Global Tennessee

GNKD host, former Nashville Mayor and TNWAC Board Chair Karl Dean talks with Andy Moats, Executive Vice-President, Director of Music, Sports, & Entertainment Pinnacle Financial Partners. The wide ranging conversation covered Andy's professional experiences in music -- from touring with a rock band to leadership in music banking; to directing financial services for entertainers and sports figures. His passions and pursuits include fast cars and his role in bringing Grand Prix racing to Nashville. There's much more to this story.

You won't want to miss this story about a Nashville native who has been key to many of the special aspects that make Nashville a global city.

TNWAC wishes to thank Pinnacle Financial Partners for support to the Council and the goal of bringing global affairs awareness programs to the community.

Recorded: Sep 25, 2023 | RT 30:10

Bio

Andy Moats, 46, is a Nashville native whose background combines restaurants, music, racing, and creating a bank.

After graduating from Vanderbilt University (Economics, 1999) Andy took time to pursue his passion for music, touring and supporting a multi-platinum rock band during the year 2000. Having played in various bands from an early age, his days performing may be over but his passion for music has helped to grow one of the largest music and entertainment focused banks in the country.

In 2001, Andy began his banking career at Union Planters Bank then-turned Regions Bank, rising to the role of Commercial Real Estate Credit Manager with credit responsibility for all real estate loan activity in the Southeast.

While pursuing his career path in banking, Andy was also heavily involved in his family’s NASCAR business – Brewco Motorsports (#27, #37, #66) – and various family restaurant companies.

In 2006, Andy co-founded what would become Avenue Bank. While at Avenue, as a member of the Bank’s Executive Team Andy served the dual roles of Chief Credit Officer – managing all aspects of lending and credit - and Bank Group Director, which included leadership of Avenue's retail branch network, business banking division, private banking division, and music & entertainment division.

In February of 2015, Andy and team embarked on their first public company ‘road show’ and successfully took Avenue Bank public on the Nasdaq Exchange (ticker symbol: AVNU).

In July of 2016, Avenue Bank merged with Nashville based Pinnacle Financial Partners to form one of the Top 50 largest Banks in the United States. Andy joined the leadership team of Pinnacle following the merger and currently serves in the role of Executive Vice President, Director of Music, Sports, & Entertainment. In this role, Andy develops and manages $2B in entertainment related accounts with clients including artists, songwriters, international label and publishing businesses, touring, athletes, and professional sports franchises, among others.

Outside of Banking, Andy is a founder and partner of the Music City Grand Prix, an IndyCar race televised in over 180 countries attracting over 100,000 fans each year. Other pursuits include film (Executive Producer - Murder at Yellowstone City) and early-stage company development and investment.

Andy’s community involvement and accolades include: Exchange Club Family Center, former Chairman of the Board; founding member of Nashville Emerging Leaders; Montgomery Bell Academy Alumni Board; M Street Entertainment Advisory Board; Leadership Music Class of 2014; Nashville Film Festival Music Committee; The Tennessean’s “Next Up”; Nashville Business Journal’s “40 under 40”; Billboard Magazine’s 2020, 2021, and 2022 Nashville “Power Players”, Music Publishing “Dealmakers”, and 2022/2023 all-industry “Power 100” ranking the music industries 100 most powerful players; Tennessee Entertainment Commission Board (Governor Appointed); Pet Community Center Board; Nashville Entrepreneur Center Board.

“Oppenheimer”: What Does The Story Tell Us About Existential Threats Then and Now with Dr. Rachel Bronson | August 16, 2023

A conversation about this summer's blockbuster biopic "Oppenheimer" and the consequences of powerful technologies that provide opportunity and peril to humanity. Dr. Bronson talked with TNWAC president emeritus Patrick Ryan about the movie, the role of The Bulletin and the modern threats posed by technology.

Dr. Rachel Bronson is president and CEO of The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (TheBulletin.org)

Read Dr. Bronson's op-ed: https://tinyurl.com/ycye2x29

Read about the Tularosa Downwinders (those affected by the Trinity atomic test) https://www.trinitydownwinders.com

Read Dr. Bronson's bio: https://thebulletin.org/biography/rac...

