Chris Holmes to succeed Carol Yochem in serving with Mayor O’Connell
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 28, 2026) – The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce announced Chris Holmes, president and chief executive officer of FirstBank, as the new Co-Chair of Partnership 2030. He will serve alongside Mayor Freddie O’Connell and succeeds past chair, Carol Yochem.
Partnership 2030 is apublic-private economic development strategy supported by more than 260 investors to drive Middle Tennessee’s continued economic prosperity and create better opportunities for the people in our community. The 2026-2031 strategy is anchored by three interconnected strategic drivers: community vitality, community mobility, and community character.
“Carol has done an outstanding job partnering with Mayor O’Connell to lead Partnership 2030 into this next phase, and we are deeply grateful for her commitment to advancing our region’s economic success and livability,” said Stephanie Coleman, president and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. “We are excited to welcome Chris and appreciate his willingness to serve—not only the Chamber, but our entire region—through this important work.”
“I look forward to working with the Chamber and Mayor O’Connell in this role,” said Holmes. “Partnership 2030’s vision for moving the Nashville region forward is a critical piece of the region’s continued success.”
First initiated in 1990, Partnership 2030 mobilizes business, civic, and community leaders to leverage Middle Tennessee’s strengths while addressing our region’s most pressing challenges, ensuring we remain competitive and continue creating opportunities for all who call this region home. Guided by the theme “United We Create,” the strategy is built on a vision of regional collaboration and collective impact.
Learn more about Partnership 2030 and current investors, here.
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Media Contact
Alexia Poe
615-948-9339
About the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce is Middle Tennessee’s largest business federation, representing over 1,900 member companies. Belong, engage, lead, prosper embodies the Chamber’s focus on creating economic prosperity by facilitating community leadership. Established in 1990 as an economic development and community enhancement initiative of the Chamber, Partnership 2030 is a regional cooperative dedicated to making Middle Tennessee among the nation’s best places to live, work, and do business. Partnership 2030 is supported by a diverse group of public and private companies as well as governmental agencies from the organization’s 10-county service area. The work of the Chamber is supported by its members, Partnership 2030 investors, and sponsors; the Chamber’s Pivotal Partners (a partnership at the highest level for all Chamber programs and events) are Gresham Smith and Regions Bank. For more information, visit www.nashvillechamber.com.