Tri-Cities Free Coworking Day
2026-07-08
Start the new year with momentum. We’re hosting a free coworking day, open to anyone looking to reset, refocus, and get moving on what matters. Thanks to our partnership with The Moon Coffee and Tea House, we’ll have free coffee flowing from 9:00-12:00, because your best work needs the best fuel. As well, we’ll be partnering with FoundersForge in order to offer attendees in-person advice on their startups and small businesses!
Whether you’re ready to make real progress on goals you set, finally get that startup off the ground, or just ease back into a productive rhythm after weeks at home, this day is for you. Come work alongside others, spark a few conversations, and enjoy a space that offers you the comfort of home, with the energy of an office.
July 8, 2026 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Spark Plaza, 404 South Roan Street, Johnson City, TN
View map →

InvestTN AMA July 2026 (Virtual)
2026-07-09 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Virtual
​Join us for an interactive session to learn more about our $70M fund, InvestTN.
This 1.5-hour session is designed for entrepreneurs interested in funding opportunities and investors looking to connect with high-potential Tennessee startups.
​Our team will take a deep dive into how the program works, what the process is like, updates on the portfolio, and much more! We welcome all entrepreneurs who may be interested as well as investors in or outside of our ecosystem.
​The InvestTN AMA covers specific details about the program’s three main investment funds:

​Regional Seed Fund: A $28M initiative focusing on Pre-Seed and Seed-stage startups, with funding ranging from $25,000 to $250,000.
​Growth Fund: A $36M pool that engages across Seed, Series A, and Series B stages, making investments from $250,000 to $3 million.
​Multi-Fund: Provides anchor investments of $1 million to $3 million to Tennessee-focused venture funds.

​RSVP is required to attend.

Lunch N Learn: The Sales System Early-Stage Founders Need
2026-07-09 11:30 - 13:30 (America/Chicago) | Nashville Entrepreneur Center, 41 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210
You’re building something real. But if revenue isn’t consistent, chances are you don’t have a business problem — you have a selling problem. And nobody has told you the truth about what selling actually takes, or how AI can do the heavy lifting once you learn the skill.
Join us for a Lunch & Learn with Christina Kokologiannakis, Income Jump Architect & Strategist and founder of the Time Billionaire Society. Christina Kokologiannakis has over 20 years of experience building across tech, consumer products, real estate, and coaching. She was an early pioneer in two-factor authentication, built and launched a consumer product from prototype to market, and has generated over $100M in real estate sales. For the past six years she has coached entrepreneurs on how to find their Income Jump — the pivot that cuts the work in half while multiplying the revenue. She is the founder of the Time Billionaire Society, built around one idea: your time is your most valuable asset and the business should fund the life not consume it.
What you’ll walk away with:

Why selling feels hard — and what to actually do about it
A practical sales framework you can use immediately
How AI builds and runs your sales engine while you focus on the work you love
A clear picture of what’s possible when your business stops running you

This session is conversational, interactive, and built for founders who are ready to stop avoiding the sale and start building the skill.
📅 July, 9 | 11:30am – 1:30pm | 📍 Nashville Entrepreneur Center
Agenda:
11:30 AM – 12 PM: Lunch & Networking
12 PM – 1:15 PM: Programming by Christina
1:15 PM – 1:30 PM: Wrap up & Networking
Thank you to our Community Partner Comstasis and AMA Nashville for making this event possible. Special thanks to the EC’s Growth Partners: Baker Donelson, CLA, Pinewood Social, Pinnacle Financial Partners, and RJ Young, for their continued support of our founder community.
Parking: Available in the red brick garage located behind the trolley barns (entrance on 15 Lea Avenue); We can validate your parking for up to 3 hours via a QR code at the front desk. (Please know your license plate number if you do not have an account set up with Metropolis parking)

Nashville Post Innovation & Ideas Launch Event
2026-07-09 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Nashville Entrepreneur Center, 41 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210
Join the Nashville Post for an exclusive look at our Innovation & Ideas digital series on Thursday, July 9, at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, where you’ll get to network with some of the city’s top investors, innovators and creators.
At our event, we’ll officially celebrate the launch of the Nashville Post Podcast, produced by Relationary Marketing in partnership with the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. Our new audio and video series, sponsored by Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, features eight industry disruptors with insights on technology, finance and business that you won’t want to miss.
Introducing our 2026 Innovation & Ideas Disruptors:

