One Year from Election Day a New Coalition of Tennessee’s Top Business and Government Executives say:
“Zach Wamp has the Right Stuff to be a great Chief Executive for Tennessee.”
Nashville, Tenn. – Exactly one year from the day when Tennessee will elect its next Governor on November 2nd, 2010, a new and growing coalition of top business owners, executives and experienced state and local government officials from all across Tennessee have joined together to endorse Zach Wamp and to tout his experience and abilities as a strong and effective chief executive for Tennessee.
(See below for a list of the initial “Business and Government Executives for Zach Wamp” coalition.)
The group includes a number of private sector CEOs and several former state government cabinet officials who served under former Tennessee Governors and know first-hand the requirements of the state’s top job.
“I have worked in the private sector as a business owner, banker and car dealer – and I later served as the state Commissioner of Tourist Development for twelve years working closely with Lamar Alexander and Don Sundquist , so I know what Governors do and how they must operate to get things done,” said John Wade, formerly of Gallatin and now from Nashville, who is helping lead the new “Executives for Wamp” Coalition.
“Zach Wamp has what it takes to be one the best Governors we’ve ever had — because Zach starts with a strong foundation of guiding principles, but he also has a clear vision, and the energy, drive and passion to mobilize and work with others to tackle big challenges and to create consensus solutions. He is going to be a terrific chief executive for the State of Tennessee,” Wade said.
Others on the initial “Executives for Wamp” coalition include Bill Baxter who is chairman of Holston Gases, Inc. in Knoxville and the former state Economic and Community Development commissioner, and former TVA board chairman; Steve Lynn, Chair and CEO of Backyard Burgers, Inc. from Nashville; Zan Guerry, CEO of Chattem in Chattanooga; former State Adjutant General Dan Wood from Reagan; Tom Rowland, Mayor of Cleveland, TN; Tony Dover, Mayor of Smyrna, TN; and Michael Ducker from Memphis, who is President of the world’s top global shipping and cargo business.
“My years of small business and real estate experience in the private sector – and my 15 years of leadership and management experience in the public sector dealing with huge budgets and competing interests — have taught me that the keys to success are having a long-term vision, the ability to surround yourself with talented people who can help convene, mobilize and manage others, and then paying enough attention to detail to make sure things get done in a way that always protects and serves your customers and the taxpayers,” Wamp said.
“That is the same approach I will take as Governor, in clearly outlining the direction we need to move, in recruiting a cabinet of top managers who share my belief in a limited, effective and efficient state government, and in mobilizing our state around my clear 20/20 Vision to move us forward on job creation, education and many other issues.”
Wamp said today’s Executives for Zach Wamp coalition joins the previously announced Veterans for Zach Wamp and Farmers for Zach Wamp groups as the third of several key coalition groups already coalescing around and actively at work in counties and communities across the state in his grassroots campaign for Governor. Wamp said more coalition announcements will follow soon.
From better schools and universities to healthier children and families – from more high-wage jobs to a modern infrastructure with better roads, bridges and broadband – from strong and conservative state fiscal management to just saying “no” to a state income tax – Zach has a clear 20/20 vision of what we need to do to create an even better and brighter Tennessee and to move our state up in the national rankings.
The founder of the nationally-recognized “Tennessee Valley Technology Corridor” economic development organization, Zach has become well-known as a dynamic and visionary leader during the past 15 years of serving Tennessee’s 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Wamp and his wife, Kim, live in Chattanooga, and they have a son, Weston, who is a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee, and a daughter, Coty, who is a student at UT Knoxville.
To get involved in the campaign or to learn more about Zach Wamp, please visit www.ZachWamp.com.
“Executives for Zach Wamp” Leadership Team
(ongoing and in process as of 11/2/09)
John Wade – Nashville
Former State Commissioner of Tourism
Founder and Former Chairman of the Board, 1st Independent Bank – Gallatin
Former owner of 3 automobile dealerships in Sumner and Davidson Counties
(Honorary Chairman)
Darrell Akins – Oak Ridge
Chairman – AkinsCrisp Public Strategies
Former State Commissioner of Personnel
Jim Amos – Nashville
CEO
Tasti D-Lite
Mike Ballard – Brentwood
CEO
National Seating and Mobility
Bill Baxter – Knoxville
Chairman of Holston Gases, Inc.
Former State Commissioner of Economic and Community Development
Former Chairman of TVA
Shad Berry – Memphis
Vice President
Memphis Communications Corporation
Will Bunch – Maynardville
President
Okies Pharmacy
Tim Burchfield – Johnson City
Owner
Chick-Fil-A Johnson City
Rick Chinn – Oak Ridge
CEO
R&R Properties
Clyde “Pete” Craven – Oak Ridge
CEO
ALLMEDS
Terence Douglas – Knoxville
President
Alliant Corporation
Tony Dover – Smyrna
Mayor
Town of Smyrna
Michael Ducker – Memphis
President
World’s Top Global Shipping and Cargo Business
Jere Griggs – Nashville
Former State Commissioner of Agriculture
L. Barry Goss – Oak Ridge
President
Pro2Serve Professional Project Services
Zan Guerry – Chattanooga
CEO
Chattem
Steve Guinn – Memphis
Vice President
Highwood Properties Memphis Division
Steve Hicks – Knoxville
Chairman/CEO
Cadre5
Brenda Lawson – Cleveland
CEO
Brenda Lawson and Associates
Steve Lynn – Nashville
Chairman/CEO
Backyard Burgers Inc.
Marshal Mize – Chattanooga
President (retired)
Marshal Mize Ford
David Ogle – Sevierville
CEO
Five Oaks Development
Jim Phillips – Memphis
CEO
Pinnacle Enterprises
Tom Rowland – Cleveland
Mayor
City of Cleveland
Farrar Schaeffer – Memphis
President
Bluff City Jaguar/Land Rover
Tim Slemp – Columbia
CEO
USG Inc.
Mark T. Smith – Andersonville
Founder/Owner/CEO
“Weigh to Go” Weight Loss Centers, Inc.
Anti-Aging Medical Spa, Inc.
Mark’s Pharmacy, Inc.
Barry Stephenson – Oak Ridge
President/CEO
Materials and Chemistry Laboratory, Inc.
Pete Tashie – Germantown
President
Tashie and Associates
John “Thunder” Thornton – Chattanooga
Chairman
Thunder Enterprises
Jackie D. (Dan) Wood – Reagan
Former Adjutant General of Tennessee
