PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT POWERED BY TECHNOLOGY

D.J. Wootson

Principal, Titus Young Real Estate: Known for North Nashville work. His 1821 Je erson mixed-use building o ers 18 apartments and retail. Sold for $2.5 million, two-and-a-half times the price he paid in 2015, a TSU-area apartment property in late 2020.

Manuel Zeitlin

Owner, Manuel Zeitlin Architects: Oversees boutique design firm whose 21st century aesthetic (seen at, for example, Chelsea and the TAR Building) likely elicits a greater range of opinions than the work of any other local architecture company.

Lee Zoller

Principal, Division Street Develop- ment: Commercial real estate industry veteran founded company in mid2017. DSD is focused on boutique projects and is aligned with Gulch office of Toronto-based Avison Young. Now underway on West End Avenue residential project.

Austin Benedict

First Vice President, CBRE: Among the city’s most respected brokers focused on urban retail space. Works within firm’s retail services group.

Nora Buikstra

General Manager, The Mall at Green Hills: Assumed post in 2018. Oversees facility that has landed multiple highend retailers the past 12 months and is now prepping for Hugo Boss and other big name stores.

Crissy Cassetty

Director of Economic Development, Nashville Downtown Partnership: Key player related to downtown’s landing of soft goods and food-and-beverage retail businesses. Works with equal effectiveness with owners of properties and of retail businesses.

John Dyke

Owner, The Turnip Truck: Always-pleasant natural foods advocate who in 2020 opened a grocery on Charlotte Avenue in West Nashville to supplement his Gulch and east side stores. Is planning to open this year at Broadview building in Midtown.

Monika Hartman

Senior General Manager, Fifth + Broad. Oversees popular mixed-use downtown development for Northwood Investors, which paid local re- cord $787 million for the multi-building property in late 2022.

Sonya Hostetler

President, Kroger Nashville Division: Replaced company veteran Zane Day in mid-2019. Worked at Walmart for almost 31 years prior to joining Cincinnati-based grocery giant.

Hal Lawton

President and CEO, Tractor Supply: Leads Brentwood-based farm supply retail behemoth that continues to see earnings outpace analysts expectations each quarter. Company recently re-upped ex-Macy’s president’s contract for several years.

Jad Murphy

General Manager, Opry Mills Mall: Oversees 1.2 million-square-foot facility highlighted by about 200 stores, many of them outlets of popular retailers.

Je Owen

CEO, Dollar General: Took over from the retiring Todd Vasos in 2022. Vanderbilt grad joined Goodlettsville-based company in 1992.

Ann Patchett

Author, Owner, Parnassus Books

Nashville: New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of Green Hills institution. Now fully oversees beloved business after 2022 retirement of former co-owner Karen Hayes.

Charlie Robin

Owner, Robin Realty: Has been involved in local commercial real estate industry since 1976. Replaced father William H. Robin, who founded the company in 1947. Known for knowledge of city’s pre-1970s-constructed retail buildings and spaces.

Megan Salvador

Regional Real Estate Manager, Wawa Inc.: Began tenure in September 2022 after almost two years as a broker with CBRE. Philadelphia-based convenience store chain is working on an expansion to the Nashville area.

Mimi Vaughn

President and CEO, Genesco: Joined Genesco as vice president for strategy and business development in 2003 and replaced Bob Dennis as CEO in early 2020 after two years as COO.

Steve Woodward

President and CEO, Kirkland’s: Recruited from Crate and Barrel in 2018 to update home goods retailer’s operations and merchandising. Retiring this year.

Richard Wright

General Manager, CoolSprings

Galleria: Oversees about 150 stores at Franklin-based retail facility. Assumed role in mid-2022 after almost eight-year run as GM at RiverGate Mall.

Amy Adams Strunk

Controlling Owner, Tennessee Titans: Fired GM Jon Robinson mid-season and has now tasked replacement Ran Carthon with a rebuild. Negotiating with city, state and others related to a domed stadium that could host Super Bowls, Final Fours and other major national events.

Casey Alexander

Men’s Basketball Coach, Belmont: Had Hall of Fame playing career at Belmont before getting into coaching. Took over when legendary coach

Rick Byrd retired and proceeded to win two regular season conference titles in his first two seasons. Now navigating the move to Missouri Valley Conference.

Mikki Allen

Director of Athletics, Tennessee State: Hired Titans legend Eddie George to coach football team, with mixed results. Took over as TSU AD for retired Teresa Phillips, who held the position for 16 years.

Ian Ayre

CEO, Nashville SC: Former Liverpool CEO has overseen Nashville’s entry into MLS and the construction of Geodis Park. Team has made the playo s in each season and recently extended coach Gary Smith.

Ran Carthon

General Manager, Tennessee Titans: After a middling career as a player, moved to the front o ce. Director of player personnel in San Francisco before being lured to Nashville to succeed the fired Jon Robinson. Quickly