Chris Blackwell, ThreadBank, CEO
Rod McDaniel, S3 Recycling Solutions, CEO
Mark Montgomery, Founder and Investor
Sashank Purighalla, BOS Framework, CEO
Nikki Sanz, Giggs, CEO
Mike Sewell, Gresham Smith, Chief Digital Transformation Officer
Stephanie Styll, Killjoy, CEO
Adam Vassar, An Adam App, Founder

Blount Afternoon Mixer
2026-07-09 15:45 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, 123 Cromwell Dr., Townsend, TN, 37882, United States
Get out of the office after work and unwind with the Afternoon Mixer.
Mixers are designed to offer our members the opportunity to build business relationships with other members and to gain exposure for their business or organization in an “open house” setting and open to anyone associated with a Chamber member business.
Participation is not reserved to the representative(s) listed on the Chamber membership.

Founders Circles Happy Hour | Women Founders
2026-07-09 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago)
Join Nashville’s community of women founders for an evening of connection, conversation, and community.

WOMEN FOUNDERS CIRCLES HAPPY HOUR
Hosted by the Nashville Entrepreneur Center’s Founders Circles and sponsored by BrainTrust, this gathering brings together women entrepreneurs from across industries and stages of business to build relationships, share insights, and support one another’s growth.
Founders Circles is Nashville’s dedicated community for underrepresented founders, focused on expanding access to Capital, Community, and Representation.
Whether you’re launching a new venture, growing your business, or looking to connect with like minded founders, this happy hour is designed to help you build meaningful relationships within Nashville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Join us at Café Babu— a women-owned Nashville staple. Drinks are buy-your-own — check out the night menu to plan ahead
📅 July 9 | 5:00–7:00 PM 📍 Café Babu | Nashville, TN
About BrainTrust: BrainTrust is a community of women business owners who gather monthly in small groups known as Vaults — a safe, confidential space where members champion and challenge each other to grow their companies to their fullest potential. Together, they go faster… and further.

Infrastructure Summit
2026-07-14 | The Embassy Suites Franklin
Date: July 14, 2026

Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM CDT

Register Now

Event Description:

Tennessee’s infrastructure is the backbone of our economy. Join us to explore the future of the state’s infrastructure—where industry leaders come together to tackle today’s challenges and shape tomorrow’s growth.

Location:

The Embassy Suites
820 Crescent Centre Dr.
Franklin, TN 37067
Overnight rate- $156.00 Click on link below to book overnight accomodations
TN Chamber of Commerce Booking Link

Contact Information:

Suzie Lusk
Send an Email

Fees/Admission:

Members: $79
Non-Members: $109

Knoxville Women in Entrepreneurship
2026-07-14 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Lakeshore Park
Join us on Tuesday, July 14th for our monthly Women in Entrepreneurship Meeting! We’ll be meeting for lunch at Lakeshore park from 11:30am – 1pm! Bring a friend (and some lunch) and join us for laid back networking and summer fun.

Advising Small Businesses in the Age of AI Zoom
2026-07-14 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
This virtual workshop is designed for business advisors at economic development and entrepreneurship support organizations who are navigating how to support outdoor businesses with AI adoption.
​AI is changing how entrepreneurs find information, market their businesses, make decisions, and interact with customers. Business advisors are increasingly being asked when AI is worth using, where it can create value, and how to help clients navigate these changes so they can compete, grow, and thrive.
​In this 90-minute session, we’ll cover:

​What we’re hearing from small businesses about AI, including how they’re using it, their concerns, and the barriers preventing implementation.
​When AI can help and when it can’t, with practical examples of how advisors can help clients evaluate opportunities, avoid common pitfalls, and focus on the highest-impact applications.
​The changing customer discovery landscape, including the shift from traditional SEO toward AI-powered search and recommendation tools, and how advisors can help businesses remain visible and competitive as customer behavior evolves.

