Brittany Schaffer, Belmont University
Ambition pulses through Belmont University and down Music Row under the leadership of Brittany Schaffer, dean of the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. Since stepping into the role in 2023, Schaffer has brought a fresh, industry-informed perspective to Belmont’s largest college, rooted in innovation and a commitment to the people behind the work.
A self-described “non-traditional dean,” Schaffer entered academia after more than a decade in the entertainment industry. Previously, she built her career as an entertainment attorney and later served as head of Spotify’s Artist and Label Partnerships in Nashville, where she worked closely with creatives navigating a rapidly shifting landscape.
Now at Belmont, one of Schaffer’s key initiatives is the University’s new Center for Mental Health in Entertainment, a collaboration with Belmont’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Equipping students, industry professionals, and entertainment organizations with the awareness and resources they need, the Center prepares them to navigate the unique pressures of the entertainment industry. Seeking to drive lasting cultural and systemic change through research, education, and community support, the Center represents a long-term investment toward building a healthier, more sustainable entertainment industry, where creative excellence and mental wellbeing coexist.
Schaffer is also leading a transformative expansion on Music Row, made possible by a historic $58 million gift from Mike Curb, the largest in Belmont’s history. The multi-phase project reflects Belmont’s commitment to remaining in lockstep with industry needs while honoring the legacy of Music Row.
“We recognize the importance of keeping our entertainment curriculum and facilities aligned with the evolving industry,” Schaffer said. “Our expansion on Music Row will create an unprecedentedly immersive experience for our students while driving innovation alongside our partners in the entertainment landscape.”
The expansion is twofold. The first phase, completed in 2024, revitalized the historic Buddy Lee Attractions/Capitol Records building, adding 17,000 square feet of state-of-the-art songwriting rooms, listening spaces, and collaborative environments.
Phase two, slated to begin this May, will introduce a new 50,000-square-foot facility featuring a 350+ capacity performance venue, content creation spaces, and gathering areas designed to bring students and industry professionals together. This building will also be the permanent home of the Center for Mental Health in Entertainment, making it accessible to both students and professionals in the industry.
Schaffer’s sweeping vision is for an entertainment industry bolstered by mental health awareness and animated by unexpected collaboration across disciplines. Her work on the Music Row expansion brings these goals together and charts a course for the future of the industry.
Belmont University
1900 Belmont Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37212
615-460-6000
www.belmont.edu, @belmontu, @BelmontUniversity
Dr. Tim Boyd, Harding Academy
Harding Academy, one of Nashville’s most respected independent schools serving students from PreK through eighth grade, is pleased to welcome Dr. Tim Boyd as its new Head of School beginning July 1, 2026.
Founded in 1971, Harding Academy has long been known for its close-knit community and commitment to educating the whole child. With 532 students and nearly 100 faculty and staff, the school has built a reputation for ensuring that every child is known, challenged, and nurtured. Central to that experience are traditions such as the school’s Harding Community Code and its distinctive PreK–8 model, where students grow within a single community that values academics, athletics, the arts, and character development.
Dr. Boyd brings both a commitment to academic rigor and a relational leadership style to the role, qualities that resonated strongly throughout the search process. For the past 16 years, he has served in multiple leadership and teaching roles at Montgomery Bell Academy, most recently as Associate Head of School and Academic Dean. Known as someone dedicated to promoting excellence in the classroom and understanding the importance of connecting with students and families, Boyd has spent his career championing meaningful learning experiences while fostering strong school communities.
He holds a Ph.D. in History from Vanderbilt University, along with graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Oxford. With this background, his belief in the value of intellectual curiosity is no surprise, but colleagues also consistently point to his humility, openness, and genuine care for students as defining characteristics of his leadership.
For Harding Academy, Boyd’s appointment signals both continuity and momentum. His commitment to nurturing well-rounded students and preserving the school’s deeply rooted culture aligns naturally with Harding’s mission and values.
As the Harding community prepares to welcome the Boyd family this summer, excitement is building for the future, and for the leadership of a head of school who understands that the heart of a great school lies in its people.
Harding Academy
170 Windsor Drive
Nashville, TN 37205
615-356-5510
www.hardingacademy.org, @harding_academy, @Harding1971
Nashville Aesthetic Dentistry, Innovative, World-Class Cosmetic Dentists
Today, Nashville Aesthetic Dentistry boasts an award-winning team of cosmetic dentists, personally chosen and mentored by Dr. Wells, who deliver world-class results seen on some of the most famous smiles in the world. The future remains bright for this world-renowned practice and the patients who trust it with their smiles.
