LEADERSHIP FRANKLIN CELEBRATES 30 YEARS, NAMES SECOND-EVER BOARD CHAIR

Julian Bibb III Hands the Gavel to Brandy Blanton As Non-profit Looks to the Future

For three decades, Leadership Franklin has helped shape a small Middle Tennessee town into a community known around the world for its quality of life. Since its inception, Julian Bibb III has served as the organization’s chairman. Now Bibb and the Leadership Franklin Board of Directors have named Brandy Blanton as the new chair, marking the 30th anniversary with a passing of the torch.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years since Caroline Cross, Gayle Moyer-Harris, Richard Harrington, Jim Cross and I sat down to plan out the initial Leadership Franklin program,” said Bibb, an alumnus of the Leadership Franklin Class of 1996. “Since then, we’ve seen Caroline Cross run the program, followed by Paula Harris, who has done an unbelievable job as executive director. But as part of our 30th anniversary, I am proud and so incredibly happy to welcome Brandy Blanton as our new board chair. She’s an inspirational leader who has guided this community with a servant’s heart.”

It was Bibb who encouraged Blanton to apply for the Leadership Franklin Class of 2007, a decision she says changed her life forever. Blanton now serves as an at-large alderman for the City of Franklin, and as executive director of the non-profit organization the Circle of Giving that  operates the Carousel of Dreams at The Factory at Franklin.

“As we celebrate 30 years and transition into the next chapter, rest assured that Leadership Franklin will remain the same organization that has made such an indelible impact on this community, Blanton said. “There’s never been a more important time for citizens to be truly engaged in shaping our future.”

As part of the 30th anniversary celebration, Blanton, Bibb and Executive Director Paula Harris are inviting Leadership Franklin alumni to save the date for a special event to be held on July 30, 2026 at Bicentennial Park.

Leadership Franklin Announces 2025-2026 Class

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – (June 30, 2025) Leadership Franklin has announced its 2025-2026 class, which includes 24 members representing various organizations in Franklin and Williamson County. The program aims to educate and empower community leaders to enhance the quality of life in the region. The new class members are:

·        Ali Adair – R1RCM

·        Michael Barker – Middle Tennessee Electric

·        Stephanie Bibb – FirstBank

·        Julie Brown – Five Points Post Office

·        Brady Cannon – Vanderbilt University Medical Center

·        Aaron Compton – City of Franklin Police Department

·        Heather Doleshel – Visit Franklin, the Williamson County Convention & Visitors Bureau

·        Lee Eaves – UnitedHealth Group

·        Alisha Erickson – Franklin Special District

·        Kalinda Fisher – Advocate Market Research

·        Drell Floyd – Williamson County Sheriff’s Office

·        Shane Hall – Columbia State Community College

·        Russ Haynes – Hamilton Young, LLC

·        Judy Herbert – Williamson County Government, County Commission

·        Larry Karlin – retired, community volunteer

·        Gina Leavell – Banc Card of America

·        Whitney McElroy – Burr & Forman LLP

·        Glenn McGehee – SouthStar, LLC

·        Brandon Priddy – 906 Studio, PLLC

·        Connor Scott – Williamson County Government, Office of Public Safety

·        Tony Sharpe – Renasant Bank

·        Summer Sheldon – Southern Events

·        Marian Whitney – Operation Andrew Group

·        Emily Wright – City of Franklin

 

Special Thanks to Gray Line Tennessee

Leadership Franklin is pleased to announce that Gray Line Tennessee is the official transportation provider for the Class since 2023. Gray Line is Middle Tennessee’s leader in transportation services for the past 50 years. Special thanks to Chuck Abbott, President and CEO, and his extraordinary team for this generous sponsorship.