​The workshop is highly interactive and capped at 25 participants to allow ample time for discussion.
​About the Facilitators
​Marek Bowers is a business owner and consultant at Bain Capital, where he leads UX/UI and AI strategy projects.
​Katie Doherty and Enhao Li are the founders of Founded Outdoors, an organization that supports outdoor recreation entrepreneurs through education, mentorship, and community-building programs. Together, they work closely with founders across a wide range of industries and stages of growth.
​We’re passionate about helping entrepreneurs and the organizations that support them navigate change. Through this work, we’re developing practical education that helps small business owners understand, evaluate, and adopt emerging technologies so they can continue to grow, innovate, and strengthen their communities.

Johnson City Code & Coffee
2026-07-14 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
A collaborative space with a tech focus but open to all levels and career fields!
Curious about coding? Dabbling in a project and need help? Professional Developer working on a hack or project? Wherever you are this Meetup is for you!!
Bring your project and we’ll collab together!

Meet with other tech professionals in the area to network, and work together
Learn how to code, be mentored by local tech professionals
Have fun, chat, and enjoy coffee + cookies

July 14, 2026 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Location: Spark Plaza, 404 South Roan Street, Johnson City, TN

View map →

Make Learn Grow: Content Planning Session
2026-07-14 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, 17 Market Square
Ready to make a plan for your social media? In this hands-on workshop, KEC & The Maker City’s social media manager Holly Rainey, walks you through building a complete, ready-to-use 30-day social media calendar built around your creative work.
Learn the latest features on Instagram and Facebook, how to make engaging social media content and how to read insights so you can do it all again the following month.
Using your own products, goals, and creative process as the source material, you will map out a month of content during the session, so there is nothing to figure out when you get home.
The goal is not just one good month, it is a repeatable process. Holly will show you how to reset and rebuild your calendar so consistency becomes manageable, not overwhelming.
This workshop is designed specifically for people who make things, whether you sell at markets, online, or both.

Blount Small Business Peer Group
2026-07-15 08:30 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Lambert’s Southern Pie & Bake Shop, 1116 East Broadway Ave, Maryville, TN, 37801, United States
Join us for the next Small Business Peer-to-Peer Group meeting on Wednesday, July 15 at 8:30 a.m. at Lambert’s Southern Pie & Bake Shop.
This group is designed for small business owners and operators to connect in a confidential, supportive environment. It is not a referral or sales group—our focus is on sharing knowledge, resources, and real-world experiences related to running a business.
Participants will be divided into small groups to discuss key topics such as: Human Resources Marketing Strategies Customer Acquisition Growth Challenges Strategic Planning Customer Service Financial Management Come ready to engage, learn, and support fellow business leaders.
We look forward to another productive and engaging discussion. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Lambert’s Southern Pie & Bake Shop
1116 East Broadway
Maryville, TN 37801 United States

Event Contact
Brenda Farner
(865) 273-1202
Send Email
Wednesday, July 15, 2026 (8:30 AM – 10:00 AM) (EDT)

Expanding Entrepreneurial Resources Across Nashville
2026-07-15 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Nashville Entrepreneur Center, 41 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210
EC’s Morehead-Cain summer interns present a summer’s worth of research and recommendations on expanding entrepreneurial resources across Nashville.
This presentation is hosted by the Nashville Entrepreneur Center’s Morehead-Cain summer internship team. We hope you all will be able to join us in-person, but there will be a recording available if you are unable to attend.

Young Professionals - Regional Mixer
2026-07-15 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Maryville College Downtown Center
Maryville College Downtown Center
118 E. Church Avenue
Maryville, TN 37804 United States

Event Contact
Meghan White
(865) 209-3435
Send Email
Wednesday, July 15, 2026 (5:30 PM – 7:30 PM) (EDT)

AI for Manufacturing (Memphis)
2026-07-16
Tennessee manufacturers, AI is reshaping the industry, and we want to make sure you’re ahead of it.
Join us July 16 in Memphis for a full day of hands-on AI training built specifically for manufacturing teams at every level.
Whether you’re just getting started or ready to go deeper, we’ve got a session for you:
🔵 Morning: AI for Manufacturing — Foundations & Applied Practice
🔵 Afternoon: AI for Manufacturing — Applied Deep Dive
Walk away with real skills, a strategic roadmap, and the confidence to bring AI into your operation.
📍 Memphis, TN | July 16, 2026
🔗 Register for one or both sessions: https://buff.ly/Kv2fBcY
This training is in partnership with Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

