she also taught for the Bush School of Government in Washington\, D.C. in the summer of 2022. She joined the Wilson Center as Director of the Global Europe Program in May 2022. A native of California\, Quinville lives in Arlington\, Va. \n  \n\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n		\n\n  \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/europes-new-view-of-transatlantic-security/
LOCATION:Bass\, Berry & Sims – New Location\, 21 Platform Way South\, Suite 3500\, Nashville\, TN\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250918T161000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250918T180000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20250630T183031Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250922T163552Z
UID:46557-1758211800-1758218400@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Trump 2.0: US Policy Shifts Amid a Changing Middle East Landscape
DESCRIPTION:  \n \nTrump 2.0: US Policy Shifts Amid a Changing Middle East Landscape\n  \nEight months into the second Trump administration\, the Middle East has become a more prominent focus of overall U.S. foreign policy. This first eight months was one of high operations tempo for the United States and included President Trump’s Gulf trip; a major policy shift to lift sanctions on Syria and meet with Syria’s de facto leader\, Ahmed Al-Sharaa; U.S. military strikes against Iran’s nuclear sites along with U.S. support for a 12-day Israeli military campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear program\, military leadership\, and infrastructure; and diplomacy in the region led by prominent Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Tom Barrack. \nThe impact of these significant actions by the United States in the Middle East remains mixed. Close U.S. partners in the Middle East\, particularly the countries Trump visited in May\, have seen new opportunities to deepen strategic\, economic\, energy\, technological\, and military ties with the United States. However\, the impact of Trump’s tariffs and broader trade war may ultimately undercut these openings to strengthen bilateral relations and incentivize regional partners to diversify their global economic relationships. \nIran\, Israel-Palestine\, and the Houthis in Yemen remain the three major unresolved variables in the Middle East equation. While Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure suffered considerable damage\, it is unclear if these actions will produce a lasting resolution to concerns about Iran’s nuclear program and destabilizing actions. The weakest link in U.S. policy in the Middle East remains the Israel-Palestinian front as the war between Israel and Hamas continues. In contrast\, Syria and Lebanon present key opportunities for U.S. policy and engagement\, but this will require sustained U.S. diplomatic engagement over the months and years ahead. \nThis presentation will assess whether Trump 2.0’s overall foreign policy approach—characterized by transactional diplomacy\, selective military engagement\, and attempts to use America’s economic power to gain global leverage—is likely to produce a more durable and sustainable security environment in the Middle East\, amid a rapidly evolving regional landscape. \nThursday\, September 18th I 11:10 am – 1:00 pm\n* Luncheon Event *\n  \nVenue: \nHolland & Knight \n511 Union St. #2700 Nashville\, TN 37219 \n  \n  \n\nSpeaker: Brian Katulis\n \nBrian Katulis is a Senior Fellow for US Foreign Policy at the Middle East Institute. He was formerly a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress (CAP)\, where he built the Center’s Middle East program and also worked on broader issues related to U.S. national security. \nHe has produced influential studies that have shaped important discussions around regional policy\, often providing expert testimony to key congressional committees on his findings. Katulis has also conducted extensive research in countries such as Egypt\, Israel\, Jordan\, and the Palestinian territories. His past experience includes work at the National Security Council and the U.S. Departments of State and Defense. \nEducationMaster in Public Affairs\, Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs Bachelor of Arts in history and Arab and Islamic studies\, Villanova University Fulbright scholar in Jordan\, 1994 – 1995 \nRegions of ExpertiseEgypt\, Israel\, the Palestinian territories\, Jordan \nIssues of ExpertiseNational security\, U.S. foreign policy\, diplomacy \nModerator: Dr. Breck Walker\nBreck Walker pursued a twenty-year career in international business\, law\, and finance\,before turning to academia. For several years\, he taught foreign policy courses atSewanee\, The University of the South\, and worked as a contract historian for the Officeof the Secretary of Defense Historical Office\, researching and writing on the early Pentagonpolicies in the computer security and cyber areas. Dr. Walker is currently retired. \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/trump-2-0-us-policy-shifts-amid-a-changing-middle-east-landscape/
LOCATION:Holland & Knight\, 511 Union Street Suite 2700\, Nashville\, TN\, 37219\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251002T161500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251003T180000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20250630T135155Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T163117Z
UID:46473-1759421700-1759514400@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:The Frontlines of Trade: Why Global Supply Chains Are America’s National Interest
