Tennessee’s captains navigating a storm of crisis

Lipscomb alumni are leading the state’s pandemic response in public health and economic recovery

When Dr. Lisa Piercey (’98) and Mark Ezell (’82) assumed their respective roles as commissioner of health and commissioner of tourism in Gov. Bill Lee’s administration in January 2019 neither could have predicted that they would be leading the state’s response to a global pandemic and its economic devastation just over a year later.

Piercey has played key roles in Tennessee’s response to the global COVID-19 pandemic since the state’s first positive case was confirmed on March 5 and has worked around-the-clock in the trenches since that time.

“The heavy responsibility is sobering and humbling, especially knowing our decisions impact so many families, including my own. Every day brings exhilaration, frustration, fascination and exhaustion, so it demands a leadership approach that centers around flexibility, transparency and grace,” said Piercey.

Ezell was appointed in April to lead Tennessee’s Economic Recovery Group, which developed a multistage guideline for businesses in Tennessee to reopen just four weeks after a statewide stay-at-home mandate was issued. Thirty community and business leaders were gathered to develop the reopening plan.

“We are always re-evaluating. One thing my grandfather (who established Nashville’s long-time business Purity Dairies) said, ‘There is always a better way. Try to find it every day,’” said Ezell, who worked at Purity for more than 30 years.

From the time Piercey was a child, she has been intrigued by science and has felt a calling to serve others. Those passions led the West Tennessee native to medical school and a career in health care.

“I have always enjoyed STEM-based learning, and the human body simply intrigues me. When that intellectual pursuit is applied to the spiritual and emotional desire to serve my fellow man, it doesn’t feel like work at all,” she said.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry at Lipscomb before heading to East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine for medical school and pediatrics residency training.

Piercey began her health care career as a pediatrician at the Jackson Clinic in Jackson, Tennessee. Following that, Piercey spent a decade in health systems operations, most recently as executive vice president of West Tennessee Healthcare, a public, not-for-profit health system with more than 7,000 employees servicing 22 counties.

Piercey is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in both general pediatrics and in the specialty field of child abuse pediatrics. She also holds a Master of Business Administration degree.

Lisa Piercey (’98), Tennessee Commissioner of Health.

Tennessee Photo Services.

Piercey says the opportunity to serve the state of Tennessee as commissioner of health was an unexpected honor.

“Well, it was certainly something I never expected,” admits Piercey. “However, during the years I was managing several rural hospitals, it quickly became evident that, in today’s health care climate, successful administrators need to understand and engage in public policy and the legislative process. The exposure within that arena positioned me to engage with Gov. Lee during his transition into office, and we found commonality in our faith-based, practical approach to ensuring access to high quality and affordable health care to all Tennesseans.”

Serving alongside Piercey in the Tennessee Department of Health are three fellow Lipscomb alumni: Brent Culberson (’05, MA ’10) is assistant commissioner for health licensure and regulation; Valerie Oliver (’82) is assistant commissioner for administrative services; and John Webb (’01) serves as deputy commissioner for operations.

Mark Ezell (’82) Tennessee Commissioner of Tourism.

Tennessee Photo Services

Ezell is a part of an iconic Nashville business family that had Nashvillians drinking local milk for generations.

Ezell, a graduate of Lipscomb Academy as well as the university, was a brand development executive with Purity Dairies (now owned by Dean Foods Company), the company his family established in 1946, until March 2018. In January 2019, he brought that experience to the state tourism office.

Ezell is a nationally recognized brand developer who coordinated the creation and implementation of the iconic “Milk Mustache-Got Milk?” campaign. “My grandfather said, ‘In order to have a great brand, you have to have great products.’ So as a brander, it was awesome to see that Tennessee has some amazing tourist assets,” said Ezell.

The effects of the pandemic have shown that Tennessee enjoys a “terrific diversity of assets,” said Ezell. “People can’t go to Bridgestone Arena (in Nashville), but they can travel down to a state park or enjoy the state’s small towns or visit so many of the museums that are open safely. We are seeing record attendance at many of our state parks.”

When Ezell was called on to lead the Economic Recovery Group in April, hotel revenues for the state were down 84%, he said. A group including seven state commissioners and 15 representatives from various industries, came together to work out how to reopen the economy “with safety as our No. 1 priority,” Ezell said.

“The pandemic has brought so many challenges in decision-making to the state and local leaders,” Ezell said. “Finding the best and right thing to do, regardless of what public opinion would be, is something that requires a lot of prayer and consultation from subject matter experts.

“I was blessed to have a lot of people in my life who taught me to pursue the right thing no matter what,” he said. “To face these unexpected challenges, we must be able to move back to what we have been taught as Christians, be willing to listen and learn from others and be willing to adjust and head back toward the right decision and what is best for others.”

Ezell has spearheaded philanthropic efforts to create the Purity Foundation and other Middle Tennessee efforts like the successful Moosic City Dairy Dash. He is a current member of the Lipscomb College of Business Dean’s Board.

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