On March 25, 2026 the 2026 Leading E.D.G.E. class visited the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville. Our emerging leaders spent the day engaging with state officials and witnessing the legislative process firsthand.
Thank you to Senator Paul Bailey for taking the time to meet with Leading Edge. L-R Justin Neal (Rush), Sydnee Carvell (HEC Leasing), Donna England (TTA), Andrew Guizlo (TCS Fuel), Senator Paul Bailey, Joshua Weston (P&S Transportation), Alex Fath (Geodis), Thomas Stevens (TCW).
The day kicked off bright and early at 8:30 AM at the Tennessee Trucking Association Headquarters. After a quick overview, the class drove downtown to the Cordell Hull Building. The first stop on the legislative tour was a front-row seat at the Transportation Committee Meeting.
By 1:00 PM, it was time to switch things up with a formal tour of the Nashville Capitol. Completed in 1859, the building provided the group with an opportunity to learn more about its rich history. One interesting fact shared during the tour is that the Capitol also serves as a tomb, architect William Strickland is buried within the northeast corner of the building, while building commissioner Samuel Morgan is entombed in the southeast corner.
Smiles all around as Leading Edge gets ready to tour the Capitol and learn more about Tennessee’s history.
Following the tour, the leading edge took a short trip back to the Cordell Hull building to have conversations with Tennessee's representatives. Comptroller Jason Mumpower met with the group first to discuss his role in the fiscal health of the state.
Afterwards, Representative Pat Marsh shared his origins in legislation and what's on his current priority list. He discussed how many bills each representative is allowed to carry and dug into the legislative process and how he deals with pushback on legislation. As someone deeply familiar with the needs of Tennessee’s businesses, his perspective was invaluable.
Leading Edge hearing from Secretary of State Tre Hargett during visit.
Finally, Secretary of State Tre Hargett joined us to discuss the wide range of responsibilities in his role. He was followed by Graham Tudor, Legislative Director at the Tennessee Department of Safety, and Ryan Baird, Assistant Director of Legislation at the Tennessee Department of Safety.
Senator Paul Bailey also spoke with the group, offering a unique perspective as both a legislator and a trucking company owner, something that strongly resonated with the leading-edge group. Olivia Wilson with the Tennessee Department of Revenue closed out the program. Having previously worked with our lobbying firm, Adams and Reese, we were glad to see her now serving in her role at the Department of Revenue.
It was a great day out at the Capitol and to connect with our legislators. Thank you to the Adams & Reese team for facilitating this event and for your role in advocacy for our industry.
To view photos from the event, click here.
What is Leading E.D.G.E.?
Leading E.D.G.E. (Emerging Leaders, Driving Growth and Efficiencies) is our flagship leadership training program. It is specifically designed to cultivate the next generation in the Tennessee trucking industry.
The program is ideal for mid-level managers, supervisors, and future decision-makers who are ready to step up and contribute to the future of our industry.
For more information on upcoming events and legislative updates, be sure to check our official training calendar and keep an eye on the latest edition of TN Trucking Magazine.