TSBDC Managing a Business
2026-07-16 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37830, United States
Strategic Focus in 60 Minutes

Thu, Sep 17 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

TSBDC at RSCC – Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce
Topic: Managing a Business
Networking from 8:30 to 9:00 AM EDT
WHAT THIS WORKSHOP DELIVERS
Most small business owners are running their operations without a written strategic direction, not because they lack ambition, but because they have never had a structured opportunity to step back and think clearly about priorities. This workshop gives them that opportunity. In 60 minutes, each participant works through an honest situational scan, identifies their single highest-leverage priority for the next 90 days, and begins building a one-page strategic plan they can actually use. They leave with a committed next action, a named date, and a peer accountability partner from the room. The session is interactive throughout, and anonymous live polling via Mentimeter surfaces the room’s collective thinking on screen; a group scenario exercise warms up the diagnostic muscle before anyone has to look at their own situation, and questions are welcome at every transition rather than saved for a dead zone at the end.
Speaker(s): Trent Richardson, Founder & Principal, Hard Knox Life Advisory Dr. Trent Richardson founded Hard Knox Life Advisory, where he helps small business owners move past guesswork and find their highest-leverage move. Before starting the firm, he built a federal career in high-consequence leadership, working through the Department of the Interior’s reorganization after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. He later led the U.S. Geological Survey’s natural hazards portfolio, including the launch of ShakeAlert, the nation’s earthquake early-warning system now serving more than 50 million people across the West Coast. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Policy, and he believes good thinking beats a thick binder every time. Stephen W. Williams, Director of Workforce & Economic Development, Roane State Community College
Co-Sponsor(s): Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, APEX Accelerators

Making Your Products Go Viral: Basics of PLG (Nashville)
2026-07-16 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Chicago) | The Lighthouse
The best products sell themselves. Not because of a slick sales team — because the product IS the growth engine.
​That’s product-led growth. And if you’re building 0→1, it might be the cheapest, fastest way to find your first thousand users.
​In this workshop, we’ll break down the basics:

​What PLG actually means (and when it’s NOT the right move)
​The mechanics of building virality into your product
​Real examples of products that grew without a sales motion
​How to spot your own viral loop — and what to do once you find it

NEC Happy Hour
2026-07-16 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Nashville Entrepreneur Center, 41 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210
🎉 Happy Hour at the EC! 🍻
Join us at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center for an afternoon of fun and networking, at Happy Hour on Thursday, July 16th, from 3–5 PM!
🔹 What’s in it for you?

Networking with fellow entrepreneurs
Free drinks and snacks

Join us at the EC and grab a drink!
📍 Location: Nashville Entrepreneur Center📅 Date: Thursday, July 16th⏰ Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
RSVP now!
Thank you to our Happy Hour Partners Harding House Brewing & Comstasis for making this event possible. Special thanks to the EC’s Growth Partners: Baker Donelson, CLA, Pinewood Social, Pinnacle Financial Partners, and RJ Young, for their continued support of our founder community.
Parking: Parking is available in the red brick garage located behind the trolley barns (entrance on 15 Lea Avenue); please come inside to the front desk to scan the QR code for validation up to 3 hours.

Startup Founders After 5 (Tri-Cities)
2026-07-16 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for an evening of networking at Founders After 5 from 5:30-7:00 (location TBD). This is an opportunity for startup founders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals to connect, share ideas and form valuable relationships in a relaxed and welcoming environment. So come join us for a drink, connect with the community and share your own entrepreneurial journey. We look forward to seeing you there!
Presented by FoundersForge
FoundersForge is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization on a mission to build the Startup ecosystem in the Appalachian Highlands. We believe in underdog Entrepreneurs and helping them on their Startup journey.