Meet the Artists (Pictured left to right)
Dr. Dennis Wells
A pioneer of no-drill veneers, Dr. Wells has educated thousands of dentists worldwide and dedicated his career to advancing smile design. His vision and mentorship remain the foundation of the practice’s reputation for excellence.
Dr. Jake Bateman
Dr. Bateman has earned numerous honors for clinical excellence and holds Fellowship status in the Academy of General Dentistry, a distinction achieved by only 6 percent of U.S. dentists. His passion for aesthetic dentistry strengthens the practice’s legacy of artistry and quality care.
Dr. Daniel Weese
With advanced prosthodontics training, Dr. Weese is part of an elite group specializing in tooth design, bite systems, and complex reconstructions. A key member of the team for more than a decade, he consistently delivers exceptional outcomes.
Dr. Gray King
A second-generation cosmetic dentist, Dr. King combines advanced clinical training with a refined artistic eye. Known for his thoughtful, patient-centered approach, he takes pride in creating smiles that not only enhance appearance but genuinely transform lives.
Nashville Aesthetic Dentistry
105 Powell Ct.
Brentwood, TN 37027
615-371-8878
www.drdenniswells.com, @nashville_aesthetic_dentistry
Jeff Dobyns, SageSpring Wealth Partners
Founded by Jeff Dobyns more than 20 years ago, SageSpring Wealth Partners has become one of the region’s largest independent wealth advisory firms, serving clients across Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, and beyond. SageSpring’s recent office move marks an exciting new chapter in a story defined by thoughtful growth, strong leadership, and a commitment to serving clients at the highest level.
Under Jeff’s leadership, SageSpring has grown to more than 200 employees and built a reputation for pairing institutional-level experience with a deeply personal approach. Competing at a national level, the firm aims to deliver sophisticated investment solutions without the conflicts that can be found at large institutions.
Since becoming fully independent, SageSpring has seen impressive growth, unencumbered by proprietary products and committed to making the right decision for each and every client. This continued growth led to the decision to relocate and more than double the firm’s office space. The new office reflects the sophistication of SageSpring’s services while enhancing collaboration and elevating the client experience.
“Over the years, we’ve been intentional about building something different, a boutique-style firm with national capabilities and a culture rooted in purpose,” said Dobyns. “This growth and expansion reflect both the caliber of our team and the increasing demand for truly objective, client-first advice.”
Beyond performance, SageSpring is guided by a purpose-driven, faith-forward philosophy rooted in integrity, stewardship, and service. This move is about more than a new address, it reflects the firm’s momentum and where it is headed next.
SageSpring Wealth Partners
701 Cool Springs Blvd
Suite 500
Franklin, TN 37067
615-861-6100
www.sagespring.com, @sagespringwealthpartners
Dr. Christina Rahm, Patented Scientist and Chief Formulator for The ROOT Brands
Scientist. Survivor. Mother on a mission. For Dr. Christina Rahm, the most important work didn’t start in a lab. It started with a question: What’s really causing the problem?
It’s a question that changed the direction of her life. As a patented scientist, formulator, and mother of four, Dr. Rahm spent decades in pharmaceutical and clinical research. But it was her own health challenges and her family’s journey that shifted her focus, not just toward solutions, but toward understanding what is driving the issue in the first place.
That shift became the foundation of her work. Today, Dr. Rahm is known for an approach centered on getting to the root, one that builds on her scientific background while expanding into prevention, natural formulation, and long-term wellness. Not instead of science, but in deeper alignment with it.
She now brings that same scientific discipline to the formulation of nutraceuticals, creating clean, science-led wellness products designed to support the body at a cellular level. At the center of it all is her role as a mother. It shapes the standard she applies to everything she creates. If she would not trust it for her own family, it does not move forward.
Based in Franklin, Dr. Rahm remains closely involved in formulation and product development for The ROOT Brands. Drawing from her own patented processes, she oversees manufacturing to ensure integrity across sourcing, formulation, and production.
What began as a personal search for answers has grown into a global mission, with her formulations now reaching families in more than 90 countries. She calls it Cure the Causes, a commitment to looking deeper, asking better questions, and building natural solutions that support the body at its core.
For Dr. Rahm, this is not just work. It is personal.
Dr. Christina Rahm
393 Nichol Mills Road
Franklin, TN 37067
www.drchristinarahm.com, @drchristinarahm
The ROOT Brands
393 Nichol Mills Road
Franklin, TN 37067
980-400-3245
www.therootbrands.com, @therootbrands_
Natalie Hager, Natalie Hager Interiors
Natalie Hager is the founder and principal designer of Natalie Hager Interiors, a Nashville-based full-service interior design firm specializing in large-scale renovations, new construction, and fully furnished homes. Known for her refined, modern-classic aesthetic and highly personalized approach, Natalie has built a reputation for creating homes that feel both elevated and deeply livable.
