The Inaugural Southern Middle TN "CannonBald Run": Showcases a Day of Collaboration Across South Central Tennessee
- Ryan P. French
- Aug 21
- 2 min read
On Wednesday, TNECD’s John Hatfield and Greg Lowe crisscrossed the entire South Central Tennessee region. By the end of the day, they had built a remarkable visual story: a collage of photos representing all 13 counties, with faces from economic development, elected leadership, tourism, chambers of commerce, and many more sectors.
Looking through those photos, one truth stood out: the greatest need for our region is to keep accelerating the work of collaboration. And the good news? In every county, there are shining examples of what true cooperation looks like. It’s about bringing every asset to the table, putting the big thinkers in the same room with the doers, lowering the guard of “imaginary lines,” and realizing that our decisions ripple out to affect entire communities, not just individual towns or counties.
Of course, challenges remain. There are still relationships that need to be mended, and not every place has embraced working together as a priority. But if we truly want to keep our communities moving forward, growing with momentum, and creating benefits for all, we must look at the diversity represented in those photos and recognize something important: our regional story is never written by one office, one county, or one organization alone. At its best, it is a collaborative effort, woven together across many channels and many voices.
What John and Greg accomplished yesterday was more than a tour. They delivered a clear message, not just to our 13 counties, but to the entire state about what it takes to build a thriving region. Leaders from different sectors and different positions came together with one purpose: to create a stronger, more connected Tennessee.
So kudos to John Hatfield and Greg Lowe. Thank you for visiting, for listening, and most importantly, for creating this powerful visual reminder of what real partnerships and regional success can look like. Together, we can accomplish so much more.
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