The Bulletin keeps track of the “Doomsday Clock,” and every January reminds us how close we are to midnight. This year the clock ticked closer. "A time of unprecedented danger: It is 90 seconds to midnight," January 2023 “Doomsday Clock” Statement

American diplomat and businessman talks about AI as a challenge for the US-EU

The challenges and promises of AI have exploded this year in the wake of OpenAI’s release of its detailed, human-like responsive ChatGPT conversational technology. It highlighted the power and problems posed by AI, from business potential like insights and predictive analysis to startling concerns of existential threats to humanity. TNWAC has invited Ambassador John Kornblum to talk about these challenges in the context of implications for the United States and Europe.

Kornblum, a former senior U.S. diplomatic official in Europe and distinguished businessman, has said that the currency of the new world will be the production, evaluation, and application of data – a revolution of fundamental importance to the US and EU. The “massive” consequences of this new digital era necessitate that “correct values are part of the process from the beginning” to ensure the revolution is based on Western democratic concepts.

Ambassador John Kornblum, among the most knowledgeable American diplomats on US-Europe and US-Russia relations has anchored TNWAC's series "In Focus: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine." In this edition he discusses the current situation, a view of Moscow, the longer-range picture for US interests in Europe and the relationship with Russia, as well as the China factor in the Ukraine War.

Ambassador John C. Kornblum has a long record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and as a businessman. He is recognized as an eminent expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he occupied a number of high-level diplomatic posts, including U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European affairs, Special Envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), Deputy U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin.

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The Tennessee World Affairs Council (TNWAC.org) presents our April 27, 2023 conversation with Deputy Director of the State Department Office of Russia Affairs Liz Zentos about the view from Foggy Bottom as part of our special series, "In Focus: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine."

Watch this important conversation about U.S.-Russia relations, diplomatic activity during the months ahead of invasion, policy objectives, Vladimir Putin and his designs on Ukraine and the impact of dealing with an accused war criminal, China's role, detained Americans in Russia, cooperation among allies, the damage to the international rules based order and more.

Liz Zentos

Deputy Director of the Office of Russian Affairs at the U.S. State Department

Liz Zentos is currently the Deputy Director of the Office of Russian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. From 2020 to 2021, she served as the Deputy Political Counselor at U.S. Embassy Kabul. Prior to that, she served as Political and Economic Affairs Chief at U.S. Embassy Tbilisi from 2018 to 2020 and as External Affairs Chief at U.S. Embassy Moscow from 2017 to 2018, when the Russian government declared her persona non grata. From 2015 to 2016, Liz served as the Director for Eastern Europe at the U.S. National Security Council, where she covered Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and the OSCE. From 2012 to 2014, she served as Political Military Chief at U.S. Embassy Kyiv, where she covered Ukraine’s Maidan Revolution, Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea, and Russia’s first invasion of eastern Ukraine. Other previous assignments include Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for International Security and Arms Control, Ukraine Desk Officer, and Information Officer in Yerevan, Armenia. Liz speaks Russian and has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University.

On April 19, 2023 TNWAC hosted a seminar featuring women from a variety of national security disciplines to discuss their career paths, experiences and ups and downs of working in the field.

Moderator: Deborah Monroe | Senior Defense Intelligence Officer (Ret)

Leila Gardner | Assistant Director of Intelligence for Information, Headquarters USMC & USN Reserve Intelligence Officer

Safa Shahwan Edwards | Deputy Director of Cyber Statecraft, Atlantic Council

Maureen Page | Research Director, Defense Intelligence Agency

Complete bios at TNWAC.org

What's it like working in the world?

TNWAC hosts a seminar featuring professionals from a variety of occupations to discuss their career paths, experiences and ups and downs of working in international jobs.

Dr. Gretchen Neisler - Moderator - University of Tennessee Vice Provost for International Affairs, Director, Center for Global Engagement; Member of Board of Directors, Tennessee World Affairs Council

Terrance Fluker – U.S. Peace Corps, Tennessee Regional Recruiter

Saúl Hernández – U.S. State Dept. Foreign Service Officer and Southeast Diplomat in Residence

Sabrina Miller – SVP, Pinnacle Financial Partners, former Foreign Exchange Manager

Rachel Bowen Pittman – Executive Director, United Nations Association, USA

April 12, 2023

TNWAC had the honor of talking with Her Excellency Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland to the United States in January. TNWAC President Patrick Ryan spoke with her about the business interests connecting Ireland and Tennessee and the wider United States, political developments in Ireland and the European Union and the special relationship between Ireland and the United States and the historical connections to Tennessee.

Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason assumed her role as Ireland’s 19th Ambassador to the United States in August 2022. Geraldine was Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations in New York (2017- 22). Previously, she served as Ambassador to France (2014-17), Second Secretary General in the Department of the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) (2011-14), Ambassador and Ireland’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU (2005-11)), and Director of the National Forum on Europe (2004-05).

During her career, Ambassador Byrne Nason has served in Brussels, New York, Paris, Vienna and Helsinki. As Second Secretary-General in the Department of the Taoiseach from 2011-2014, she was the highest ranking female public servant in Ireland. During that period, she also was Secretary General of Ireland’s Economic Management Council.

On her arrival in New York, Ambassador Byrne Nason led Ireland’s successful campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council, and led the New York Security Council team for the 2021-2022 term. Geraldine was Chair of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for 2018 and 2019. She has also co-chaired high-level political negotiations on the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela and on the ‘Samoa pathway’ for Small Island Developing States.

A native of County Louth, in 2020 Ambassador Byrne Nason was awarded the Freedom of Drogheda, the town’s highest honour and was the third woman to receive the award of its 35 recipients. In 2014, Geraldine was elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, Ireland’s highest academic honour. Ambassador Byrne Nason holds an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Maynooth University as well as Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Literature from Saint Patrick’s College in Maynooth (NUIM). Ambassador Byrne Nason is married and has one son.

The story of the Iraqi Kurds and the establishment of the autonomous zone and the Kurdish Regional Government is a great Middle East epic that continues to play out. The Kurds have sought to carve out their own state amid the turmoil of unfolding regional history. They’ve been gassed and chased into the mountains by Saddam Hussein and attacked by the dangerous terror group ISIS. The Kurds have stood up courageously against their opponents.

The Iraqi Kurds and the United States have had a long history of cooperation and, sadly, at times abandonment. The aspirations of the people of Kurdistan took shape in the 2017 independence referendum as the coalition battle against ISIS was winding down. The referendum won with 92% of Kurds voting to free the region from Baghdad’s authority. However, the central government through a Supreme Court ruling, quashed the initiative. The KRG continues its close relationship with Washington as it continues to navigate a tough neighborhood, wedged among its Iraqi neighbors and Turkey, Iran and Syria. The KRG has been very well represented in Washington by the Hon. Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman. TNWAC is pleased to host her for a conversation about the relationship with the U.S. and developments in Kurdistan and the region. Join us.

The TNWAC and American Council on German series "In Focus: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine" presents "One Year Later."

Ambassador John C. Kornblum has a long record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and as a businessman. He is recognized as an eminent expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he occupied a number of high-level diplomatic posts, including U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European affairs, Special Envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), Deputy U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin. From 2001 to 2009, he was chairman of Lazard Freres Germany. He currently serves as senior counsellor to the international law firm Noerr LLP and as a senior adviser to the worldwide consultancy Accenture. Mr. Kornblum has also served on a number of supervisory and advisory boards including those of Thyssen-Krupp, Technologies AG, Bayer AG, Russell Reynolds, and Motorola Europe. He is a member of the boards of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, the American Academy in Berlin, the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, and of numerous nonprofit organizations on both sides of the Atlantic. He received a B.A. from Michigan State University in 1964, and he has been the recipient of many awards, including a Knights Cross of the Order of Merit from Germany and an Order of Merit from Austria.

Dr. Liana Fix

Liana Fix is a fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). She is a historian and political scientist, with expertise in German and European foreign and security policy, European security, transatlantic relations, Russia, and Eastern Europe. She is also the author of A New German Power? Germany’s Role in European Russia Policy (Palgrave Macmillan, 2021). Dr. Fix’s work focuses on German domestic and foreign policy, the European Union, transatlantic relations, and Europe’s relations with Russia and China.