Valley Relations Staff

Bob Morris

Vice President
ramorris2@tva.gov

Bob Morris is the Vice President of TVA’s Valley Relations organization. The Valley Relations team is responsible for building relationships with public officials and their staffs regarding TVA’s policies and initiatives. This includes congressional district offices, governors, state legislators, and other public officials across the entire seven-state TVA region. He also leads TVA’s Community Relations Program including corporate contributions initiatives.

Since joining TVA in 1973, Morris has served in progressively responsible leadership positions including leading TVA’s customer service operations where his team served TVA’s 155 municipal and cooperative power distributors. Earlier in his career, he helped design and develop TVA engineering projects and provided technical advice on international projects through TVA’s economic development program.

Morris attended the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a B.S. in civil engineering and an MBA in finance from the University of Tennessee. He is a professional engineer and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Mandy Blake

Specialist
msblake@tva.gov

Mandy Blake provides high-level project and community relations support to Valley Relations. She leads the Partners in Education (PIE) Program for TVA, which consists of 90+ schools across the Valley, along with supporting educational initiatives and special projects in the Community Relations organization.

She also supports the Valley Relations managers with stakeholder outreach and implementing notifications to stakeholders to effectively communicate TVA’s policies and initiatives.

Blake began her career at TVA in the River Operations organization in 2002 and joined the Valley Relations organization in 2005.

Sarah Davasher-Wisdom

Manager, Kentucky District
sldavasher@tva.gov

Sarah Davasher-Wisdom manages TVA’s relationships with public officials and other stakeholders in Kentucky. She elevates understanding and facilitates a stronger communications channel by frequently engaging and updating officials on TVA mission and programs. She has an extensive background in community development/advocacy as well as significant experience in government and sales.

Prior to joining TVA, Davasher-Wisdom was the Strategic Communications Officer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Louisville, Kentucky, where she managed the Louisville District’s communications program and coordinated outreach with the governor’s office, members of the Kentucky General Assembly, other federal agencies, and local public officials and community leaders.

She also previously served as Community Development Coordinator for U.S. Congressman Ron Lewis, where she developed and implemented a community and economic development program. In her capacity with former Congressman Lewis, she spearheaded Central Kentucky PRIDE, a nonprofit organization designed to identify and address environmental concerns across the 2nd Congressional district of Kentucky.

Davasher-Wisdom earned a master’s degree in Public Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Relations from Western Kentucky University. She is also a graduate of the Government Affairs Institute’s Legislative Studies Program through Georgetown University.

Tammie Davis

Specialist
tddavis@tva.gov

Tammie Davis is a Specialist on the Valley Relations team where she is responsible for the group’s performance management program including developing strategic objectives and goals, monitoring and reporting organizational performance, and leading initiatives to improve the team’s effectiveness.

She also serves as the staff’s legislative researcher. She monitors legislative bills and resolutions filed in the seven Valley state legislatures for proposed legislation of interest to TVA and its stakeholders. She identifies key legislation and coordinates review with TVA legal counsel and other internal organizations.

Davis advises the Vice President and staff on a variety of business matters and helps the team address constituent issues for local, state, and federal officials. She also leads special projects and represents the staff on cross-organizational teams.

She has served in various roles during her 25 years with TVA including serving as the Senior Advisor to the Vice President of Customer Service, where she was part of the team responsible for the day-to-day relationships with TVA’s 155 power distributors located across the seven-state TVA power service area.

Davis is a graduate of Tusculum College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management.

Jason Harper

Manager, Alabama District
jgharper@tva.gov

Jason Harper manages TVA's relationships with public officials in Alabama. Among his previous positions, Harper served as a District Field Representative for U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt. He also served as a legislative aide for the Alabama House of Representatives where he held an internship in the office of Alabama House Speaker Seth Hammett and worked closely with the Alabama Law Institute.

Harper serves as an active participant and leader in community and charitable organizations in Alabama. He also serves on the boards of Marshall County Leadership Challenge, Junior Achievement of North Alabama, and Tri-State regional Workforce Alliance. He is an ex-officio member of the Tennessee Valley Caucus with includes state legislators from North Alabama. He participated in the 2009 class of Alabama Leadership Initiative.

Harper holds a bachelors and masters degree from Jacksonville State University and an education specialist degree from Berry College.

Penny Judd

Senior Program Manager, Community Relations
pgjudd@tva.gov

Penny Judd manages TVA’s Community Relations Program including corporate giving, volunteerism, educational initiatives, civic engagement, and special projects. She works with TVA executives and organizations to develop and implement initiatives that complement TVA’s strategic objectives and help position TVA as an excellent corporate citizen.

Before joining TVA in 2005, she worked in the White House as the Special Assistant to the Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs. She planned and directed President George W. Bush's interaction with Members of Congress including policy and legislative meetings, bill signing ceremonies, visits to the U.S. Capitol, domestic travel, and social events. She assisted with historical activities including the signing of The Energy Policy Act of 2005, the state memorial service for President Ronald W. Reagan, the 2005 presidential inauguration and the 2005 State of the Union address.

Judd previously served as confidential assistant in the Office of Legislative Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget and trip coordinator for Secretary Elaine Chao at the U.S. Department of Labor.

A native of Maury County, Tennessee, Judd earned her Bachelor of Science degree in English-journalism from Tennessee Technological University. She is a graduate of the 2006-2007 Leadership Chattanooga Class and 2008 TVA/Vanderbilt University Leadership and Management for Accelerated Performance Program. Judd volunteers in several church and local community activities.

