Finalists for the 2025 Nashville Emerging Leader Awards (NELAS) from the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and YP Nashville have been announced.
The awards honor young professionals between the ages of 21 and 40 for career accomplishments and community contributions in 16 industry categories.
kAmx?5FDECJ =6256CD 92G6 6G2=F2E65 2AA=:42E:@?D E@ 49@@D6 E96 7:?2=:DED 2?5 H:??6CD 7C@> E96:C 6DD2J C6DA@?D6D[ AC@76DD:@?2= 249:6G6>6?ED[ =6256CD9:A 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ :>A24E] (:??6CD 7@C E96 `gE9 J62C @7 E96 2H2C5D H:== 36 2??@F?465 5FC:?8 E96 46C6>@?J @? yF=J b` 2E |2C2E9@? |FD:4 (@C<D]k^Am
Stephanie Coleman
Courtesy of Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
kAm“(6’C6 D@ AC@F5 E@ 46=63C2E6 E96 C:D:?8 DE2CD D92A:?8 E96 7FEFC6 @7 @FC G:3C2?E C68:@?[” $E6A92?:6 r@=6>2?[ AC6D:56?E 2?5 rt~ @7 E96 }2D9G:==6 pC62 r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46[ D2:5 :? 2 C6=62D6]k^Am
kAm“t249 J62C[ E96 }t{pD DA@E=:89E J@F?8 AC@76DD:@?2=D H9@ 2C6 ?@E @?=J 6I46==:?8 :? E96:C 7:6=5D 3FE 2=D@ >2<:?8 2 >62?:?87F= :>A24E :? @FC 4@>>F?:EJ] %9:D J62C’D 7:?2=:DED 6>6C865 7C@> 2 9:89=J 4@>A6E:E:G6 AC@46DD 2?5 C67=64E E96 DEC6?8E9 @7 }2D9G:==6’D J@F?8 AC@76DD:@?2= 64@DJDE6>]”k^Am
k9bma_ad }t{p$ u:?2=:DEDk^9bm
kAmkDEC@?8mp5G6CE:D:?8 2?5 !F3=:4 #6=2E:@?Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mqC: r2C=6D:>@[ ':46 !C6D:56?E @7 r=:6?E tIA6C:6?46[ !:6C46 !F3=:4 #6=2E:@?Dk^=:mk=:m{2r@?E62F (:==:2>D[ tI64FE:G6 s:C64E@C @7 |2C<6E:?8[ |65:2 2?5 r@>>F?:42E:@?D[ |E] +:@? q2AE:DE r9FC49k^=:mk=:my@6 %;@DG@=5[ u@F?56C[ r96KJ ':56@ r@]k^=:mk=:mz2E9CJ? $H2?E@?[ rt~[ |6E<2E |2C<6E:?8 {{rk^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mpC49:E64EFC6 2?5 t?8:?66C:?8k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:m|:4926= v2==2896C[ !C@;64E tI64FE:G6[ %FC?6C r@?DECF4E:@? r@>A2?Jk^=:mk=:mzC:DE2 r2D9:@?[ $6?:@C qFD:?6DD s6G6=@A>6?E |2?286C[ |6DD6C r@?DECF4E:@? r@]k^=:mk=:mp>:C2 p9>6E@G:4[ |2?286C[ qFD:?6DD s6G6=@A>6?E^|2C<6E:?8[ t$2k^=:mk=:mp563:D: q2D9@CF?[ x?5FDEC:2= s6D:8? t?8:?66C[ p>2K@?k^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mpCED[ t?E6CE2:?>6?E 2?5 |65:2k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mqCF46 pJ6CD[ u@F?56C^ rt~[ |FD:42= s:C64E@C[ }2D9G:==6 p7C:42? p>6C:42? (:?5 $J>A9@?J[ x?4]k^=:mk=:mxD236= %:AE@?\zC:DA:?[ tI64FE:G6 s:C64E@C[ %96 }2D9G:==6 $92<6DA62C6 u6DE:G2=k^=:mk=:mz2C6? $49:==:?86C[ |FD:4 p86?E[ rC62E:G6 pCE:DED p86?4Jk^=:mk=:m|2C82C6E t886CD[ r@?EC@==6C[ %96 |{rk^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mqFD:?6DD $6CG:46Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mp==:6 (:==:2>D@?