TCCE Institute 2026 - 2nd Year Students March 1-3

2026 Tennessee Chamber Institute
Agenda for 2nd year attendees
 
Sunday, March 1
4:00-6:30pm- Check in & Registration
Holiday Inn Murfreesboro
 
6:30-Reception at the hotel in Restaurant. 
Get to know others across the state during the opening reception. Self Introductions

 
Monday, March 2
7:15am- Breakfast at the Holiday Inn Murfreesboro
Welcome, Kim Baker, 2026 Institute Chairman and President/CEO, Gallatin Chamber
After breakfast, we will drive to the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce for classes. (Across the street from hotel)
 
8:30-10:00am: Session I
*Government Relations
Nicole Austin, Director of Education/Workforce Development, Kingsport Chamber
RJ Gibson, Manager, Government Affairs  & Advocacy, TN Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Suppose a business is running like a well-oiled machine when, all of a sudden, you learn that a bureaucrat or elected official is proposing a new law or regulation that could destroy that business.  Before this happens in your community, you need relationships with government officials so you and your members will have sympathetic ears at the city, county or state level of government.  This session will show you how to create an ongoing program of government relations that will be effective.
 
10:00-10:15am Break
10:15-11:45 am: Session II
*Alternative Revenue Streams
Stephanie Brackman, COO, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce
Kristen Hope, VP of Programming & Events, Portland Chamber of Commerce
Kim Baker, President/CEO, Gallatin Chamber of Commerce
Julie Blaylock, President/CEO, Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce
After you reach a certain point in member investment in dues and other special projects, other revenue sources become important. 
Even though you charge a fee for products, services or workshops, members receive added value from their purchases and will purchase what you are selling.
A panel of chamber executives from different size chambers will lead this session along with a moderator to discuss what works for them.
 
11:45am-1:00pm Lunch (included)
Lunch will be catered into the Chamber 
 
1:00-2:30 pm: Session III
Economic Development 101 & Tourism 101
Lindsay Theobald, President/CEO, Obion County Chamber
Kyle Spurgeon, President/CEO, Greater Jackson Chamber
Lara Potter,  Vice President, Visit Kingsport Marketing Manager
Chelsea Ketron, Visit Kingsport Marketing Manager
Chambers exist for many reasons, but perhaps the most significant is economic development.  If a community does not grow and thrive, it will die. 
This session will help you understand the building blocks of a sound economic development approach to sustaining vibrant communities.
A session on Tourism was also added for Institute since a significant part of Economic Development revolves around tourism.  The attractions that bring people to your community
provide jobs, tax revenue and additional revenue for all the businesses in your community.
 
2:30-2:45 pm: Break
 
2:45-4:00pm: Session IV
Social Media
Jeannine O’Malley, Social Media Manager
Social Media Marketing for Chambers will cover everything a Chamber needs to know about maximizing reach and engagement on Social Media, including best practices, content creation and management, paid advertising and analytics measurement.
 
 
6:30pm Dinner (included) –
Mexican Fiesta Buffet in hotel Ballroom.  Reception, Music, Door prizes, Activities and Karaoke in hotel restaurant after dinner! 
 
Tuesday, March 3
7:30am- Breakfast- Holiday Inn
 
8:30-10:00am-Session V –
*Membership Development
Keeping, Involving and “Up-selling” Members.
Membership retention is crucial to the success of any chamber.  This session will cover basic, easy-to-implement membership retention strategies.  It will also address partnerships, sponsorships and other means to attract greater financial support from your existing members
Media trends will also be discussed.
 
10:00-10:15am        Break          
Year Two will drive back to the Holiday Inn for the remainder of Institute – You will combine with the ICE class for the Best Practices Session        
10:15-11:00am: Session VI
*Best Practices Discussion & Questions
Experienced chamber executives will lead a discussion on best practices in this session.  This is a time to voice your questions about issues not covered by this year’s Institute.  You can bring them ahead of time or previous sessions may trigger questions to bring up at this time.
Vanessa Bennett, Kingsport Chamber
Lindsay Theobald, Obion County Chamber
Stephanie Brackman, Rutherford Co Chamber
 
11:00-11:45am-Session
*45 ideas in 45 minutes
All classes will combine for this last session.   
This class requires some homework by participants. Just bring 2 successful "chamber ideas."   Your ideas will be put in a box with other class ideas.  A facilitator will pull ideas from the box, ask the “idea suggester” to offer some quick details and the class will have a brief discussion. Before the class ends, a "Best Idea" winner will be chosen for a prize and recognition.
Ideas are not limited to any one chamber area, so be creative and bold.
We might just want to "borrow" your idea.
Facilitator - Vanessa Bennett, IOM, Executive Director of Operations and Talent Development Kingsport Chamber
 
12:15pm: Graduation Lunch 
Holiday Inn -  Graduation lunch for all classes.  (we will drive from campus back to the Holiday Inn for lunch and dismiss after lunch) Those completing the second year of Tennessee Institute will be recognized and certificates will be distributed.
Kim Baker, Chair of Institute will give the keynote