DESCRIPTION:Presents \n \nThe Frontlines of Trade: Why Global Supply Chains Are America’s National Interest\nJoin GEODIS CEO Mike Honious as he explores why supply chains are no longer just a business function—they’re a national priority. From pharmaceuticals to electronics equipment\, discover how resilient logistics systems fuel America’s economy\, security\, and independence. Learn what every leader must understand about the new global battleground: trade. \nThursday\, October 2nd I 11:15 am – 1:00 pm\n* Luncheon Event *\nVenue: \n \n501 Commerce St\, Nashville\, TN 37203 \n  \n\nSpeaker: Mike Honious (President and CEO of GEODIS’ Americas)\nAs President and CEO of GEODIS’ Americas region\, Mike Honious oversees the Americas\, including contract logistics\, transportation management\, freight forwarding\, engineering and technology\, IT\, and ProVenture (a U.S.-based subsidiary of GEODIS focusing on industrial real estate) and Material Handling Resources (one of the country’s leading material handling distributors owned by GEODIS). Mike has served several roles over his nearly 20-year tenure at GEODIS and was most recently named President and CEO of the Americas in 2020. Today\, Mike leads the region’s more than 17\,000 teammates across eight countries\, continuing to offer a better way to deliver for its customers. \n  \nEducation: – University of Dayton\, BS Industrial Engineering Technology – Harvard Executive Strategy – Vanderbilt Executive Leadership – University of Tennessee Supply Chain Forum – Penn State Supply Chain Executive Leadership \nOrganizations: – Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (January 2024 – December 2025) Nashville Branch Board of Directors – LEAD Public Schools Metro Nashville (February 2019 – Present) Board Chair – Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville (January 2023 – Present) Board Member – GEODIS Foundation and GEODIS Compassion Fund (2010 to Present) Director & Co-founder  \nHonors & Awards: – DC Velocity Rainmakers Award (2022) – Nashville Business Journal Power 100 (2022-2023) – Nashville Post In Charge List (2021-2023)
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/the-frontlines-of-trade/
LOCATION:AllianceBernstein\, 501 Commerce St\, Nashville\, TN\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251015T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251015T180000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20250630T185504Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251020T201151Z
UID:46563-1760544000-1760551200@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:The Global Country Music Scene in 2025
DESCRIPTION:  \n  \n \n\nThe Global Country Music Scene in 2025\n\nThe global influence of Country Music is expanding at an extraordinary pace\, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for artists around the world. This presentation will explore how the Country Music Association (CMA) is leading the way in building international connections\, opening new markets\, and driving growth across borders. With international consumption of Country Music reaching an all-time high in key territories\, Trahern will share the data and insights fueling this global momentum\, while emphasizing the industry’s role in empowering today’s artists to prioritize international development for sustained success.\n\n\n \nWednesday\, October 15 I 11:00 am – 1:00 pm\n* Luncheon Event *\nVenue: \nBass Berry & Sims \n21 Platform Way S Suite 3500 Nashville\, TN 37203 \n  \n  \n\nSpeaker: Sarah Trahern \n \nSarah Trahern was named CEO of the Country Music Association on January 1\, 2014. She helms the organization’s three acclaimed network television properties (“CMA Fest\,” “CMA Country Christmas\,” and the CMA Awards)\, one of the biggest music festivals in the world\, and serves as President of the CMA Foundation\, which funds meaningful music education initiatives across the country. Throughout her career\, Sarah has been an advocate for Country Music\, the artists\, songwriters\, and the extensive creative and business communities that fuel the format. With foresight and determination\, she has crafted a brand identity for country music at the highest level and has been at the forefront of some of the industry’s most ambitious initiatives\, fostering gender equality\, inclusion\, and preserving the legacy. \nPrior to CMA\, Sarah was General Manager of cable network Great American Country (GAC)\, where she had executive oversight of the network’s creative and digital initiatives. Sarah joined Scripps-owned GAC in 2005 and was quickly promoted to SVP of Programming before being named GM in 2010. Sarah began her career at C-SPAN in Washington\, D.C.\, covering politics and public affairs before moving to Nashville in 1995 to oversee specials and entertainment series for The Nashville Network (TNN). After her time at TNN\, she launched her own successful company\, Sterling Television\, working with several networks including DIY\, HGTV\, and CMT\, where she produced Johnny Cash’s memorial service. \nA leader with vision who values relationships\, Sarah has been recognized as one of the Nashville Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs. She is consistently included on Billboard’s Country Power Players list and was named “Executive of the Year” in 2017. In 2011\, she was the subject and honoree of the prestigious Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum\, presented by the Country Music Hall of Fame\, and has also been honored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In July 2024\, she was also honored with the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award by the Grand Ole Opry. Lauded for her business contributions\, Sarah demonstrates an equally strong commitment to the community. She serves on boards for the Monroe Carroll Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt\, the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum\, the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation (NCVC)\, Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management\, Leadership Nashville\, and the Music City Bowl. She also chaired the Entertainment Committee for the 2016 NHL All-Star Game in Nashville and served on the 2018 NFL Draft Committee. She is an alumna of both Leadership Music and Leadership Nashville. \nA graduate of Georgetown University with an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University\, Sarah grew up in Champaign-Urbana\, Illinois. \nModerator: Karl Dean\n \nKarl Dean served as the sixth Mayor of Nashville and Davidson County.  He was elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011. Dean first held public office when he was elected as Nashville’s Public Defender in 1990.  He was re-elected in 1994 and 1998.  He served as Metro Law Director from 1999 to January 2007\, when he resigned to run for the office of mayor. Karl Dean has taught at Vanderbilt Law School\, Belmont University\, and Boston University. \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/luncheon-with-sarah-trahern/
