Industry Summit Speakers
Max Boot - Keynote Speaker
Max Boot is a historian, best-selling author, columnist, and foreign-policy analyst
who has been described by the International Institute for Strategic Studies as one
of the “world’s leading authorities on armed conflict.” He is the Jeane J. Kirkpatrick
senior fellow in national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, a
columnist for the Washington Post, and a Global Affairs Analyst for CNN.
Col. Jeremy Bell
Col. Jeremy Bell is the garrison commander of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He previously
commanded 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Campbell, deploying
his battalion in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He later served as the Executive
Officer to the Commanding General, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center
and School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Millard House
Millard House is the superintendent of the Clarksville-Montgomery School District
in Clarksville. He previously served as an executive consultant, as well as the executive
director of New Leaders Charlotte. He was the Chief Operating Officer of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg
School System in Charlotte North Carolina and Deputy Superintendent with The Tulsa
Public Schools.
Dr. Rashidah Leverett
Dr. Rashidah Leverett is county commissioner for the 5th District of Montgomery County, Tennessee. She is an author, speaker, teacher and
certified coach, frequently requested as a small-group speaker and moderator for workshops,
conferences and churches in areas of career development, leadership and spiritual
growth. She is the co-author of Madame President: How to Think and Act Like a Leader.
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ronald Bailey
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ronald Bailey, a 1977 APSU graduate and former deputy commandant for
Plans, Policies and Operations for the U.S. Marines Corps, is vice president for External
Affairs at Austin Peay State University. Over 40 years, Bailey oversaw the Marine
Corps Recruiting Command, and he served as commanding general of the Third Marine
Expeditionary Brigade and deputy director for operations of the Joint Staff.
Mayor Jim Durrett
Jim Durrett is the mayor of Montgomery County, elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. He
also served the citizens of Clarksville-Montgomery County for 20 years as director
of streets and ended a 31-year career in local government as chief of staff for the
City of Clarksville. He most recently served as vice president of business development
for a local bank.
Mayor Joe Pitts
Joe Pitts is the mayor of Clarksville, elected in 2019. He also served six terms as
District 67 representative in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Before becoming
mayor, he was vice president of Planters Bank in Clarksville for more than 13 years.
His service focuses on public education and serving veterans and their families.
Interim President Dannelle Whiteside
Austin Peay State University Interim President Dannelle Whiteside is the first Black
president of the University. She joined APSU in 2017 as the University’s general counsel.
She became vice president for legal affairs in 2019. She also has served as general
attorney for the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, general counsel
for the Tennessee State Board of Education and district policy advisor for Metro Nashville
Public Schools.
Jeff McCord
Jeff McCord is commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Before becoming commissioner, he spent seven years at Northeast State Community College
in Kingsport where he was vice president of Economic and Workforce Development. He
also spent over 20 years in business and industry holding a variety of leadership
positions.
Dr. Chad Brooks
Dr. Chad Brooks is Austin Peay’s associate provost for research and dean of the College
of Graduate Studies. He also chairs the Graduate and Research Council, facilitates
the Institutional Review Board and coordinates graduate faculty approvals and the
graduate student appeals process. He also has served as assistant dean of the College
of Sciences and Mathematics and as professor in the Department of Biology.
Frank Tate
Frank Tate is the executive director of the Montgomery County Industrial Development
Board responsible for recruiting businesses to the area and marketing the Clarksville-Montgomery
County Corporate Business Park. He also works extensively with the existing industry
on workforce training, expansion plans and other needs. He also served in a similar
role in McKenzie, Tennessee, and as a regional workforce and economic development
director for the State of Kentucky.
Paul Turner
Paul Turner is vice president of operations at Ajax Distributing Company in Clarksville
and Ajax Distributing Company of Memphis. He also is chairman of the Clarksville Area
Chamber of Commerce and serves on the executive committee for the Economic Development
Council. He’s also member of the Tennessee Malt Beverage Association Board and the
Association of the United States Army Fort Campbell Chapter Board.
Dr. Loretta Griffy
Dr. Loretta Griffy is Austin Peay’s associate vice president for Academic Strategic
Initiatives and Foundation Engagement. She also has been a mathematics and statistics
professor at Austin Peay for more than 29 years. She also has served as the associate
vice president for Student Success Strategic Initiatives, associate provost for student
success and director of the Center for Teaching and Learning.
Marla Rye
Marla Rye is president of Workforce Essentials. She has over 30 years of experience
providing workforce and economic development services in Middle and West Tennessee. She
is the recent recipient of the National Association of Workforce Development Professional’s
“Thomas Ahlers System Building Award,” which recognizes individuals who have made
significant contributions to the profession through the development or enhancement
of workforce systems.
Dr. Kathrine Bailey
Dr. Kathrine Bailey, strategic analyst, coordinates strategic planning and reporting
at Austin Peay. She works with stakeholders to lead and support University and community
strategic initiatives in conjunction with the vice president of External Affairs.
She has a background in economic development and is John Maxwell DISC-certified. She
will earn John Maxwell coach and speaker certification in March.
Dr. Tucker Brown
Dr. Tucker Brown is the dean of Austin Peay’s College of Behavioral and Health Sciences.
He has been at the University since 2007, serving as professor of sociology. Before
becoming dean, he was chair of the Department of Sociology. He has had several leadership
roles, including president of the APSU Faculty Senate and chair of the Faculty Development
Planning Committee.
Dr. Arrita W. Summers
Dr. Arrita W. Summers is the president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology
Dickson and Clarksville campus where she promotes a workforce development mission.
Throughout her career, she has promoted higher education to Tennessee residents with
the aim of increasing the number of citizens pursuing career and technical training
and a college education. She has served numerous roles throughout her career with
the Tennessee Board of Regents.
Megan Simpson
Megan Simpson works at Austin Peay’s Office of Career Services as the employer relations
manager. With a background in journalism and marketing, Simpson joined the APSU team
in 2018. She connects current Govs and alumni to full-time, part-time and internship
opportunities with local, regional and national employers while streamlining the on-campus
student employment process via Jobs4Govs. To connect with her about recruiting opportunities,
call 931-221-6543 or email simpsonm@apsu.edu.
Larry Mangrum
Larry Mangrum is the workforce solutions consultant for Nashville State Community
College’s Workforce & Community Development Department. The department provides noncredit
and customized training solutions in support of the various businesses and industries
and their workforce in the seven counties served by the college. Before joining Nashville
State, he provided the same customized workforce training solutions for Chattanooga
State Community College.
John Fields
John Fields is a graduate of TCAT's industrial maintenance/electricity systems program.
He has been employed at Bridgestone Metalpha U.S.A., Inc, located in Clarksville,
since 2018. His job enables him to use the skills he mastered while attending the
program at TCAT.
Dr. Rubin Cockrell
Dr. Rubin Cockrell is CEO of Positive Images & Associates, a global firm that specializes
in educational leadership, empowerment and management consulting servicing past clients
in over 45 countries around the world. He served on the White House My Brother’s Keeper
STEM Initiative Task Force to create opportunities for minority youth to become 21st
Century Global Leaders.