[ rt~[ $@FE96C? s@>6DE:4 s:G2k^=:mk=:mp>2?52 $>:E9[ |2?28:?8 s:C64E@C[ p?<FC2 r@?DF=E:?8k^=:mk=:mrC2:8 '2?3FCJ[ $6CG:46 s6=:G6CJ {6256C[ %96 !C64:D:@?:DED[ x?4]k^=:mk=:m#J2? !2CC[ ~H?6C 2?5 !C6D:56?E[ }2D9G:==6 !2:?E:?8 !C@76DD:@?2=Dk^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mr@>>F?:EJ $6CG:46 2?5 }@?AC@7:Ek^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mt> (:=56C[ %H6?5é !C@8C2> |2?286C[ }2D9G:==6 t?EC6AC6?6FC r6?E6Ck^=:mk=:mp==:D@? "F:?E2?:==2 !=2EED>:6C[ rt~[ t5869:== }6:893@C9@@5 !2CE?6CD9:A Wsqpi t>A@H6C:?8 }6:893@C9@@5 !2CE?6CD9:AD Wt}!XX U2>Aj p"! r@?DF=E:?8k^=:mk=:mp5?2? z2C:>[ ':46 !C6D:56?E @7 r@>>F?:EJ x>A24E[ %96 r@>>F?:EJ u@F?52E:@? @7 |:55=6 %6??6DD66k^=:mk=:my2C65 |:==6C[ rt~[ uC665@> pG:2E:@? }6EH@C<k^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mt5F42E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:my@?2E92? qC@44@[ !C:?4:A2=[ {tps !F3=:4 $49@@=Dk^=:mk=:ms63@C29 ~D3@C?6[ $49@@= r@F?D6=@C[ |6EC@ }2D9G:==6 !F3=:4 $49@@=Dk^=:mk=:m#@36CE (2==246[ r9:67 @7 $E277[ |6EC@ }2D9G:==6 !F3=:4 $49@@=Dk^=:mk=:mz2E6=J? r2E2=72>@[ %62496C[ |6EC@ }2D9G:==6 !F3=:4 $49@@=Dk^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mt?EC6AC6?6FCD9:Ak^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mr92??:?8 |@C6=2?5[ r@\u@F?56C[ t'p t?E6CE2:?>6?E[ x?4]k^=:mk=:m|2C< w:=E@?[ !C@8C2> |2?286C[ t?EC6AC6?6FCD9:A[ '2?56C3:=E &?:G6CD:EJk^=:mk=:m%9@>2D z6==J[ ~H?6C[ rC62E:G6 $@F=K !C:?E:?8k^=:mk=:mr9C:DE:?2 vC:77:?[ ~H?6C[ w625 r@249 WvrrvXj !C@8C2> |2?286C[ }2E:@?2= !2CE?6CD9:AD Wx?E6C:D6X[ vC:77:? r@249:?8 2?5 r@?DF=E:?8 vC@FAj x?E6C:D6k^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mt?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 $FDE2:?23:=:EJk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:my@? s] qF>AFD[ s:C64E@C @7 r@>>F?:42E:@?D[ %6??vC66? {2?5 r@?D6CG2?4Jk^=:mk=:mqC@@<6 t==:D[ $@=2C !C@;64E s6G6=@A>6?E[ $:=:4@? #2?49k^=:mk=:m+249 p?5C62D6?[ t?G:C@?>6?E2= |2?286C[ {2q6==2 pDD@4:2E6Dk^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mu:?2?4:2= $6CG:46Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mz2?5246 w2CC:D[ r=:6?E $6CG:46 p5G:D@C[ !:??24=6 u:?2?4:2= !2CE?6CDk^=:mk=:mz2E96C:?6 w@C?6[ $'!\ #6=2E:@?D9:A |2?286C[ $EF5:@ q2?<k^=:mk=:my@D9F2 xC6=2?5[ r9:67 tI64FE:G6 ~77:46C[ y6776CD@? qC:586 r2A:E2=k^=:mk=:m|2EE kDA2? 52E2\@=<\4@AJ\D@FC46lQ|6DD286q@5JQmv6?EK<@Hk^DA2?m[ x?G6DE>6?E $EC2E68:DE[ (2556== U2>Aj pDD@4:2E6Dk^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mv@G6C?>6?E 2?5 !F3=:4 p772:CDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:m%6CCJ '@[ s:DEC:4E `f |6EC@ r@F?4:=>6>36C[ |6EC@A@=:E2? v@G6C?