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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cOur days are tighter and busier, but they fly by because of the role we get to play in Tullahoma. We get to welcome new people, celebrate\u00a0our neighbors for their accomplishments, and be a part of the exciting growth that\u2019s happening,\u201d Nunley continued.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She is fully committed to keeping Tullahoma\u2019s energy positive and welcoming. This is a town she truly cares about. She explained that one of the most compelling aspects of Tullahoma is the unity that holds the community together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe first thing I always start with is the people. We have an incredible community of amazing friends and neighbors. That\u2019s what we constantly hear from others, too \u2014 it\u2019s the people that make Tullahoma special,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Tullahoma grows, Nunley takes pride in how the town has maintained its small-town feel while offering the amenities of a larger city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have big-city amenities but with a small-town feel. It\u2019s the perfect combination for an incredible community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One can see Tullahoma\u2019s growth in its expanding chamber membership and the emerging opportunities that line the horizon. Nunley is especially excited about the future of the local education system and how it will equip the next generation of leaders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen I look out my window into downtown, I see so many opportunities for growth. We have incredible assets downtown, and there\u2019s room for more. With [Motlow State Community College] and the University of Tennessee Space Institute, we\u2019re educating the next generation who will bring fresh ideas to the table,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Nunley believes this influx of new energy will create innovative opportunities that Tullahoma has yet to imagine. She also admires Tullahoma\u2019s public school system and the inspiring students who are already charting their own paths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt blows my mind to hear these teenagers talk about what they want to do and how they\u2019ve already carved out a path to make it happen,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reflecting on her own high school years, Nunley admitted, \u201cAt that age, I had no idea I\u2019d be here today. The students here are truly incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, one of Tullahoma\u2019s biggest strengths is its innate ability to come together and pool its resources to support those in need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have a large number of them [service organizations], and anyone can find something they\u2019re passionate about and volunteer just one to three hours a month. It\u2019s amazing how much you can give back by simply showing up.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n She is especially proud of organizations like the Kiwanis Club and initiatives like \u201c5 Loaves 4 Kids,\u201d which packs weekend meals for children who might otherwise go hungry. These efforts, she believes, reveal Tullahoma\u2019s true identity \u2014 people not only seeing the need but stepping up to fill it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Empathy and unity drive this community. Nunley sees it every day in the school food trucks that serve families during the summer and the many organizations working behind the scenes to make life a little brighter for those in dark places. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most touching moments in her life and career came during her and her husband\u2019s most vulnerable moments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe were expecting our first child, a daughter named Amelia, when we received the devastating news of her diagnosis with a 99% fatality rate,\u201d Nunley shared. \u201cDuring my labor at Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital, we were blessed to have Nurse Jenny Shelton by our side. She treated me not just as a patient but as if I were her own daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two years later, when Nunley welcomed her perfectly healthy son, she was reunited with Jenny, and the tears they shared that day were tears of joy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe got to honor Jenny in 2023 when she won the DAISY Award, and it was such a special moment for us to celebrate her,\u201d Nunley said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jenny\u2019s empathy helped her through her darkest moments and reminded her how special her community was and is today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nunley also supports community outreach efforts outside of her professional career. She participates in numerous organizations, including Rotary and the Arnold Community Council. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI always tell young professionals to find two things to focus on and do them really well. Don\u2019t stretch yourself too thin, but find what you\u2019re passionate about and give it your best,\u201d she advised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Nunley\u2019s eyes, the people, the community, and the mission to make Tullahoma a better place drive her daily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou see good and want to do good,\u201d she said. \u201cI just hope the work we\u2019re doing here is infectious and that others are inspired to step up and serve.\u201d GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" IN TULLAHOMA, painted murals brighten alleyways, sharing its history while offering a hopeful glimpse into the future. Welcoming storefronts invite neighbors and visitors to linger just a little longer. Children\u2019s glee brightens the already colorful playgrounds. Even the sidewalks seem to come alive and encourage unity and friendship. Hope Nunley, the executive director of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":23795,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/tullahoma\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/346613020_1195430554460278_9065856867560556702_n-1024x683.jpg\")
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