Amy Martin

Manager, Middle Tennessee District
agarnold@tva.gov

Amy Martin is responsible for overseeing TVA’s relationships with public officials in Middle Tennessee. She works day-to-day with state and local officials as well as the district congressional offices on numerous sensitive TVA issues such as transmission project siting and land management practices. She also works closely with members of the Tennessee General Assembly and often represents TVA at the State Capitol.

Martin is an accomplished legislative and public policy analyst. She has extensive federal and state experience. She formerly was appointed by the White House to serve as the Policy Advisor to the Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission. During her tenure, she was responsible for the development of policy initiatives and matters affecting the Commission in the area of rural economic and community development and reviewed all projects requiring approval of the Federal Co-Chair.

She previously served as the Legislative Liaison for the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. In this position, she advised the Department’s Commissioner on legislative matters and maintained the Department’s relationship with the Tennessee General Assembly and the Governor’s Office of Legislative Affairs.

Martin is a graduate of the 2008 TVA/Vanderbilt Leadership and Management for Accelerated Performance Class. She is a member of the Junior League of Nashville and serves on the Hands On Nashville Board. She is a former member of the Carson-Newman College Alumni Board. She is a graduate of Carson-Newman College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

Nancy Mitchell

Manager, Southeast Valley District
nkmitchell@tva.gov

Nancy Mitchell manages TVA’s relationships with public officials in all levels of government in the Southeast Valley region including areas of Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina. She previously served as the manager of Valley Relations’ Kentucky District.

Before joining TVA in 2004, she served as a legislative correspondent for U.S. Senator Jim Bunning in Washington, D.C.

She has extensive experience in analyzing public policy and energy issues. Prior to Mitchell’s work in the U.S. Senate, she was a Staff Assistant on U.S. Congressman Ed Whitfield’s staff and also served as an intern in TVA’s Washington office. Mitchell held two other TVA internships in Economic Development and Valley Relations.

Mitchell founded and was an active member of the Young Professionals of Bowling Green, and is a graduate of the 2006 class of Leadership Bowling Green. Mitchell served on the Bowling Green Downtown Redevelopment Authority Board of Directors and was an active member of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce.

She earned her master's degree in Business Administration in May 2008. She graduated from Murray State University with a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication.

Paul Phelan

Manager, West Tennessee District
pephelan@tva.gov

Paul Phelan manages TVA’s relationships with public officials in west Tennessee. Before joining TVA in 2003, Phelan was a businessman and served as a Tennessee state representative for 10 years. While in the Tennessee General Assembly, he held various leadership roles including serving on the Joint Study Committee on Electric Utility Industry Restructuring and other committees.

Phelan’s experience and strong knowledge of the Tennessee General Assembly has helped facilitate opportunities to increase understanding and support of TVA and its initiatives among many state legislators.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Tennessee.

Bert Robinson

Manager, Northeast Valley District
brobinson@tva.gov

Bert Robinson manages TVA's relationships with public officials in the Northeast Valley District, including parts of Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. He regularly interacts with officials from all levels of government in these states in order to update them on various TVA issues.

A native of Athens, Tenn., he came to TVA from the March of Dimes Foundation, where he directed public affairs activities for the eastern United States. Prior to that role, he worked for many years in the Washington, D.C. office of Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr., most recently as his legislative director. In that position, he staffed the TVA Caucus and followed electric utility issues for the congressman.

Robinson is an Eagle Scout and currently serves on the March of Dimes' Tennessee Chapter's Public Affairs Committee, the Knoxville Chamber's Government Relations and Public Policy Committee, as well as the Y-12 National Security Complex Community Relations Council.

He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he majored in speech communication and minored in broadcasting. He is also a 2011 graduate of the TVA/Vanderbilt University Leadership and Management for Accelerated Performance program.

Amy Tate

Manager, Mississippi District
astate@tva.gov

Amy Tate manages TVA’s relationships with public officials in Mississippi. She maintains bipartisan working relationships with congressional staff, state representatives and senators, county supervisors and city mayors. She also works with various interest organizations and associations.

Tate is an experienced government relations and communications professional. She was a member of TVA's Media Relations staff prior to joining Valley Relations. Before joining TVA, she was special assistant to the mayor of Tupelo, Miss., where she coordinated public relations efforts for the mayor and city departments.

She was named one of Mississippi Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” and is a graduate of Leadership Mississippi and the Community Leadership Institute. She serves on the boards of Advance Mississippi, Junior Achievement, March of Dimes and the Mississippi Association of Partners in Education. She also serves as mentor to the Lawndale Leadership Academy, a leadership program for sixth graders in the Tupelo Public School District.

Tate earned a double-major bachelor’s degree in public relations and political science from Mississippi University for Women.

Jason Woodle

Program Manager, Community Relations
cjwoodle@tva.gov

Jason Woodle is the Program Manager for TVA’s Community Relations Program where he focuses on corporate social responsibility, higher education outreach, and volunteerism. He works with TVA’s internal and external stakeholders to build and strengthen relationships in support of TVA’s strategic objectives.

Woodle joined TVA in 2008 as the Senior Advisor to TVA’s Senior Vice President for Corporate Responsibility and Diversity. Before joining TVA, he launched and managed the Office of Neighborhoods for the City of Knoxville, where he worked across city departments to bring resources to bear on issues affecting neighborhoods and community organizations.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, a Master’s Degree in Conflict Resolution from American University in Washington, DC, and an M.B.A. (class of 2012) through the Executive Program at Vanderbilt University.

Woodle was named one of the Greater Knoxville Business Journal’s “40 under 40” and is a graduate of the Leadership Knoxville. A Knoxville native, he is active on several non-profit and community boards.