City of Alcoa Briefing
2026-07-17 08:30 - 09:30 (America/New_York) | Blount Partnership
Do you want to know what is going on in the City of Alcoa? If you answered yes, then make plans to attend an upcoming local briefing on Friday, July 17th, at 8:30 AM. We will discuss priorities, budget challenges and vision for the future. The briefings provide an excellent opportunity to strengthen and build new partnerships between members of the business community and local government officials.

IACMI Innovation Insights Webinar
2026-07-20 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Register today for Innovation Insights featuring Vitruvian, AirTrac, and TxV
Our monthly webinar series “Innovation Insights” continues Monday, July 20, as IACMI CCO Jason Gibson moderates discussions on recent technology advancements and important business opportunities and updates from IACMI and our members.

Please join us on your lunch break Monday, July 20 at 12PM ET, as our popular one-hour webinar features:

Chris Sentz
CEO
Vitruvian

From Festival Stage to Watershed Signage: Large-Format Composite Fabrication and the Workforce That Builds It
Vitruvian designs and produces large-format composite components on the Mantis printer, delivering real-world projects including a custom stage for the Forbidden Festival and durable signage for the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District. The same equipment and digital workflow power Vitruvian’s USW-endorsed Digital Fabrication pathway, where technicians train on live commercial work as they move from CAD and prototyping to finished, deployed product. This session shows the complete offering: advanced composite manufacturing and the credentialed workforce pipeline that sustains it, with lessons on material performance, throughput, and the economics of distributed composite production.

Eugene Timperman
President and Executive Engineer
AirTrac

AirTrac – The Value of Composites for Transportation Infrastructure Improvements
Enabling High-Rate Thermoplastic Composite Parts Manufacturing

Peter Levesque
Design and Project Engineering Manager
TxV

Enabling High-Rate Thermoplastic Composite Parts Manufacturing
TxV leverages Victrex’s LMPAEK polymer and its suite of material formats to enable high-rate manufacturing of thermoplastic composite parts and assemblies. In this webinar we will explore some of the tools TxV uses to make this happen as well as what sort of design enablers exist within this material family.

Join us for these engaging presentations.

Blount Women In Business
2026-07-20 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Blount Partnership
Join our next Women in Business Meeting with Sharon Hannum on Monday, July 20th, 12:00 pm, at the Blount Partnership. Come ready to share, come ready for self-examination and come ready for fun!
Lunch will be provided by Asen Marketing!

Blount Power Connect Lunch
2026-07-21 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for Power Connect Lunch! Meet, Mingle, Lunch, Connect, Nibble, Engage and Network with other influential professionals. While you (and the other guests) will have an opportunity to introduce your business, current areas of focus and/or anything you could use help with, all I ask is that everyone shows up with a focus on how they may be able to add value for the other attendees. Open to ALL Blount County Chamber members, but you must Register Online. This is a Dutch Treat lunch. Event chair Tony Saddy of Get Fit Maryville will lead the event.

Jim ‘N Nicks Bar-B-Q
1111 Franck St.
Alcoa, 37701

Event Contact
Tony Saddy
Send Email
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 (11:30 AM – 1:00 PM) (EDT)

ORCC Government Affairs | TNWorks
2026-07-21 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37830, United States
Join us as we welcome TNWorks, Tennessee’s statewide workforce initiative led by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
Discover how TNWorks is helping employers navigate workforce challenges through a more connected, streamlined approach to workforce development. As a centralized resource hub, TNWorks brings together state agencies, education partners, workforce organizations, and economic development entities to make it easier for businesses to access the programs, services, and support they need.
During this session, TNWorks Executive Director Brooks Young will provide an overview of the initiative, share current workforce trends impacting Tennessee employers, and highlight resources available to help businesses recruit, train, and retain talent. Attendees will also learn how TNWorks is using data-driven strategies and cross-agency collaboration to better align workforce solutions with employer needs.
Whether you’re facing hiring challenges, looking to upskill your workforce, or planning for future growth, this program will offer valuable insights, practical resources, and connections to help your business succeed.
Government Affairs meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 4:00 p.m., typically at the Chamber office unless otherwise noted on the event page. This monthly forum provides timely updates and discussion on public policy, government affairs, economic development, and regional legislative priorities. Designed to keep members informed and engaged, the program explores issues, trends, and opportunities that impact the Oak Ridge business community and the region’s economic vitality.

