Nashville Council Confirmed Convention Center Board Appointments

The Metropolitan Council approved five members to oversee the city's Music City Center facility.

Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in People

Nashville Council Confirmed Convention Center Board Appointments

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Should local government boards prioritize appointing members with direct professional industry experience?

Nashville Metropolitan Council members voted on Tuesday to confirm the appointment of three new board members to the Convention Center Authority. Mayor Freddie O’Connell also secured the reappointment of two existing members to the governing body.

Why it matters

The authority is responsible for managing the Music City Center, a critical piece of infrastructure for the city's tourism and events economy. These appointments ensure the board maintains its full complement of nine mayoral-appointed members to guide facility operations.

The board oversees the 2.1 million square foot Music City Center facility, which includes 353,000 square feet of exhibit hall space and 60 meeting rooms. Board members are appointed to serve four-year terms.

The players

Freddie O'Connell

He serves as the Mayor of Nashville and is responsible for making appointments to city boards.

Jim Cooper

He is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives who served for 32 years.

Silvia San Martin

She is a new appointee who brings 27 years of prior industry experience to the board.

Alfred Degrafinreid II

He is an incumbent board member who has served on the authority since 2021.

Tracy Hardin

She is an incumbent board member who has served on the authority since 2022.

The details

New appointees Jim Cooper, Ethan Link, and Silvia San Martin replace departing members Dee Patel, Betsy Wills, and the late Vonda McDaniel. Reappointed members Alfred Degrafinreid II and Tracy Hardin will continue their service alongside the new cohort and three ex officio members.

Alfred Degrafinreid II began his service in February 2021.
Tracy Hardin began her service in February 2022.
The Metropolitan Council confirmed the appointments on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
Board members began their four-year terms on September 20, 2026.

Market Landscape

These board appointments reflect the ongoing governance cycle for Nashville's major public assets as defined by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County Charter. The board's composition remains a critical factor in how the facility positions itself within the competitive regional convention market.

The change in board leadership ensures that the Music City Center remains under active oversight, which impacts large-scale event scheduling for the city. Residents can expect the facility to continue its standard operations with a fully staffed governing authority.

The takeaway

Maintaining a full roster of board members is essential for the effective management of large civic assets like the Music City Center. Public participation in the appointment process helps ensure that diverse professional experience continues to guide city facility operations.