LOCATION:Bass\, Berry & Sims – New Location\, 21 Platform Way South\, Suite 3500\, Nashville\, TN\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251106T171000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251106T190000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20250729T185940Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251106T030222Z
UID:46743-1762449000-1762455600@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Leading through Partnership: Tennessee’s Strategy for Global Investment
DESCRIPTION:  \nThis event is sold out\n \nLeading through Partnership: Tennessee’s Strategy for Global Investment\nJoin TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter on November 6 as he delivers the keynote address for the Tennessee World Affairs Council Distinguished Speaker Series. He will highlight how Tennessee’s focus on building strong\, long-term relationships has made it a trusted partner for global companies for decades. With more than 1\,000 international businesses operating in the state\, these global brands are not only a testament to Tennessee’s welcoming business climate—they are among its strongest selling points in attracting new investment. Through the keynote address\, attendees will gain a better understanding of how the state’s commitment to partnership\, connectivity\, and a personalized approach continues to set Tennessee apart on the global stage. \nThursday\, November 6th I 11:10 am – 1:00 pm\n* Luncheon Event *\nVenue: \n \n1221 Broadway\, Suite 1300 \nNashville\, TN 37203 \n  \n  \n\n \nSpeaker: Stuart McWhorter (Commissioner\, Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development)\nStuart C. McWhorter has served as TNECD commissioner since July 2022. During his tenure\, TNECD has nearly 120 projects\, which represent more than 17\,000 job commitments and $9.7 billion in capital investment. Of those projects\, more than 28 percent were the result of foreign direct investment. \nMcWhorter has a diverse background in entrepreneurship\, corporate finance\, and strategic planning. He served as co-founder and chairman of Clayton Associates with over 25 years of experience in entrepreneurship and early-stage investing. \nMcWhorter stepped away from Clayton Associates in 2019 to join Governor Lee’s administration as Commissioner of the Department of Finance and Administration. He led the drafting of two fiscal year state budgets\, co-chaired the Governor’s Healthcare Modernization Task Force\, and was appointed director of the Tennessee Unified Command Group to coordinate the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. \nIn addition\, McWhorter previously served as the CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and chairman of the Board of Directors of Nashville-based FirstBank Financial Corporation (NYSE: FBK). He received his Master of Health Administration from The University of Alabama-Birmingham and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Clemson University. \nMcWhorter resides in Nashville with his wife\, Leigh Anne\, and their five children. \n  \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/leading-through-partnership-tennessees-strategy-for-global-investment/
LOCATION:First Bank\, 1221 Broadway\, Suite 1300\, Nashville\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251112T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251112T190000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20250930T153143Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251117T173637Z
UID:47026-1762966800-1762974000@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:U.S. and Japan: Allies in Security\, Partners in Economic Prosperity
DESCRIPTION:U.S. and Japan: Allies in Security\, Partners in Economic Prosperity\nThe Tennessee World Affairs Council\, in partnership with the University of Tennessee Knoxville\, is hosting a panel discussion about Japan and its close relationship with the US. Panelists from Kobe University in Japan and the Hudson Institute in Washington\, DC will discuss the longstanding alliance between the US and Japan\, geopolitical and security challenges in the region faced by both countries\, and the strong economic relationship between these two great powers due to trade and Japanese investment in the US\, especially in Tennessee. \nWednesday\, November 12\, 2025 I 11:00am-1:00pm\n* Luncheon Event *\nVenue: \n \n21 Platform Way South – 23rd FloorNashville\, TN 37203 \n  \n– \n\nOpening Remarks: Mr. WATANABE Shinji (Consul-General of Japan in Nashville)\n \nWatanabe Shinji assumed his post as Consul-General of Japan in Nashville in April 2024. This is his second diplomatic assignment in the United States\, following his first assignment at the Consulate-General in Denver\, Colorado. Trained in the Swedish language\, he has also served at the Embassy of Japan in Sweden on three occasions\, with his most recent assignment being the Deputy Chief of Mission. \nPrior to his assignment as Consul-General\, he worked as the Director of Exchange Programs Division\, Minister’s Secretariat\, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan from February 2021. The division is responsible for policies on people-to-people exchanges including the Fulbright Program\, JET Programs\, and sports exchanges. Since joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987\, Consul-General Watanabe has held various positions in fields such as international cooperation\, public relations\, and international exchange. \nConsul-General Watanabe was born in Fukuoka\, Japan. He graduated from Doshisha University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He also studied at Uppsala University in Sweden from 1989 to 1990. Consul-General Watanabe is married with two adult children. \nModerator: Andrew McDermott (Founder\, Mission Value Partners LLC)\n \nAndrew was born and raised in Memphis\, TN. After graduating from Princeton with a degree in history\, he joined NEC Logistics in Tokyo in 1992. In 1994 he fell into a finance career courtesy of JPMorgan\, where he worked on deals ranging from Chinese infrastructure finance to venture capital