Governor Bredesen Leads Trade Mission to Germany
Released on Mon, Oct 20, 2008 - 12:00 am under
NASHVILLE - Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and Commissioner of Economic and Community Development Matt Kisber announced today that 41 representatives of government and communities from across Tennessee will participate in the trade mission to Germany announced September 16.
The trade mission was organized following an invitation by the leadership of Volkswagen AG to Governor Bredesen to visit the company’s global headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany. Following that visit to Wolfsburg on October 22, the delegation will hold briefings about Tennessee for the automaker’s supplier community in Dusseldorf on October 23, Frankfurt on October 24 and Munich on October 27.
During his visit to the VW global headquarters in Wolfsburg, Governor Bredesen is scheduled to meet with Dr. Martin Winterkorn, chairman, Board of Management of Volkswagen AG; Dr. Jochem Heizmann, member, Board of Management with responsibility for Group Production; and with Frank Fischer, chief executive officer of the Chattanooga production facility.
“This trade mission is an important step in Tennessee’s relationship with Volkswagen and its suppliers,” said Governor Bredesen. “I’m convinced that if we make suppliers aware of Tennessee’s nationally recognized business climate, we can create even more good paying jobs for the people of Tennessee.”
“Interest in Tennessee is strong,” said Commissioner Kisber. “Our state has a ready supply of productive, trainable workers, available industrial sites and a competitive array of incentives that we believe suppliers will find attractive.”
Participants in the trade mission include:
Governor Phil Bredesen
ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber
Bill Adams, Tennessee Valley Authority
Tom Ballard, U-T Battelle, ORNL
LaDue Boldin, mayor, Grundy County
Andy Burke, Regional Alliance for Economic Development, Blountville, Tenn.
Joe Conner, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, Nashville, Tenn.
Roger Cook, H&M Construction, Jackson, Tenn.
Bryan Daniels, Economic Development Board of Blount County
Kim Denton, Oak Ridge Economic Partnership
Gary Farlow, Cleveland/Bradley County Chamber of Commerce
Ted Hackney, Industrial Board of Coffee County
George Halford, Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce
Trevor Hamilton, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
Jack Hammontree, McMinn County Economic Development Authority
Ron Hammontree, Tellico Reservoir Development Agency
Leslie Henderson, The Roane Alliance
Brock Hill, mayor, Cumberland County
Beth Jones, Southeast Industrial Development Agency
Stephen Kulinski, Gresham, Smith and Partners
Doug Lawyer, Knoxville Chamber of Commerce
Ron Littlefield, mayor, City of Chattanooga
Bob McCain, SSOE, Incorporated
Janet Miller, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Howell Moss, mayor, Marion County
Allen Neel, East Tennessee Economic Development Agency
Billy Ray Patton, mayor, Rhea County
John Payne, Franklin County Industrial Development Board
John Pelham, mayor, Warren County
Patrick Phillips, Loudon County Economic Development Agency
Claude Ramsey, mayor, Hamilton County
Gregg Ridley, mayor, Bledsoe County
Pete Sain, Sain Construction Co.
Mark Smith, Miller, Martin, LLC
Alicia Summers, Northeast Tennessee Valley Regional Industrial Development Association
Joe Thrasher, Volkert and Associates
Tom Trent, Boult, Cummings, Conners and Berry, Nashville, Tenn.
Richard Venable, NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership
Nathan Ward, Fayetteville-Lincoln County Industrial Development Board
Sam Wills, EMJ Corporation
Walt Wood, Shelbyville-Bedford Co. Chamber of Commerce
The cost of travel and hotel accommodations is the responsibility of each delegate and their sponsoring organization.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to create higher skilled, better paying jobs for all Tennesseans. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. To find out more, go to www.tnecd.gov.
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Contact: Laura Elkins
Office: (615) 532-1910
E-mail:laura.elkins@state.tn.us
Office: (615) 532-1910
E-mail:laura.elkins@state.tn.us
