The Livingston/Overton County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that President & CEO Zach Stephens has been named a Founding Fellow of the inaugural Porter Development Initiative Fellows Academy.

Led by the Global Action Platform in partnership with the Porter Development Initiative, the Academy brings together senior leaders from across Tennessee for an executive course in Microeconomic Competitiveness and Regional Strategy. The curriculum is grounded in the frameworks pioneered by Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter and developed in collaboration with the U.S. Cluster Mapping Project, and it is designed to equip participants with the tools to strengthen the competitiveness of their regions.

For Overton County, Stephens' selection means a seat at the table where regional economic strategy is being shaped, along with a direct line to the tools, data, and partnerships that help rural communities compete for jobs, investment, and opportunity.

"Economic development is a competition, and the communities that win are the ones that understand their strengths, know their region, and build strategy around both," said Stephens. "I am honored to represent Overton County among this first class of Fellows, and I intend to bring everything I learn back home so that it works for our businesses, our workforce, and the families who call this county home."

"Zach's selection reflects the caliber of leadership our Chamber has and the growing recognition Overton County is earning across the state," said Clint Melton, Chair of the Livingston/Overton County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. "This is an investment in our county's future, and we are proud to see him at that table."

About the Livingston/Overton County Chamber of Commerce 

The Livingston/Overton County Chamber of Commerce serves as the lead organization for economic development, tourism, workforce development, small business support, and government advocacy in Overton County, Tennessee. For more information, visit LivingstonOvertonChamber.com.