With a new year brings new opportunities as leaders, for our teams, and the services we provide to Tennesseans. As a community of state leaders, TGL alumni are positioned to shape and guide the people we work with and the services we provide across the state. 

We have already started planning this year’s alumni activities including our continued support and recognition of those who are working towards and achieving success in the black belt program; the 2025 Book Club list (included in this newsletter); as well as other engagement activities and volunteer events. 

None of this would be possible without the dedicated leaders who have volunteered to be part of the TGL Council who are passionate about providing tools, motivation, and growth opportunities for those state leaders.  Each of us are committed to further this community of ideas.  If you have ideas or want to be engaged more, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or any of the TGL Council members. 

One of the books we will read at the end of the year deals with daring leadership – leading bravely, acknowledging fear, working through those hard moments, being vulnerable, and the courage to develop the potential in people.  In 2025, let’s all strive to lean into a daring leadership mindset and lead our teams bravely. 

Seannalyn Brandmeir
TGLC Chair

Imagine a professional sports team that was not passionate about winning. A team that didn’t care about a sound strategy for success. They aren't concerned about how well the season went. They only pursued average and were not a winning team. Passion for the goal, mission, and purpose of the group is critical to success. Leadership development at every level of Tennessee State Government is the goal of the Tennessee Government Leadership Council (TGLC).

The TGLC provides strategic guidance in development for leaders in Tennessee State Government. The Committee has alumni leaders from LEAD Tennessee, TGMI, and TGEI. All members of the TGLC are champions for leadership excellence. Members of the TGLC are passionate about the council's mission. No one person can achieve the goal alone.

Please join us in welcoming the 2025 council members:

Chair | Seannalyn Brandmeir - TennCare

Vice Chair | David Elola - Corrections Institute

Treasurer | Stacy Yancey - Revenue

Secretary | Jennifer Matthews - TennCare

Past Chair | Alaina Turner - Revenue

Members:

Cohort Representative:

Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 1:00 - 2:00 CST

Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 1:00 - 2:00 CST

Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 1:00 - 2:00 CST

Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 1:00 - 2:00 CST

Click the book title to start the meeting. If you have questions, please contact Jennifer.C.Matthews@tn.gov or Seannalyn.Brandmeir@tn.gov

On March 26, The Tennessee Government Leadership Council (TGLC) Black Belt Program (BBP) Committee held the first belt awards ceremony honoring those achievements from leaders in state government that completed a leadership program sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Human Resources.  The BBP allows participants to earn points for internal and external service; volunteer work; and continued strategic development in leadership both personal and professional.  The rewards are achieving belts (white, yellow, orange, blue, green, and black) striving to reach the end state of receiving the black belt after proposing and completion of a final project that is sustainable and gives back in state government or the community. 

Commissioner Juan Williams and Assistant Commissioner Coretta Young represented DOHR’s team and support inspiring continued success of leadership growth in state government.  BBP Committee members: Mike Lenart (Committee Chair), Ashley Wheeler, Shannon Jones, David Elola, Robin Beamon, Stacy Yancy, and Kevin Brosemer.