SBA International Trade Roundtable
2026-07-22 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
The Office of Advocacy is hosting a virtual roundtable on international trade, focusing on the USTR’s request for comments on the scope and operation of a mechanism to promote reciprocal managed trade with China. The roundtable details are as follows:
Date: July 22, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM ET
Meeting Platform: Microsoft Teams
Your feedback will help guide Advocacy’s interactions with USTR and highlight the barriers small businesses encounter when selling goods in China.
Advocacy is a voice for advancing the views of small businesses in the regulatory policy across the federal government. We conduct roundtables to hear the experiences, challenges, and recommendations of small businesses, and identify alternative approaches for policy development at federal regulatory agencies. Our roundtables are largely held online to facilitate the attendance of stakeholders from a diverse range of backgrounds, industries, and geographic regions.
Roundtable meetings are open to all interested persons and are intended to facilitate an open and frank discussion about issues of interest to small business. These meetings are off the record and not intended for press purposes. Direct quotations of presenters or attendees may not be used without direct written approval of the person(s) making the statement. All press inquiries should be sent to Samantha Aschieris at samantha.aschieris@sba.gov. Agendas and presentations are available to all. If you need accommodations for a disability to participate in the roundtable, please contact Alexander Bean at alexander.bean@sba.gov for assistance.

ETEC Meet & Greet Reception - Mike Skaggs, Interim President & CEO, TVA
2026-07-22 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | UT Outreach Center, 1201 Oak Ridge Turnpike
Join the ETEC community for a special Meet and Greet Reception with Mike Skaggs, Interim President & CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority. This informal networking event provides ETEC members and community leaders with an opportunity to meet Mr. Skaggs, welcome him to his new role, and engage in conversation with colleagues from across the region.
As TVA begins this new chapter under Mr. Skaggs’ leadership, we invite you to connect with fellow professionals from industry, government, education, and the community while extending a warm East Tennessee welcome. We look forward to bringing together our members for an afternoon of networking and meaningful connections.
Please register for this event if you plan to attend.

Mike Skaggs, President & Chief Executive Officer

Mike Skaggs, who has over 40 years of experience in the utility industry—and more than 25 of those years at TVA—is serving as the interim President and Chief Executive Officer. Previously retired from TVA, Skaggs took on the interim role in late April 2026.
Prior to his retirement in January 2022, Skaggs served in a variety of roles at TVA, including as the chief operations officer. In that capacity, he was responsible for key areas of the business, including Safety, Transmission and Power Supply; Coal, Gas, and Hydro Generation; Integrated River System Management; Natural Resources; Environment; Supply Chain; Major Projects; Coal Combustion Residuals Project Implementation; Facilities Management; TVA Police and Emergency Management; and Enterprise Improvement.
With his unique focus on operational excellence, Skaggs brought to TVA a focus on excellence in decision-making, asset planning, and performance improvement. Skaggs’ focus on the individual contributor led him to promote a safety-first mindset at TVA, and he introduced and championed the company’s four vital safety behaviors.
An engineer by training, he joined the company to manage performance analysis for initial Watts Bar Nuclear Plant operations before overseeing capital projects for TVA’s transmission system, substations and telecommunications.
Before moving into the chief operations officer role, Skaggs was TVA’s senior vice president of Operations and Construction at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant. In this position, Skaggs led the completion, integration, startup and power ascension testing of Unit 2—the nation’s first new nuclear generation of the 21st century. Prior to assuming management of Watts Bar operations and construction in 2013, Skaggs served as senior vice president of Nuclear Construction, with responsibility for Watts Bar Unit 2, Bellefonte and the Sequoyah Unit 2 steam generator replacement project
In addition to leading the completion effort of Watts Bar Unit 2, Skaggs’ experience includes the completion and startup of Watts Bar Unit 1; the recovery of Browns Ferry Unit 1 to return that site to full, three-unit operation; and the successful management of two steam generator replacement projects. He has held top management posts at each of the company’s three operating nuclear plants and led a number of initiatives across the nuclear fleet that resulted in improved operational performance, organizational alignment and cultural health.
A registered professional engineer, Skaggs holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, and earned a senior reactor certification at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant.

