Stones River Group

09/09/2026

hosted a delegation from Japan at our offices this week, including members of Japan's National Diet, leaders of the Next Japan Initiative, and representatives of the Japanese Consulate in Nashville.

SRG's Don Johnson and Tony Niknejad presented on Tennessee's political history, the state's current landscape and voter engagement trends, and how campaign strategy is adapting to a changing media environment. At SRG, we appreciate the opportunity to showcase Tennessee and build relationships beyond our borders.

09/08/2026

In a special You Might Be Right Podcast episode, former Tennessee Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam honor a Tennessee icon in Parton. The Governors remember their friend through stories and reflect on her impact on their lives, Tennessee, and the people she brought together.

What can Dolly Parton’s legacy teach us about finding common ground? Listen now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tndplQG1tBc

09/04/2026

The latest "You Might Be Right" Podcast asks: Can we still trust polling to capture how Americans feel?

To kick off Season 9 of the podcast, Tennessee Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam are joined by Kristen Soltis Anderson of Echelon Insights and Anna Greenberg of GQR to explore the challenges facing polling, what the data can tell us about voters, and the future of polling. The group discusses overlooked demographics, current voter sentiment, evolving voter behavior, and how AI might impact the future of polling. The Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs

Leading pollsters Kristen Soltis Anderson, a Republican, and Anna G...

09/02/2026

Congratulations to Knox County Government elected officials who were sworn into office yesterday at the historic Tennessee Theatre, including Knox County Mayor Betsy Henderson, Sheriff Brent Gibson, Court Clerk Charlie Susano, and members of the county commission and school board.

A special note of thanks to outgoing Mayor Glenn Jacobs, who has tirelessly served the people of Knox County with dedication and humility.

08/26/2026

SRG celebrates the life of Dolly Parton, who was more than a global music icon — she was one of Tennessee's greatest champions.

From her millions of free books for children through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to her support for disaster relief, education, and community development through The Dollywood Foundation, Dolly transformed countless lives across her beloved home state and well beyond its borders.

Dolly's legacy will live on in the families she uplifted, the opportunities she created, and the enduring spirit of generosity she inspired.

08/24/2026

SRG is proud to have earned two Parthenon Awards at the 2026 PRSA Nashville Parthenon Awards ceremony last week, recognizing SRG for public affairs work supporting public education initiatives in Tennessee.

We're honored to be recognized alongside so many outstanding communications professionals and grateful to our clients and partners who trusted us to help tell their stories and advance important education initiatives.

Read more about the award-winning campaigns here: https://stonesrivergroup.com/stones-river-group-earns-2-prsa-nashville-parthenon-awards-for-public-affairs-campaign/

08/18/2026

is feeling energized after a productive and fun planning Team Retreat - reflecting on the past year and developing strategies to better serve our clients across Tennessee and beyond.

Yet another “staycation,” SRG enjoyed the outstanding accommodations at Grand Hyatt Nashville along with the perfect meeting space at the at Nashville Yards. Dinner at The Mockingbird Nashville, frozen treats at Handel's Ice Cream and some friendly bowling competition Hooky Entertainment capped an excellent two days together. A special thanks for Bryan Bean of Pinnacle Financial Partners for stopping by to discuss the importance of building positive team culture.

08/17/2026

Last week, we were proud to celebrate our client, the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority, in a historic milestone: the official renaming of Memphis International Airport as Frederick W. Smith International Airport.

When Fred Smith chose Memphis as the home of Federal Express in 1973, he set in motion a partnership that would transform both the company and the city. Today, the FedEx World Hub at MEM sorts more than 2.4 million packages every day, making Memphis the busiest cargo airport in North America and the second busiest in the world.

Congratulations to the Airport Authority, the Smith family, and the entire Memphis community. ✈️ Frederick W. Smith International Airport - MEM

08/12/2026

The Nashville region and the entire state of Tennessee are in a better place today because of the contributions of Martha Ingram. She was an outstanding businessperson whose leadership helped create one of the most successful privately held companies in the U.S. More importantly, she was a great philanthropist and unmatched supporter of the arts, as well as other non-profit organizations. She will be greatly missed.

The SRG team is keeping the Ingram family in our thoughts and prayers this week.

08/07/2026

Great time in Knoxville last night celebrating Senator Marsha Blackburn's decisive win in the Tennessee Republican Gubernatorial Primary. Congrats to Sen. Blackburn and her team, Ward Baker, on a well-earned victory!