Mayor Ken Moore Receives Leadership Franklin Caroline J. Cross Service Award

The Leadership Franklin Class of 2024 selected Dr. Ken Moore, Mayor of Franklin, as this year’s recipient of the Caroline J. Cross Award. Mayor Moore is the 31st Mayor and second physician to head the City of Franklin. He is the former chair of the Middle Tennessee Mayor’s Caucus. In addition to this recognition from Leadership Franklin, he has received the Leadership in Regional Thinking and Action Award at the Power of Ten Summit, Tennessee Mayor of the Year by the Tennessee Municipal League, and the Hank Thompson Award for leadership and integrity by the Greater Nashville Regional Council. He is the co-founder of Unite Williamson, an effort on uniting the community through and prayer and commitment to bring hope and unity in a time of great need, should it arise. Mayor Moore has a passion for delivering healthcare to the underserved and is medical director for the Shalom Foundation, which provides free surgery to poor children in Guatemala. He has focused on health in the City of Franklin with a particular focus on mental health through Find Hope Franklin. He is a 2013 Graduate of Leadership Franklin.

According to Leadership Franklin Board Chair Julian Bibb, “Dr. Moore lives out his love for Franklin. Under his leadership, the City has prospered and achieved national recognition as being one of the best cities to live in America. But beyond that. Dr. Moore serves as a role model to all of us for generosity, collegiality, and as a true servant leader. We are delighted that he is the recipient of the award this year.”

The Caroline J. Cross Award was established to honor Caroline J. Cross, Founding Executive Director of Leadership Franklin, and create an ongoing award that identifies a leader in the community who exemplifies the values and lessons of Leadership Franklin. This award was created as the class project in 2007. Criteria for nomination include leadership that motivates and inspires other individuals along with traits of creativity, character, dedication, and community service.

Past recipients of the award are (LFA: Leadership Franklin Alumnus): Jimmy Gentry; Rogers Anderson (LFA); Julian Bibb III (LFA); Scott Roley (LFA); Janice Keck; Alma McLemore (LFA); Rick Warwick; Emily Magid; Paige Pitts (LFA); Dr. Joseph Willoughby; Mary Mills; Judy Hayes; Brandy Blanton (LFA); Tom Lawrence (LFA), Debbie Henry (LFA), Robert Blair (LFA), and Chris Whitney (LFA).

Leadership Franklin Announces 2024-2025 Class

Leadership Franklin is pleased to announce its twenty-seventh class.

  • John Bibb, Wilson Bank & Trust

  • Jessica Borne, Binkley Borne Law

  • Brian Clifford, State of Tennessee

  • Will Cross, Oversite, LLC

  • David Dingler, Healthcare Connector

  • Chris Feemster, FirstBank

  • Teresa Ashworth Harris, Consultant/Board Chair for Franklin Tomorrow

  • Jennifer Henry, Pinnacle Financial Partners

  • Colby Layne Hogan, MTSU Center for Historic Preservation

  • Chris Hollingsworth, City of Franklin Police Department

  • Justin Johnson, Cross Point Church

  • Rodney King, Williamson County Sheriff's Office

  • Lynne McAlister, Community Volunteer

  • Michael McGhee, St. John's Anglican Church

  • Jason Potts, HCA Healthcare - Parallon

  • Lee Rose, BrightStone

  • Steve Seger, Middle Tennessee Electric, Board Chair

  • Sam Shepherd, Franklin Cancer Walk

  • Alan Simms, QuikQ LLC

  • Wayne Smith, Franklin Christian Academy

  • Michael Walters Young, City of Franklin

  • Claudia Zuazua, Williamson, Inc.

 

Sponsors for Leadership Franklin Class of 2024-2025

Special thanks to the following sponsors

Presenting Sponsor for Transportation

  • Gray Line Tennessee 

    Gold

  • FirstBank 

  • Burr & Forman

    Silver

  • BMC Metalworks, LLC

  • Middle Tennessee Electric

  • One Generation Away

  • Pinnacle Financial Partners

  • RaganSmith a Pape-Dawson company

  • Southern Land Company and Westhaven Foundation

  • Stites & Harbison PLLC

  • Visit Franklin 

    Bronze

  • BELL Construction Company

  • BlueTrust

  • Boxwood Insurance Group

  • City of Franklin

  • Gresham Smith

  • METTLE5, LLC

  • Williamson County Government

     Friends of Leadership Franklin

  • Stable Reserve

  • Sheridan Public Relations

  • Dr. Trish Holliday – Holliday | Kenning

  • Williamson Herald and Southern Exposure Magazine

    If you or your business is interested in being a sponsor for Leadership Franklin, please contact Paula Harris (paula.harris@leadershipfranklin.com).