Directions
From Knoxville via S. Illinois Avenue (TN-62 W):

Turn right onto S. Rutgers Avenue.
Continue to the intersection of Rice Road and Rider Road, across from ORNL Corporate Headquarters.
After passing the Quality Inn, turn left onto Rider Road.
The University of Tennessee Outreach Center will be on your right.

Alternate Route from Knoxville via S. Illinois Avenue (TN-62 W):

Take the sharp right onto Lafayette Drive.
Turn left onto W. Gettysburg Avenue.
Turn right onto Manhattan Avenue.
Continue straight across S. Rutgers Avenue onto Rice Road.
At the intersection of Rice Road and Rider Road, turn right onto Rider Road.
The University of Tennessee Outreach Center will be on your right.

Knoxville Built This: Community AI Build Night
2026-07-22 16:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | 121 Tech Hub, 121 E Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915
Knoxville Built This is a free, hands-on community AI build night happening Wednesday, July 22, 2026, from 4–7 pm at 121 Tech Hub in Knoxville’s Old City, hosted by CGI Federal and 121 Tech Hub. It’s the first event of its kind in the city, bringing together neighbors, families, and CGI AI experts for three hours of building small, useful, personal projects, things like a recipe site, a family photo organizer, a homework helper, or a small-business tool, with no coding experience required and patient helpers on hand throughout. The evening includes a welcome from CGI Federal’s VP of AI Victor Foulk, pizza around 5:30, optional 90-second demos around 6:30, and an informal Old City meetup afterward for anyone who wants to keep talking; attendees just need to bring a laptop, a charger, an idea (or not), and their own paid AI tool subscription, since registration is free but seats are limited and first-come, first-served.

Vanderbilt Life Science Showcase
2026-07-23 13:00 - 17:30 (America/Chicago) | Vanderbilt Student Life Center
About the Life Science Showcase
Vanderbilt University’s Industry Collaborations Division is proud to present this year’s Life Science Showcase, centered on the theme AI in Translational Research. As artificial intelligence and machine learning reshape the earliest stages of the research pipeline — spanning target discovery, multiomics analysis, predictive modeling, and the data ecosystems that underpin it all — this event brings Vanderbilt’s cutting-edge research into conversation with the industries, investors, and innovators driving real-world impact.

Agenda

1:00 – 1:10 p.m.
Opening Remarks
1:10 – 2:00 p.m.
Vanderbilt Innovations in AI for Life Sciences
2:00 – 2:25 p.m.
AI Research Centers at Vanderbilt: Capabilities & Collaborations
2:25 – 3:00 p.m.
AI in R&D: Industry Perspectives
3:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Networking Break with AI researchers
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Panel: Will AI Replace Experimental Science? A Cross-Disciplinary Debate
4:30 – 4:45 p.m.
Closing Remarks
4:45 – 5:30 p.m.
Happy Hour & Poster Session

What to Expect
The Showcase will feature presentations by leading Vanderbilt investigators leveraging AI and ML across early-stage research, from mining large-scale biological datasets to accelerating candidate identification and validation. Alongside Vanderbilt researchers, industry voices will offer perspective on how AI-driven tools and data strategies are being deployed to bridge the gap between fundamental discovery and therapeutic development.
Expert panel discussions will explore the opportunities and challenges unique to this early translational space — including data quality and integration, model interpretability, and building the research-industry partnerships needed to move discoveries forward responsibly and efficiently.
The event also offers rich networking opportunities connecting attendees with researchers, biotech and pharma partners, investors, and economic development organizations — all gathered in an environment designed to foster the kind of cross-sector relationships that turn promising science into real-world solutions.
Who Should Join
Whether you work in computational biology, data science, drug discovery, or life sciences investment, the Vanderbilt Life Science Showcase offers a focused opportunity to engage with early-stage AI-driven research and explore what’s next at the frontier of translational innovation. Join us as Vanderbilt and Nashville help lead this exciting new chapter in biomedical science.

AI Summer Summit 2026
2026-07-24 | Nashville Entrepreneur Center, 41 Peabody St, Nashville, TN 37210
The First Annual AI Summer Summit for Trade Businesses

Turn prospects into paying customers: a hands-on one day workshop in Nashville where you’ll build an actionable conversion system you can start using immediately.