to tech IPOs in Hong Kong\, New York\, Singapore and San Francisco. He joined Southeastern Asset Management in 1998 and helped lead its international business until 2009 from Memphis\, Tokyo and London. In 2010\, he founded Mission Value Partners\, a Japan-focused investment firm\, in Sonoma\, CA and returned to Tennessee in 2021. His Tokyo-based partner\, Yohei Yamada\, spent six years in Maryville\, TN before returning to Japan to attend college at Keio University and pursue his PhD in Computational Neuroscience at the University of Tokyo. His essay “Let’s talk about Japan Hard Power: Japan’s industrial power-base: under discussed\, under appreciated\, undervalued\,” can be found on the Japan Optimist substack. He has contributed to the Asia-Law Institute’s Nippon Steel symposium and participated in numerous events dedicated to combining the best of the US and Japanese systems\, using Tennessee as a model of co-operation. Andrew currently resides in Nashville with his wife Kelly and four children. He enjoys rock climbing and fishing in the Smoky Mountains. \nPanelist: Dr. William Chou (Senior Fellow & Deputy Director\, Japan Chair\, Hudson Institute)\n \nWilliam Chou is a senior fellow and deputy director of Hudson Institute’s Japan Chair. His work at Hudson focuses on US-Japan/Indo-Pacific relations\, with an emphasis on economic security\, trade and investment\, and regional partnerships. Recent projects include the Nippon Steel-US Steel partnership\, critical mineral supply chains\, trilateral US-Japan-EU economic security cooperation\, and US-Japan energy partnerships with Southeast Asia.Dr. Chou writes and speaks regularly on policy issues\, with his writing and analysis appearing in publications such as The Wall Street Journal\, Bloomberg\, Politico\, The Washington Post\, Nikkei\, The New York Times\, and the Financial Times.He holds a BA in history from Yale and a PhD in history from The Ohio State University\, with a dissertation on Cold War US-Japan commercial and diplomatic relations. He is a former fellow at the Smithsonian\, the Clements Center at UT-Austin\, and the University of Tokyo. He got his start as a research analyst at the Institute for Defense Analyses during the Iraq War.A native New Yorker\, Dr. Chou is a former Jeopardy! champion. \nPanelist: Dr. Tosh Minohara (Professor of International Relations & Security Studies\, Kobe University)\n \nDr. Tosh Minohara is Professor of Ko\, where he holds a joint appointment with the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies. He received his B.A. in International Relations from the University of California\, Davis\, and his Ph.D. in Political and Diplomatic History from Kobe University. He is the founder and chairman of the Research Institute of Indo-Pacific Affairs (RIIPA)\, a nonprofit organization certified by the Cabinet Office. He is also a senior advisor to KREAB Japan and the National Security Group of the Global Tekijuku\, as well as a member of the Kansai Association of Corporate Executives (Kansai Keizai Doyukai). In addition\, he was formerly an external advisor to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)\, lecturer at both the Japan Maritime and Air Self-Defense Force (JMSDF/JASDF) Command and Staff Colleges\, and has served three tours (2011\, 2022\, 2023) on the JMDF training squadron as an academic observer/lecturer. He is the author of numerous books and articles\, including the most recent\, The Handbook of Japan’s Foreign and Domestic Policies During the Decade of Abe (Amsterdam University Press\, 2025). His academic achievements have been recognized as a recipient of both the Shimizu Hiroshi Prize (2002) and the Japan Academic Research Award (2019). \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/us-and-japan-2025/
LOCATION:Pinnacle Financial Partners\, 21 Platform Way South - 23rd Floor\, Nashville\, TN\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260121T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260121T190000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20251117T174839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T233125Z
UID:47198-1769014800-1769022000@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:The power of the Olympic brand and the geopolitics of global sport
DESCRIPTION:  \n \n\n \nWith the 2026 Milan–Cortina Olympic Winter Games just weeks away\, the Olympics are once again at the center of global attention. \nBut what most people see on television is only the surface. \nBehind the athletes and ceremonies is one of the most powerful global brands in the world—shaping diplomacy\, national image\, corporate strategy\, and geopolitical influence in ways few fans ever see. \nOn January 21\, Terrence Burns will be speaking at the Tennessee World Affairs Council Distinguished Speaker Series Luncheon about the power of the Olympic brand and the geopolitics of global sport—what’s really happening behind the scenes\, why it matters now\, and what Milan–Cortina reveals about the future of the Games. \nIf you’re interested in global affairs\, international business\, or how soft power actually works\, I hope you’ll join us. \n————– \nWednesday\, January 21\, 2026 I 11:00am-1:00pm\n* Luncheon Event *\n  \nVenue:  \nPinnacle Financial Partners \n21 Platform Way South 23rd Floor \nNashville\, TN 37203 \n  \n– \n\n \nFeatured Speaker: Terrence H. Burns (Chairman and Owner\, T. Burns Sports Group\, LLC)\n \nTerrence H. Burns is a seasoned international sports and Olympic marketing executive with over 30 years of experience in marketing communications\, brand management\, and sponsorship marketing. As the Chairman and Owner of T. Burns Sports Group\, LLC\, based in Nashville\, TN\, he specializes in global sports consulting\, working with high-profile clients such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC)\, United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee\, and bids for major events like the Salt Lake City 2034 Winter Games\, Saudi Arabia 2034 FIFA World Cup\, and Doha 2030 Asian Games. His career highlights include contributing to six winning Olympic bids (Beijing 2008\, Vancouver 2010\, Sochi 2014\, PyeongChang 2018\, Los Angeles 2028\, Salt Lake City 2034) and two FIFA World Cup bids (2018\, 2026).
