Tennessee Business Roundtable hires communications, events manager

Jared Felkins brings more than two decades of experience to position

NASHVILLE, TN - Tennessee Business Roundtable (“the Roundtable”) welcomed Jared Felkins as its new communications and member events manager, according to Roundtable President Pat Sheehy.

“We are confident that Jared will serve our Tennessee Business Roundtable by enhancing our organization’s ability to communicate and to deliver high value convening opportunities for our valued members,” Sheehy said. “Jared brings a wealth of experience and skill to the Roundtable, which we’re fortunate to have as we seek to elevate our engagement with members and stakeholders in pursuing sound, sensible public policy that supports Tennessee’s economy and people.”

At the Roundtable, Felkins will work to increase the overall visibility and awareness of the organization, as well as plan membership events and strengthen communication channels between the Roundtable, over 50 member companies, and the organization’s external stakeholders in business, government, education, and the non-profit sector. Felkins, who began serving the Roundtable in the new role on March 13, brings more than two decades of experience to the Roundtable, most recently through his work as a community newspaper editor. He was the director of content and audience development for Lebanon Publishing Company, publisher of the Lebanon Democrat, Mt. Juliet News and Hartsville Vidette. During Felkins’ nearly eight-year stint as editor of The Democrat, he and his newsroom staff won back-to-back Tennessee Press Association general excellence awards in 2016 and 2017. For two years, he also taught journalism writing as an adjunct professor at Middle Tennessee State University. After a year as editor of two weekly publications with Main Street Media of Tennessee, Felkins served most recently as a technical writer for Citizens Bank, formerly Franklin American Mortgage Company.

“I am honored to serve the Tennessee business community in this new role at the Roundtable, one of our state’s most respected and thoughtful business organizations,” said Felkins. “I look forward to doing all I can to bring increased awareness to policy that impacts business and education across Tennessee, and I’m also excited to serve the Roundtable’s member companies and executives by enhancing our organization’s convenings and events.”

Prior to his leadership roles in Tennessee media, Felkins served as editor of the Times-Journal of Fort Payne, Ala., during which the Times-Journal was honored for general excellence by the Alabama Press Association for four consecutive years from 2009-2012. Felkins’ work has also been recognized via awards from the Tennessee Press Association, Alabama Press Association and Alabama Associated Press Managing Editors Association.

An Alabama native, Felkins holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Alabama and is currently a master’s candidate in public service management at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn. He and his wife of 22 years, Mary, live in Watertown, Tenn. with their youngest daughter and are also proud parents of two adult children.

About Tennessee Business Roundtable:

Founded in 1983, the Tennessee Business Roundtable develops and implements pro-business public policies and initiatives that optimize the quality of life and well-being of all Tennesseans. Convening senior executives and strategic thinkers representing more than four dozen of Tennessee’s most-respected businesses and organizations from all three Grand Divisions of the state, the Roundtable has partnered successfully with Tennessee’s governors and hundreds of businesses, nonprofit and government stakeholders to create and promote policies that contribute significantly to the success of the Volunteer State’s economy and people, particularly in the area of public education. Guided by the belief that an educated, healthy populace and sound state fiscal policies are the primary drivers of Tennessee’s vibrant economy, the Roundtable brings together ideas, information and thought leaders with a view to becoming the most respected and influential policy voice for Tennessee’s business community.