AI Summer Summit 2026 The First Annual AI Summit for Trades Businesses
Friday, July 24, 2026 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM CST
Nashville Entrepreneur Center 41 Peabody Street, Nashville, TN 37210
Admission: $65 Have a referral code? Use it at checkout to bring your ticket price down. Parking is included.
What This Event Is About
Most trades businesses are leaving money, time, and growth on the table — not because of a lack of work ethic, but because of outdated systems.
This one-day event is built for contractors, home service companies, and trades business owners who want to use AI, automation, and modern systems to build a business that works for them instead of the other way around.
This is not a hype-filled AI conference. It is a practical, implementation-focused day designed around real-world results for real trades businesses.
Whether you’re in roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, remodeling, solar, pest control, or another home service trade, you’ll leave with ideas and systems you can put to work immediately.
What You’ll Learn

Building systems that actually work
Using AI safely and responsibly
Marketing strategies that build trust
AI and IT infrastructure for growing businesses
AI-powered recruiting, hiring, and team management
Financial systems that improve profitability and cash flow
Using AI to strengthen customer relationships
Real-world implementation examples and case studies

Featured Sessions

Building Systems That Actually Work
Legal and Risk in the AI Era
Marketing That Creates Trust
AI and IT Infrastructure for Trades Businesses
AI and HR
Finance and Money Systems
AI and Human Connection
Real-World Implementation and Case Studies
Live Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A

Included With Your Registration

Breakfast networking
Access to all educational sessions
Live panel discussion and audience Q&A
Networking with contractors, business owners, marketers, technology professionals, and industry leaders
DJ Leeah Faraa throughout the day
Parking

Lunch is not included. Numerous restaurants and food options are available within walking distance of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center.
Who Should Attend
Home service and trades business owners, contractors, office managers, admins, sales professionals, and estimators.
Our Mission
Technology should serve people, not replace them.
This event exists to help trades businesses use AI and automation to build better companies, create better customer experiences, increase profitability, reduce stress, and get more time back for the things that matter most.
Join us for the First Annual AI Summer Summit.
Space is limited. Reserve your seat today.
Learn More: https://tradehub.thetrustedtradesmen.com/ai-summer-summit-1281

Oak Ridge Construction Opportunities Conference
2026-07-28 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Roane State Community College
Date: 7/28/2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (EDT)
Status: Open – 77 places remaining
Registration Deadline: 7/23/2026 5:00 PM (EDT)
Fee: No Fee
Point of Contact: Jutta Bangs (865) 483-0623
Location: Roane State Community College Goff Building 701 Briarcliff Avenue, Oak Ridge TN 37830
Training Topics: Construction, Finding Opportunities, Government Industrial Base (GIB) Readiness, Networking Event
Description:

Join us for an exclusive opportunity to connect directly with major federal prime contractors and the Department of Energy’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (DOE OSDBU). This half-day event is designed specifically for construction firms seeking to expand their federal contracting portfolio.
This session brings together representatives from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), UCOR, Y-12 National Security Complex, and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). You’ll gain insider knowledge on how each organization procures construction services and what they’re looking for in sub-contractors and partners.

Direct Procurement Insights: Hear from procurement representatives at ORNL, UCOR, Y-12, and TVA about their specific construction needs and how to position your business for success
Critical Compliance Requirements: Navigate cybersecurity requirements, Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) regulations, FAR Part 19 updates, and bonding essentials
Winning Strategies: Master proposal writing and capture planning techniques that win federal construction contracts
Real Success Stories: Learn from contractors who’ve successfully broken into the federal construction market
One-on-One Networking: Connect directly with prime contractors and exhibitors during dedicated networking time

***Limited Seating available, registration is required.
Matchmaking
To be considered for potential matchmaking meetings in the afternoon, send your capability statement to jutta.bangs@tennessee.edu.
Who Should Attend
This event is ideal for construction contractors, subcontractors, specialty trades, and suppliers interested in federal contracting opportunities, particularly those supporting DOE facilities and related federal projects.
Co-sponsored by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at Roane State Community College.