>6?E @7 }2D9G:==6 2?5 s2G:5D@? r@F?EJk^=:mk=:my2?J= x825?2[ |2?286C @7 %96 (@>6?VD uF?5[ r@>>F?:EJ u@F?52E:@? @7 |:55=6 %6??6DD66k^=:mk=:m#636442 }@7:[ |2?286C @7 '@=F?E66C 2?5 r@>>F?:EJ t?8286>6?E[ vC62E6C }2D9G:==6 #68:@?2= r@F?4:= Wv}#rXk^=:mk=:m$2C29 t==:@EE[ $E2E6 w62=E9 !=2? s:C64E@C[ %6??6DD66 s6A2CE>6?E @7 w62=E9k^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mw@DA:E2=:EJ 2?5 %@FC:D>k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:m|@C82? #69?36C8[ '! @7 tI9:3:ED U2>Aj tIA6C:6?46D[ p5G6?EFC6 $4:6?46 r6?E6Ck^=:mk=:mr96=D2 {@FC:6[ s:C64E@C @7 (@C<7@C46 s6G6=@A>6?E[ %6??6DD66 w@DA:E2=:EJ 2?5 %@FC:D> pDD@4:2E:@?k^=:mk=:m~=:G:2 q2?6[ ~H?6C[ (2=5@VD r9:4<6? Z q66Ck^=:mk=:mrJ?E9:2 u=@C6K[ |2?28:?8 !2CE?6C[ {x|~ tp%t#*k^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mwF>2? #6D@FC46Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mv23C:6==6 #@5>2?[ v=@32= $6?:@C %2=6?E !C@;64ED U2>Aj !C@8C2>D {625[ s6== %649?@=@8:6Dk^=:mk=:mpFD92 |:=6D[ wF>2? #6D@FC46 |2?286C[ !2C<:?8 |2?286>6?E r@>A2?Jk^=:mk=:m#@36CE $EC@36=[ wF>2? #6D@FC46D |2?286C \ r@>>6C4:2= U2>Aj w$! s:G:D:@?[ !2C<:?8 |2?286>6?E r@>A2?Jk^=:mk=:mr9C:DE@A96C z66?2?[ ~A6C2E:@?D 2?5 p5>:?:DEC2E:G6 p?2=JDE[ {@EFD pDD6E |2?286>6?Ek^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8m{682= $6CG:46Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mw2??29 (6336C[ pDD@4:2E6 pEE@C?6J[ q2DD[ q6CCJ U2>Aj $:>D !{rk^=:mk=:mqC:EE2?J |24@?[ pEE@C?6J[ !@=D:?6==: !rk^=:mk=:ms2=E@? %9@>AD@?[ pDD@4:2E6[ q2<6C[ s@?6=D@?[ q62C>2?[ r2=5H6== U2>Aj q6C<@H:EK[ !rk^=:mk=:mv2CC29 r2CE6C[ pEE@C?6J[ q2DD[ q6CCJ U2>Aj $:>D !{rk^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8m|65:42= 2?5 w62=E9 r2C6 $6CG:46Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mpD9=6J s2??6C[ rt~[ qC:89E"F6DE %C62E>6?E r6?E6CDk^=:mk=:m}:4@=6 {] q@J6C[ s:C64E@C[ ':D:E:?8 p?86=D }2D9G:==6k^=:mk=:mtG6=J? |F<96C;:[ tI64FE:G6 s:C64E@C[ s2G2 u@F?52E:@?k^=:mk=:m#29F= {J6?82C[ u@F?56C^rt~ U2>Aj !9JD:4:2?[ |6>36CD w62=E9 r@k^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8m%649?@=@8Jk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mz2EJ !9:==:AD[ ':46 !C6D:56?E @7 %649?@=@8J ~A6C2E:@?D[ !2C<:?8 |2?286>6?E r@>A2?Jk^=:mk=:m$9@:C2 $92>D:6G2[ $@7EH2C6 s6G6=@A>6?E |2?286C[ (t) x?4k^=:mk=:mpFEF>? r@A6=2?5[ rt~ M (63D:E6 pC49:E64E[ "F2CEK 2?5 r=2Jk^=:mk=:mp=6I:D y@?6D[ u@F?56C 2?5 rt~[ $?2Aq24< #6EFC?Dk^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8m(6==?6DDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:m#688:6 u@C5[ (6==?6DD 2?5 #6D:=:6?46 pC49:E64E[ #@D6rC6E6 (6==?6DD r@>A2?Jk^=:mk=:m%@C: u:==>@C6[ ~H?6C[ ~A6C2E@C[ r652C w:== w@>6DE625 {{rk^=:mk^F=m
k9C ^m
kAmk6>m%96 k^6>m}2D9G:==6 !@DE k6>m:D 2 >65:2 DA@?D@C @7 E96 2??F2= }2D9G:==6 t>6C8:?8 {6256C pH2C5D]k^6>mk^Am