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/the-power-of-the-olympic-brand-and-the-geopolitics-of-global-sport/
LOCATION:Pinnacle Financial Partners\, 21 Platform Way South - 23rd Floor\, Nashville\, TN\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260204T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260204T190000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20260111T200256Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260206T215227Z
UID:47290-1770224400-1770231600@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Latin America in a Post-Liberal World
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n \n \nAmbassador McKinley will address how the political and economic landscape of Latin America has changed over the past decade\, with an emphasis on challenges and opportunities. He will also examine Latin America’s growing international importance and its relations with the United States. \n————– \nWednesday\, February 4\, 2026 I 11:00am-1:00pm\n* Luncheon Event *\nVenue:  \nBass Berry & Sims – 21 Platform Way S\, Suite 3500\, Nashville\, TN 37203 \n  \n– \n\n \nFeatured Speaker: Ambassador Michael McKinley \nOver the course of his 37-year career in the US State Department\, Ambassador McKinley served as US Ambassador to Peru (2007-2010)\, Colombia (2010-2013)\, Afghanistan (2014-2016)\, and Brazil (2017-2018)\, and closed out his career as senior advisor to the Secretary of State. He helped conclude free trade agreements with Peru and Colombia\, as well as key security and economic accords with Brazil. His experience with regional conflicts and peace negotiations over three decades across three continents was central to his work as an ambassador in Colombia and Afghanistan. Ambassador McKinley is currently a Senior Counselor at The Cohen Group consultancy in Washington\, DC\, and is a non-resident senior adviser at CSIS. His articles on foreign policy have appeared in Foreign Affairs\, Foreign Policy\, Washington Post\, Politico\, and other publications. He is also the author of a book on colonial Venezuelan history\, published by Cambridge University Press\, and holds a Master’s and DPhil from Oxford University.  \n  \n  \n  \n\n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/latin-america-in-a-post-liberal-world/
LOCATION:Bass\, Berry & Sims – New Location\, 21 Platform Way South\, Suite 3500\, Nashville\, TN\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260218T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260218T190000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20260123T222901Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260219T185806Z
UID:47307-1771434000-1771441200@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Africa’s Global Rise and Why It Matters to the United States
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n \n \nAfrica’s growing geopolitical importance is reshaping global dynamics in ways that increasingly affect the United States at home. As the continent emerges as a major driver of economic growth\, innovation\, and demographic expansion\, its role in global trade\, energy security\, supply chains\, and diplomatic influence continues to expand. At the same time\, increased engagement by global powers—including China and Russia—has elevated Africa’s strategic significance for U.S. foreign policy and national security. \nUnderstanding Africa’s political and economic trajectory is therefore not only a matter of international relations\, but one that directly connects to American competitiveness\, workforce development\, economic opportunity\, and global leadership. Through this conversation\, TNWAC seeks to highlight why Africa matters to Tennessee and how global developments increasingly shape domestic realities. \n————– \nWednesday\, February 18\, 2026 I 11:00am-1:00pm\n* Luncheon Event *\nVenue:  \nBass Berry & Sims – 21 Platform Way S\, Suite 3500\, Nashville\, TN 37203 \n  \n\n \nFeatured Speaker: Chidi Blyden (CEO and Principal at Culturally Bound)\nMs. Chidi Blyden (chee-dee\, blī-den)\, is an accomplished executive leader and former U.S. foreign policy advisor whose expertise bridges national security\, defense\, economic development\, and international policy. As Principal of Culturally Bound Consulting\, she leverages over two decades of transformative leadership to deliver actionable advice and strategies that address Africa’s complex challenges and unlock its potential by leveraging Africa’s Diaspora and culture. \nPrior to creating Culturally Bound\, Ms. Blyden was the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) where she oversaw the daily management of the agency’s mission to advance transformative projects in infrastructure\, economic empowerment\, and community development. She chaired the Investment Management Committee\, responsible for MCC’s $1B in annual investments\, providing recommendations to the CEO on MCC’s $8 billion portfolio of active programs. \nMs. Blyden served in the Biden-Harris administration Pentagon\, most recently as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for African Affairs. She managed the Department of Defense’s relationships with 53 African nations and played a pivotal role in rethinking the U.S.- Africa defense relations securing and administering nearly $1 billion in funding for security cooperation\, cybersecurity\, maritime security\, humanitarian and disaster relief\, defense institution building and partnership exercises. \nWith over 15 years of government service\, Ms. Blyden served in the Obama Administration as the Special Assistant and Africa Peacekeeping Senior Advisor to the Office of the Secretary of Defense\, overseeing defense policy for East and Central African countries\, and served as the Department of Defense’s lead for the President’s African Leaders’ Summit in 2013 and 2022. Her tenure also included advising the House Armed Services Committee on African nations and the Western Hemisphere’s defense and security priorities from 2019-2021\, as well as her role at the National Defense University’s Africa Center for Strategic Studies from 2008-2012. \nA socio-cultural expert on Africa’s conflicts and development issues\, Ms. Blyden’s work centers on the cultural underpinnings of policy\, development and community-driven security and strategy in African contexts. As the first Africa Director at the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)\, she led the creation and implementation of culture-specific training for the Nigerian Armed Forces focused on minimizing civilian harm during the Boko Haram crisis in 2017-2018. Beyond her governmental roles\, Ms. Blyden is a passionate mentor and advocate for women and young leaders\, especially in fields where they are traditionally underrepresented. She is renowned for her ethical leadership and her unwavering commitment to uplifting others within the national security and defense sectors. Her impactful public service has earned her several accolades\, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service (x2)\, the “Trailblazer Award” from the Black Professionals in International Affairs Association\, the “Selfless Service” Award by the African Defense Attachés Association\, and “Aggie Impact” Award from the Black Former Students Network at Texas A&M University. \nMs. Blyden has also contributed to academia as an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University in the Security Studies Program and is a regular lecturer at esteemed institutions\, including Harvard\, Texas A&M Bush School for Government and Public Service\, the National Defense University\, and international institutions. She is a Political Fellow with the Truman National Security Project\, and served on the Board and Leadership Council for Memunatu Magazine. She is a member of the Leadership Council for Women in National Security\, Women in International Security and sits on the Board of Directors of the Sitar Arts Center\, the Women Foreign Policy Group and the National Board of the World Affairs Councils of America. \nA graduate of Texas A&M University (BSc\, Sociology) and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University (MSc.\, Conflict Analysis\, and Resolution)\, Ms. Blyden was raised in Fort Worth\, Texas\, and traces her heritage to Sierra Leone. She is fluent in English and Krio\, with conversational proficiency in Pidgin and French.
