Forward Sumner

06/16/2026

Yesterday evening we were honored to host a Community Vision Meeting in Westmoreland, bringing together residents, business owners, and community leaders to share ideas for the future of the the Town Square/Downtown area.

The ideas, priorities, and feedback shared during the meeting will help guide future conversations and planning efforts focused on preserving what makes Westmoreland special while identifying opportunities. Thank you to everyone who participated and invested their time!

Westmoreland friends, if you were unable to attend, the online survey will remain open through Thursday and we encourage you to share your thoughts.

Please click the link to complete this form.

06/14/2026

This week, the Forward Sumner Executive Committee and staff was honored to welcome some of our past Board Chairs and retired President & CEO Jimmy Johnston for a special breakfast gathering. These leaders have each played an important role in shaping our organization and helping advance economic, workforce, and community development across Sumner County.

It was a great morning of reconnecting, sharing updates on current initiatives, discussing future opportunities, and reflecting on the progress that has been made through years of dedicated leadership. We are grateful for their continued support, insight, and commitment to moving Sumner County forward.

06/03/2026

06/01/2026

Today we celebrate 230 years of the Volunteer State. Since Tennessee officially became the 16th state on June 1, 1796, our communities have been shaped by hard work, innovation, leadership, and a strong spirit of service.

At Forward Sumner, we’re proud to continue building on the same strengths right here in our own community by growing our workforce, and suppoorting community & economic development.

05/13/2026

Forward Sumner was proud to be a part of Tennessee’s first-ever Be Pro Be Proud Draft Day, connecting more than 500 students with over 50 employers for hands-on career exploration and workforce opportunities right here in Tennessee.

Events like this are exactly why workforce development matters - creating real connections between students, education, and industry while helping build a stronger future talent pipeline for Sumner County and beyond. We’re grateful to work alongside incredible partners committed to preparing the next generation for meaningful careers.

04/20/2026

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our friend and board member, Cory Respondek.

Cory was a valued part of Forward Sumner and his presence, insight, and commitment to our mission made a meaningful impact on our work and our community. He brought enthusiasm and heart to every conversation, and he will be deeply missed around our table.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Cory’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.

02/17/2026

Forward Sumner is proud to announce our newly installed 2026 Officers and Board of Directors:

Chair Kelley Crecelius, Wilson Bank & Trust
Immediate Past Chair Jim Harrison, CSDG
Incoming Chair Mack Hodges, Hodges Group
Secretary/Treasurer Meredith Hunter, Hville Ind. Board
President/CEO Chris Taylor, Forward Sumner

Board Members:
Paige Brown, Mayor, Gallatin City Government
Justin Coury, CEO, TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center
Nick Cunningham, Regional Consultant, TVA Economic Dev.
Susan Dye, Consultant, Unipres
Stan Fields, Partner, TENN Properties
Amanda Foster, Principal Broker, Southeastern Commercial Properties, Inc.
Johnny Garrett
Rod Harkleroad, CEO, Highpoint Health – Sumner with Ascension Saint Thomas
Matt Harris, Chair, Music City Executive Airport
John Puryear, Puryear Farms Nursery & Landscaping
Cory Respondek, President, Squaw Creen Southern Rail
Joe Rewa, GM, Hendersonville Utility District
Jeremy Riggs, Owner, JR Builders
Marla Rye, Executive Director, Workforce Essentials, Inc.
Randy Smith, Owner, Moonlight LLC
Tara Tenorio, Community Dev Reg Manager SE, Meta
John Turner, Director of Sales, Mid TN

Pictured L-R: Jow Rewa, John Puryear, Chris Taylor, Meredith Hunter, Kelley Crecelius, Justin Coury, Matt Harris, Mack Hodges, Tony Gregory, Jim Harrison, Stan Fields, John Turner (we missed those who were unavailable for the group photo).

02/17/2026

The Forward Sumner Economic Partnership Annual Meeting on February 11th brought our members, stakeholders, community and business leaders, and elected officials together for an inspiring meeting focused on growth, collaboration, and the future of Sumner. The highlight of the event was a dynamic discussion panel on the new Carolyn Smith Innovation Center. Panelists shared exciting updates and vision for how the center will drive innovation, workforce development, and opportunity in our region.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the conversation.

A special thanks to our panelists:

· Dr. Scott Langford, Sumner County Director of Schools

· Dr. Russ Deaton, Tennessee Board of Regents

· Mary Cypress Metz, Senior Vice President of Strategy, TN SCORE

· Jamey Falkenbury, Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Apple

The momentum is building, and the future is bright! ✨

📸: Rick Murray

01/02/2026

Happy New Year, and welcome to Moving Forward, beginning with our 2025 year-in-review. In 2026, we’ll share more frequent, streamlined updates to keep you informed and connected.

Progress doesn't happen alone. In 2025, Forward Sumner continued uniting partners to strengthen workforce and career pathways, support economic growth, and advocate with one voice for our community.

This is what moving forward looks like.

Cheers to all of you - and to a happy, healthy, prosperous 2026!