GraceWorks CEO Alicia Bell Named to Nashville Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2026
Franklin native recognized among the next generation of professionals shaping Nashville business and community
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — GraceWorks Ministries is proud to announce that CEO Alicia Bell has been named a 2026 Nashville Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree. The annual award recognizes top professionals under 40 who are driving innovation and creating meaningful impact in their industries and communities. Bell was celebrated alongside the full 2026 class at a special reception in Nashville on March 19.
Bell has led GraceWorks Ministries since 2024, bringing nearly a decade of experience with the organization—first as Director of Development beginning in 2017, and now as its CEO.
A Franklin native, Bell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Lipscomb University and a Master of Public Administration from Indiana University’s Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, ranked No. 1 by U.S. News & World Report for nonprofit management. Before joining GraceWorks, she served in development at Faith Family Medical Center in Nashville, directed a United Way affiliate in Tullahoma, Tennessee, and worked with the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office.
“Awards like this are a moment to pause and say thank you—to our team, our volunteers, our donors, and every neighbor who has trusted GraceWorks,” Bell said. “To be recognized by the Nashville Business Journal alongside so many remarkable leaders is humbling, and it motivates me to keep showing up for the people GraceWorks exists to serve.”
GraceWorks’ Board Chairman Andy Moriarty said, “Anyone who has spent five minutes with Alicia understands why she was chosen for this honor. She leads with her whole self—strategic, caring, and deeply committed to this community. The board couldn’t be more proud.”
The Nashville Business Journal’s annual 40 Under 40 program spotlights the next generation of men and women shaping their companies and the communities around them. Bell was featured in the March 20–26, 2026 issue of the Nashville Business Journal (Vol. 43, No. 12).
About GraceWorks Ministries
Founded in 1995, GraceWorks Ministries provides immediate and long-term support to neighbors in need throughout Williamson County and Middle Tennessee. Through programs addressing food insecurity, shelter assistance and financial stability, GraceWorks embodies its vision of neighbors serving neighbors by the power of God’s grace.
