Mayor John Cooper Announces Key Administration Hires

Today, Nashville and Davidson County Mayor John Cooper announced the following new hires who will serve in his administration, helping to advance his Agenda for Neighborhoods and Families.

“I’m thrilled to welcome these five outstanding professionals to our office – all of whom are already doing great work on behalf of Nashville residents,” said Mayor Cooper.“ Our new staff brings more than 60 years of public service experience to Metro, and adds a range of exceptional talent and diverse experiences to advance our agenda forward, particularly in the housing, workforce development, and community safety space. Each will play an important role making Nashville a welcoming place for everyone.”

• Jessica Davis, will join the Mayor’s Office communications team as Deputy Press Secretary, reporting to Deputy Communications Director Brandon Marshall. Davis joins Metro from the Tennessee Business Roundtable, where she worked in communications and planning.
• Linda Harper, will be Strategic Community Engagement Liaison in the Mayor’s office, working directly with Deputy Mayor Brenda Haywood. Harper has more than 15 years experience working at the intersection of business and the private sector, and will coordinate community engagement work as a part-time staff member.
• Tiara Thomas, will be working with Director of Neighborhoods and Community Engagement Kathy Floyd-Buggs as an Outreach Liaison amplifying the Mayor’s Know Your Nashville initiative and working to connect young adults to Metro Nashville’s local government. Thomas joins the Mayor’s Office as part-time staff as she pursues her master’s degree in public administration from Tennessee State University.
• Breanna Tillman, joins the Mayor’s Office as Community Impact Manager, working with Community Safety Coordinator Ron Johnson in the Community Safety and Justice office. Breanna will help manage the programs and strategies of a coalition of minority-led grassroots organizations known as The Village, and is part of a team working to collectively move the needle on community wellbeing outcomes. Tillman attended Tennessee State University earning a Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies with a minor in Nonprofit Management
• Karin Fielder Weaver, joins the Mayor’s Office full-time as Associate Director of Housing and Human Services, working with Director of Economic Growth and Small Business Development LaTanya Channel. Karin, previously a Fuse Executive Fellow with the Mayor’s Office, will facilitate, coordinate, and enhance the delivery of human services through collaborative relationships within Metro agencies, and among private and state agencies.

Today’s announcement comes on the heels of three key additions to the Mayor’s Office staff: Director of Economic Growth and Small Business Development Latanya Channel, Senior Education Advisor Dr. Robert Wallace Jr., and Associate Director of Youth Workforce Economic Opportunity and Community Development La’Kishia Harris — all of whom officially begin today.

Biographies

Jessica Davis worked at the Tennessee Business Roundtable in 2021, as the Communications and Meetings Specialist – working with businesses and C-Level executives of Tennessee's leading companies. Davis is an active participant in volunteering and leading women’s sports development through her work with the Nashville Sports Council’s Women in Sports initiative as well as coaching youth basketball though the recently reopened youth leagues at Margaret Maddox Family YMCA in East Nashville. Davis is a West Tennessee native, where her family continues their work as farmers to a 3-generation family farm. Davis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2020.

Linda Harper is results-oriented with a track record in developing strategies and solutions that turn initiatives into reality. Linda began her career as an Industrial Engineer with UPS in Atlanta, GA after graduating from Georgia Tech and Spelman College. Her professional experience as VP of Government Services, Project Manager, and Process Consultant allowed her the opportunity to manage and implement large-scale projects throughout North America and Internationally within several industries.

Tiara Thomas graduated Tennessee State University in 2022 and is pursuing her master’s degree in Public Administration. Her professional experiences are wide ranging from serving on the Tennessee State University Board of Trustees, interning for the Tennessee Board of Regents, and conducting civic engagement events and campaigns with civic leaders, such as Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden and Cedric Richmond. Thomas is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and the Tennessee State University Wind Ensemble.

Breanna Tillman attended Tennessee State University earning a Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies with a minor in Nonprofit Management. She utilizes her passion for community engagement, relationship building, and outreach to connect The Village’s work to the broader Middle Tennessee community.

Karin Weaver, a Nashville native, has a 35-year career in nonprofit management and corporate social responsibility, with focus areas including public and private partnerships to support vulnerable populations, homelessness and affordable housing, seniors, disaster response, volunteer engagement, and early childhood education. Karin has held leadership positions with Hands On Nashville, FiftyForward, Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, and Habitat for Humanity. She has an Executive MBA from Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management and a B.A. from Rhodes College.