Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee Names New Board Officers for 2025
Esteemed Franklin transit advocate Stephanie Tillman to serve as Board Chair; Nashville business leader Mary Vavra to serve as Vice Chair
NASHVILLE, TN – The Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee begins 2025 with the appointment of two new Board Officers, naming Stephanie Tillman, director of business development at Franklin-based TMA Group, as Board Chair and Mary Vavra, senior urban planner/landscape architect at Barge Design Solutions, as Vice Chair. David DeVaul, senior vice president at Pinnacle Bank, will remain in the role of Treasurer, and Charles Sueing, president and CEO of Charles Sueing Insurance Agency, will remain Secretary.
“The Transit Alliance is thrilled to welcome Stephanie and Mary as Board Officers,” said Jessica Dauphin, Transit Alliance president and CEO. “Both were members of the Alliance board last year and helped the organization reach new levels of success. We thank them, David, and Charles for their services and look forward to another banner year.”
Stephanie Tillman, Director of Business Development at TMA Group.
Stephanie Tillman, Director of Business Development at TMA Group
Stephanie Tillman is currently the Business Development Director for The TMA Group (Transportation Management Association), a nonprofit organization focused on supporting regional transportation systems within Middle TN. Stephanie is responsible for the growth of the TDM programs and the expansion of TMA’s innovative ride-sharing services. Stephanie has more than 20 years of business development and marketing experience in the pharmaceutical and software technology industries. Stephanie is an alumna of the Transit Citizen Leadership Academy, graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business and Marketing, and lives in Franklin, TN.
“I am honored to serve as Chairman of the board of the Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee,” said Tillman. “Having been actively involved in the organization in recent years, it is a privilege to lead as its Chairman. I am excited to be part of a team committed to raising awareness and building support for funding to improve multimodal regional transit and mobility. The time is now for leaders to support affordable transportation options for the sustainable economic and environmental future of the Middle Tennessee region.”
Mary Vavra, Senior Urban Planner/Landscape Architect at Barge Design Solutions, Inc.
Mary Vavra, Senior Urban Planner/Landscape Architect at Barge Design Solutions, Inc.
Mary McClendon Vavra, ASLA, AICP is an Urban Planner/Landscape Architect experienced in managing and coordinating large-scale planning projects from design through implementation. Her design expertise includes urban infill projects, transit-oriented developments, community-wide parks and recreation master plans, blueway, greenway and bikeway master plans, and town planning. With each project, she works to incorporate sustainable policies and practices and has a personal passion for creating places that promote livability.
“As a long-time supporter with a deep commitment to promoting transit, I am honored to serve as Vice Chair,” said Vavra. “I look forward to helping the Transit Alliance advance its mission by fostering important conversations, promoting accountability, and advocating for meaningful improvements in our region’s transportation system.”
The Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee capped a momentous 2024 with milestones including the completion of the 26th Transit Citizen Leadership Academy (TCLA), hosting the inaugural Breakfast for Better Mobility, which awarded the Transit Champion of the Year to Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Transit Development of the Year to the North Nashville Transit Center, and helping raise awareness for the importance of dedicated funding. Following the overwhelming passage of Choose How You Move, the Alliance looks forward to deepening its engagement with communities in the 10 ring counties across Middle Tennessee and continuing to be a strong voice for community-led mobility solutions and dedicated transit funding.
For more information, visit www.thetransitalliance.org.
About Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee
The Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee serves as a forum for businesses, communities, government agencies, nonprofits, and citizens to educate, empower, and advocate for dedicated funding for regional transit. The organization mobilizes its network of supporters, including the nearly 600 Transit Citizen Leadership Academy alumni, to advocate for transit solutions that reflect the communities they call home. It is the only non-profit 501(c)(3) organization focused on regional transit solutions across a 10-county region.
