NASHVILLE – Two new leaders have joined the Board of Directors of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp for Fiscal Year 2027: Brian Dorfman, co-CEO and owner of Outback Presents, one of North America’s leading independent live entertainment promoters, and owner of Zanies Comedy Club, and Will Guidara, New York Times bestselling author of Unreasonable Hospitality; host of The Summit, an intimate and practical training workshop being held in April 2027 in Nashville; and former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, the acclaimed New York City restaurant named the World’s Best Restaurant during his tenure.
Marcus Whitney, Founding Partner of Jumpstart Health, the most active early-stage healthcare venture capital firm in America, will continue to serve as chairman of the board of the NCVC. The Board’s Executive Committee also includes Burke Nihill, President and CEO of the Tennessee Titans, who serves as Chair-Elect; Ken Levitan, Founder and Co-President of Vector Management, who serves as Immediate Past Chair; Claire Tucker, Independent Director at Ford Credit Bank; and Deana Ivey, President and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. The 24-member board includes leaders from across the hospitality industry, as well as from key business sectors, including banking, healthcare, education, sports, entertainment and the arts.
“Nashville has tremendous momentum and a unique opportunity to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading destinations,” Whitney said. “Brian and Will bring exceptional expertise and fresh perspectives that will help us continue to showcase the creative industries that make Nashville unique and grow the Music City brand.”
The board’s diverse representation strengthens the organization’s ties to Nashville’s broader business community, brings a wide range of perspectives to its work, and expands its reach through national and international connections. The board plays a vital role in guiding the industry’s continued growth and advancing initiatives that drive visitation and economic benefit. The industry is a significant economic engine for the region and is forecast to generate $12 billion in direct visitor spending in Nashville this year.
Recent successes include helping secure the 2030 Super Bowl, expanding nonstop international air service, and earning Nashville a place in the world-renowned MICHELIN Guide. Nashville has been recognized as a top global leisure destination for 15 consecutive years and ranks as the No. 3 meetings destination in North America.
The FY 2027 NCVC Board of Directors also includes the following:
- Ian Ayre, Vice Chairman, Nashville Soccer Club
- Linda Chambers, CEO and Co-Founder, Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum
- Dr. Robert Fisher, Past President, Belmont University
- Mark Fioravanti, President and CEO, Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.
- Becky Gardenhire, Co-Head, Nashville office of WME
- Max Goldberg, Co-Founder, Strategic Hospitality
- Dr. Alex Jahangir, Senior Vice President, Provider Network Development, and Associate Chief Medical Officer, Vanderbilt Health
- Doug Kreulen, President and CEO, Metro Nashville Airport Authority
- Leesa LeClaire, Chair, Metro Tourism and Convention Commission
- Howie Nuchow, Co-Head, CAA Sports
- Tony Phillips, General Manager, The Westin Nashville
- Ellen Pryor, Senior Advisor for Civic Engagement, Frist Art Museum
- Shannon Sanders, Executive Director, Creative, BMI Nashville
- Molly Shehan, Partner and Attorney, Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan
- Marc Sternagel, General Manager, Grand Hyatt
- Sarah Trahern, CEO, CMA
- Ben Weprin, Founder and CEO, AJ Capital
In addition, the NCVC announced that Ana Schwager, Senior Corporate Responsibility Regional Manager at Southwest Airlines, has joined the Board of Directors of its foundation, Music City Inc. The foundation’s activities include overseeing the city’s Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve events, which are produced by the NCVC; managing the Music City Walk of Fame; and helping guide hospitality industry education programs and workforce initiatives.
The 12-member board, which is chaired by Pryor, also includes Mignon Francois, Founder and CEO, The Cupcake Collection; Laura Hollingsworth, Chief Communications and Engagement Officer, Cheekwood Estate and Gardens; Hugh Anderson, General Manager, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel; Shawn McSpadden, General Manager and Managing Partner, Range Media Partners; Ben Olin, Vice President, HSP PMC; Courtney Ross, Senior Manager of Community Engagement, Amazon; and Amy Seigenthaler Pierce, Managing Partner, FINN Partners, along with the NCVC’s Deana Ivey; Andrea Arnold, Chief Public Affairs Officer; and Jeff Mefford, Chief Financial Officer.
Brian Dorfman
Brian Dorfman is the Owner and Co-Chief Executive Officer at Outback Presents, a leading independent promoter of live entertainment across North America. Having worked with prolific comedians for decades, Dorfman has a rich history in the comedy business, owning comedy club entities and properties across the United States, including Zanies Comedy Club, the third-oldest comedy club chain in America and the most prominent venue dedicated to comedy acts in Nashville. Outback Presents has produced over 2,000 shows across hundreds of cities. Dorfman has expanded Outback’s footprint through producing major events such as the Nashville Comedy Festival and 312 Comedy Festival.
Will Guidara
Will Guidara is the author of the New York Times Bestseller Unreasonable Hospitality. He is the former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, which under his leadership was named the Best Restaurant in the World. He is the host of both a Nashville-based workshop called The Summit and The Welcome Conference, a Co-Producer on the Emmy Award-winning series The Bear, and is a recipient of the Wall Street Journal Innovator Award. His new book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Field Guide, was released earlier this year.
Ana Schwager
Ana Schwager is Senior Corporate Responsibility Regional Manager at Southwest Airlines, where she leads community engagement initiatives across Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia. Based in Nashville, she develops strategic partnerships that connect Southwest’s people, purpose, and resources with the communities the airline serves, creating meaningful and lasting impact. Schwager also oversees Southwest’s award-winning Repurpose with Purpose program, which donates aircraft seat leather and other surplus materials to nonprofit and social enterprise partners that transform them into new products. Since its launch in 2014, the program has supported workforce development, skills training, and social impact initiatives in communities throughout the United States and Central America. Since joining Southwest Airlines in 1995, Schwager has held leadership roles in Reservations, Marketing, and Corporate Responsibility, bringing more than 30 years of experience to advancing community investment and corporate citizenship efforts. Her contributions have earned multiple company honors, including the Working the Southwest Way Award and the 2024 Southwest Airlines President’s Award, the airline’s highest individual employee recognition.
The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp and Visit Music City
The mission of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp and Visit Music City is to maximize the economic contribution of the convention and tourism industry to the community by developing and marketing Nashville as a premier destination. Visit the NCVC’s website at visitmusiccity.com and follow us on social media @VisitMusicCity.
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