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/africas-global-rise/
LOCATION:Bass\, Berry & Sims – New Location\, 21 Platform Way South\, Suite 3500\, Nashville\, TN\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260304T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260304T190000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20260212T202730Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260307T002339Z
UID:47352-1772643600-1772650800@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:A New Framework for US-Korea Economic Relations
DESCRIPTION: \nIn 2025\, the United States and South Korea negotiated a new framework for economic relations. Under the new understanding\, South Korea has committed to investing $150 billion in the US shipbuilding industry and an additional $200 billion in other US industries\, potentially including the new Korea Zinc smelter in Clarksville. Please join the Tennessee World Affairs Council for a discussion on the current state of US-Korea economic relations and what the new economic understanding could mean for future investment. \nWednesday\, March 4\, 2026 I 11:00am-1:00pm\n* Luncheon Event *\nVenue: \n \n21 Platform Way South – 23rd FloorNashville\, TN 37203 \n  \n  \n– \n\nModerator: Karl Dean\n \nKarl Dean served as the sixth Mayor of Nashville and Davidson County. He was elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011. Dean first held public office when he was elected as Nashville’s Public Defender in 1990. He was re-elected in 1994 and 1998. He served as Metro Law Director from 1999 to January 2007\, when he resigned to run for the office of mayor. Karl Dean has taught at Vanderbilt Law School\, Belmont University\, and Boston University. \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nPanelist: Troy Stangarone \n \nTroy Stangarone is a non-resident fellow with the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology. Previously\, he was the Director of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy and the Deputy Director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the Wilson Center. Mr. Stangarone specializes in economic and foreign policy relations on the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region. \nMr. Stangarone is also currently a columnist for The Korea Times and The Hankook Ilbo\, as well as a contributing author for The Diplomat. He is co-chair of the Steering Committee for the North Korea Economic Forum at the George Washington Institute for Korean Studies and a member of the Korea-America Student Conference’s National Advisory Committee. \nPrior to joining the Wilson Center\, Mr. Stangarone was Senior Director and Fellow at the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI) where he oversaw the Institute’s programmatic initiatives and focused on issues pertaining to economic and foreign policy on the Korean Peninsula. During his time at KEI\, he was a 2012-2013 Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow in South Korea\, sponsored by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies\, and a Posco Visiting Fellow at the East-West Center. Mr. Stangarone also previously worked on Capitol Hill for Senator Robert Torricelli on issues relating to foreign affairs and trade. \nMr. Stangarone holds an MSc. in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from the University of Memphis. \nPanelist: Soojin Kim\n \nSoojin focuses her practice on corporate matters\, including domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions\, formation and governance of business entities\, and negotiation and drafting of commercial contracts. \nAs head of the firm’s Korea Desk\, Soojin works closely with Korean companies investing in the U.S.\, assisting throughout the investment lifecycle.  Originally from Korea and bilingual in English and Korean\, she understands the legal and practical challenges Korean companies encounter in the U.S. market. \nBefore entering private practice\, Soojin worked at the World Bank in Washington\, D.C.\, supporting investigations into allegations of fraud and corruption involving World Bank-financed development projects. \n  \nPanelist: Jason Hale\n \nJason serves as General Counsel for Hankook Tire America Corporation and the various Hankook-affiliated companies in North America. Working closely with Hankook’s global parent company\, he leads and assists with strategy and operations associated with international trade\, corporate law and governance\, antitrust\, environmental law\, and government relations. Jason also serves in a project executive and chief counsel role on Hankook’s $1.6 billion expansion of operations in Clarksville\, Tennessee\, which has an expected opening date in May 2026. Jason also serves as Corporate Director\, General Affairs & Human Resources for the company. \nPrior to joining Hankook\, Jason served as Vice President of Risk and General Counsel at Lee Company\, where he not only led the legal department but also oversaw risk management\, real estate\, commercial fleet\, and safety. Jason has also been a Chief Legal Officer in the healthcare industry and served as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Tennessee. \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/a-new-framework-for-us-korea-economic-relations/
LOCATION:Pinnacle Financial Partners\, 21 Platform Way South - 23rd Floor\, Nashville\, TN\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260318T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260318T180000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20260219T191907Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T151413Z
UID:47366-1773849600-1773856800@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:U.S. Combat Operations in Iran: The Latest Example of America's Asymmetric Advantage of Immediate\, Global Maneuver
DESCRIPTION: \n \n \nAmerica’s February 27 attacks in Iran once again displayed the U.S. ability to project power seemingly\, and sometimes literally\, overnight. America’s ability to deliver its military force anywhere in the world in a matter of hours remains a key asymmetric advantage that its adversaries just cannot match. This is a maneuver at a global scale. The backbone of America’s maneuver force is the men\, women\, and aircraft who\, often behind the scenes\, enable our nation’s military success. Major General Corey Martin (U.S. Air Force retired) underwrote these successes for over three decades while flying in enemy skies as well as serving in command headquarters\, and will illuminate this vital but often overlooked facet of national security\, including recent operations in Iran. \nWednesday\, March 18 I 11:00 am – 1:00 pm\n* This event is sold out *\nVenue: \n \n1221 Broadway\, Suite 1300\, Nashville\, TN 37203 \n  \n  \n  \n\n \nFeatured Speaker: Air Force Major General Corey Martin\n  \n \nCorey Martin is an accomplished leader with over three decades of experience in rapid global mobility and logistics operations. In his final military posting\, he commanded the Air Force’s largest mobility flying unit\, 18 th Air Force\, comprised of more than 36\,000 people and over 400 aircraft. Additionally\, he led operations for the Department of Defense’s U.S. Transportation Command and for the U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command. He is recognized for his transformational leadership\, risk management\, and for building highly successful\, high morale teams. \nCorey has experience on all seven continents and has led organizations in six countries spanning Asia\, Europe\, the Middle East\, and North America. He is a trained diplomat and served in the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem as the United States’ senior defense official in Israel. Known for strong cross-cultural and multi-national competencies\, he was instrumental in strategic decision-making at the senior defense level. General Martin has also commanded units in Baghdad\, Iraq\, and Bishkek\, Kyrgyzstan. \nA career aviator\, General Martin was instrumental in missions that initiated American operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a Director of Operations\, he oversaw the largest air evacuation in American history and the unprecedented\, successful solution for transporting patients during the global pandemic. \nCorey earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and master’s degrees from the National War College\, the School of Air and Space Studies\, and Webster University. \n  \n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/americas-maneuver/
LOCATION:First Bank\, 1221 Broadway\, Suite 1300\, Nashville\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260402T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260402T180000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20260224T220924Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T223128Z
UID:47395-1775145600-1775152800@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Cold War Foreign Policies and Lessons for Today
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n  \n\n \n \n \nForeign policy during the Cold War served as a model for the US even after the collapse of the Soviet Union\, but recent years have shown increased dissatisfaction with US international leadership and alliance management—whether you look at Obama’s reduction in US commitment to NATO\, Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan\, or Trump’s sharp breaks with NATO and challenges to international trade. Is international leadership no longer central to US security and prosperity? Or do the costs of leadership simply exceed the benefits? Does the US need to reduce its international role and commitments\, or is this reduced international footprint a mistake? \nFrank Lavin takes us back to the Reagan era of Cold War foreign policy for an examination of what worked during that period and in what ways might America have fallen short – and discusses why the lessons of that era still might apply today\, as different as circumstances might be. \n  \nPlus\, every attendee will receive a free copy of his 2025 book “Inside the Reagan White House: A Front-Row Seat to Presidential Leadership with Lessons for Today.” \nThursday\, April 2 I 11:00 am – 1:00 pm\n* Luncheon Event *\nVenue: \n \n1221 Broadway\, Suite 1300\, Nashville\, TN 37203 \n  \n  \n\n \nFeatured Speaker: Frank Lavin (Parikh Family Fellow\, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future)\n \nFrank Lavin is active in U.S.-Asia policy\, U.S. domestic politics\, and trade policy matters. He serves as the Parikh Family Fellow at the Dornsife Center for the Political Future at the University of Southern California as well as a Trustee of the Asia Foundation and as a Director of the Asia Society of Northern California. Lavin served as Under Secretary for International Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Bush (43) Administration. In that capacity\, Lavin served as lead trade negotiator for both China and India and was responsible for commercial policy\, export promotion\, and trade negotiations across the globe. Lavin was previously U.S. Ambassadorto Singapore\, where he helped negotiate the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. In the private sector\, Lavin served in senior finance and management positions in Hong Kong and Singapore with Bank of America and Citibank. Lavin also served in the Bush (41) and Reagan Administrations\, working in the Department of Commerce\, Department of State\, National Security Council\, and White House. In the Reagan Administration\, Lavin served as White House Political Director. Lavin earned a B.S. from the School of Foreign Service and an M.S. in Chinese Language and History (both Georgetown); an M.A. in International Relations and International Economics from SAIS (Johns Hopkins); and an M.B.A. in Finance from Wharton (Pennsylvania). He is a columnist for Forbes.com and has been published in The New York Times\, The Washington Post\, The Wall Street Journal\, Foreign Affairs\, Foreign Policy\, and elsewhere. Lavin is the author of “Inside the Reagan White House” (Post Hill Press 2025)\, “The Smart Business Guide to China E-Commerce” (Penguin)\, co-author of “Export Now” (Wiley)\, and author of “Home Front to Battlefront” (Ohio University Press)\, a World War II history book. \nLavin also is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations\, and on the Advisory Board of ECIPE\, a Brussels think-tank. Lavin has participated in two humanitarian missions to Ukraine. He formerly served as a Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and as a Lt Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves. \n  \n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/cold-war-foreign-policies/
LOCATION:First Bank\, 1221 Broadway\, Suite 1300\, Nashville\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260423T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260423T180000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20260316T023838Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260424T173000Z
UID:47468-1776960000-1776967200@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Beyond the Alps – Liechtenstein’s Economic Impact\, Global Ties and US Partnerships
DESCRIPTION:  \n  \n \n \nLiechtenstein companies play vital roles in the U.S. domestic economy. They are market leaders in their respective sectors\, such as automotive\, construction\, dental\, audio-visual\, and more. As Liechtenstein seeks to increase its U.S. economic footprint\, one area of focus is establishing apprenticeship and vocational training programs. On the foreign policy front\, Liechtenstein\, a country with no army\, is engaged at the bilateral and multilateral levels to foster partnerships to address many of the world’s challenges. This includes working with the United States on economic security\, trade\, and other areas.Join Ambassador Sparber for an interactive conversation on Liechtenstein’s outlook as it seeks to further grow relations throughout the U.S. \nThursday\, April 23  I 11:00 am – 1:00 pm\n* Luncheon Event *\nVenue: \n \n501 Commerce St\, Nashville\, TN 37203 \n  \n\n  \nFeatured Speaker: Ambassador Georg Sparber (Ambassador of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the United States)\n \nGeorg Sparber\, Ambassador of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the United States\, has been in Washington since 2021. Prior\, he worked as Liechtenstein’s Deputy Chief of Mission at the United Nations and in Vienna. He will discuss Liechtenstein’s key interests in the United States as it seeks to build political and economic partnerships in Washington\, as well as at the state and local levels. \n  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/beyond-the-alps/
LOCATION:AllianceBernstein\, 501 Commerce St\, Nashville\, TN\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260508T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260508T180000
DTSTAMP:20260430T210102
CREATED:20260310T183635Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260403T171127Z
UID:47418-1778256000-1778263200@www.tnwac.org
SUMMARY:Are Tariffs Making America Great Again? A Q&A with AllianceBernstein CEO Seth Bernstein
DESCRIPTION:  \n  \n \n \nHow have tariffs impacted the economy\, both in the U.S. and globally? Is the U.S. benefitting from increased manufacturing as a result? And\, are tariffs finding their way into inflation because expectations keep changing? Join Seth Bernstein\, CEO of global asset manager AllianceBernstein (AB)\, at AB’s Nashville office to hear more in an insightful fireside chat around the impacts of tariffs with Karl Dean. \nFriday\, May 8  I 11:00 am – 1:00 pm\n* Luncheon Event *\nVenue: \n \n501 Commerce St\, Nashville\, TN 37203 \n    \n    \n    \n        Register Now    \n    \n  \n\nModerator: Karl Dean\n \nKarl Dean served as the sixth Mayor of Nashville and Davidson County. He was elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011. Dean first held public office when he was elected as Nashville’s Public Defender in 1990. He was re-elected in 1994 and 1998. He served as Metro Law Director from 1999 to January 2007\, when he resigned to run for the office of mayor. Karl Dean has taught at Vanderbilt Law School\, Belmont University\, and Boston University. \n \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nFeatured Speaker: Seth Bernstein (President & Chief Executive Officer\, AllianceBernstein)\n \nSeth Bernstein is the Chief Executive Officer of AllianceBernstein (AB)\, a role he has held since 2017. \nIn 2018\, he was appointed Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Asset Management of Equitable Holdings. From 2017-2025\, he also served as the firm’s President. \nPrior to his appointment at AB\, Bernstein had a distinguished 32-year career at JPMorgan Chase\, most recently as managing director and global head of Managed Solutions & Strategy at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. In this role\, he was responsible for managing all discretionary assets within the Private Banking client segment. Among other roles\, Bernstein served as managing director and global head of Fixed Income & Currency for 10 years\, concluding in 2012. Prior to that\, he served as CFO of JPMorgan Chase’s Investment Management and Private Banking division. Bernstein holds a BA in political science and economics from Haverford College. He is Vice-Chair of Haverford College’s Board of Managers and the Clerk of the board’s Investment Committee. Bernstein is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York\, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Brookings Institution\, and a governor of the Investment Company Institute\, all in Washington\, DC. In addition\, he serves as a trustee of Cheekwood Estate & Gardens in Nashville\, TN.
URL:https://www.tnwac.org/event/are-tariffs-making-america-great-again/
LOCATION:AllianceBernstein\, 501 Commerce St\, Nashville\, TN\, 37203\, United States
CATEGORIES:Distinguished Speaker Series
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