Rooted in the belief that every home should tell a story, Natalie works closely with each client to design spaces that reflect not only their style, but the way they truly live. Her work is defined by thoughtful layering, timeless materials, and a sense of quiet luxury, often seen throughout some of Nashville’s most established neighborhoods and growing communities.
mary craven dawkins
From concept through completion, Natalie and her team guide clients through every phase of the design process with intention and clarity, collaborating closely with architects, builders, and trusted industry partners to ensure a seamless, cohesive result. Known for her organization, communication, and attention to detail, she is a valued partner in delivering well-executed homes from the ground up.
With a focus on full-service execution and a highly tailored client experience, the firm is best suited for comprehensive projects where every detail is thoughtfully considered. Based in Nashville, Natalie Hager Interiors partners with clients locally and beyond and is currently accepting a limited number of full-service projects.
Natalie Hager Interiors
1517 Dallas Avenue
Nashville, TN 37212
615-419-6184
www.nataliehagerinteriors.com, @nataliehagerinteriors
Lauren Oschman, Co-Founder and CEO, Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors
Lauren Oschman grew up as the daughter of an interventional cardiologist. She saw firsthand what it takes to build a career in medicine, and she spent years watching physicians pour everything into that career without anyone helping them make sure the money they were earning was working just as hard as they were. That gap became her life’s work.
Today, Lauren is the co-founder and CEO of Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, a firm with roots in Nashville built exclusively for physicians and their families. A Vanderbilt University graduate and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, she leads a team guiding nearly 600 physician families nationwide through everything from contract negotiations and tax strategy to knowing when to slow down and enjoy the life they have been building.
While Vestia oversees the financial, tax, and protection strategies that underpin physicians’ lives, it is something rare, a firm where the philosophy is as personal as it is financial. Vestia’s mission is to help the highest caliber physicians achieve Wealth That Matters®, a value Lauren leads every client with by asking: what does wealth actually mean to you, and are you living it?
A sought-after speaker for physician groups across the Southeast, Lauren and Vestia have been recognized nationwide as one of the rising stars in the financial advisory profession, earning nods from InvestmentNews, Nashville Business Journal, and Barron’s, among others. In 2025, she was named to Nashville’s inaugural Titan 100 list, which honors the city’s most accomplished CEOs and C-suite executives.
Lauren currently serves as the Board President for the Tennessee Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. She is also a mother of three young daughters, and in an industry where women make up only 20 percent of financial advisors, Lauren is intentional about leading by example, proving every day that building a firm at the highest level and being deeply present at home are not a tradeoff.
Lauren shares her perspective biweekly as the host of the Doctors Eyes Only® podcast and delivers free financial education to women physicians through her Instagram, @medmoneymaven.
When she is not at the office or at one of her kids’ events, she can often be found on Vanderbilt’s campus cheering on the Commodores for whatever sport is in season.
Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors
3811 Bedford Ave. #206
Nashville, TN 37215
615-647-8430
www.vestiaadvisors.com, @medmoneymaven, @vestiaadvisors
Marchella Leone, The Brokerage Pilates
That passion inspired The Brokerage Pilates, a contemporary Nashville studio offering both mat and reformer classes. Rooted in the belief that you are your greatest asset, the studio focuses on intentional, strength-building movements designed to improve posture, build endurance, and support long-term wellness.
Committed to giving back, the studio hosts community events and partners with local organizations across Nashville. At The Brokerage, true wealth is built from the inside out, and community is the greatest return.
Nashville Lifestyles readers can use code MUSICCITY when booking the Two-Week Unlimited Intro Offer online to receive $20 off.
The Brokerage Pilates
1300 Clinton Street
Suite 208
Nashville, TN 37203
www.thebrokeragepilates.com, @thebrokeragepilates
Greta Sinclair, Author
When bestselling author and 2025 Global Book Awards Silver Medalist Greta Sinclair moved from Oregon to her new home in Nashville, she discovered inspiration around every corner, from the vibrant rhythms of Music Row to the city’s culinary charm.
Her Nashville series follows a private investigator whose cases weave together intrigue, food, and the heartbeat of the city, alongside the antics of her late Chow Chow and his furry companions.
Meanwhile, Sinclair continues her internationally set series, where her beloved Schnoodle, Mozart, stars in every book, adding mischief, warmth, and global adventure across cultures, cuisines, and continents.
Her award-winning novel, A Very Sticky Murder, earned acclaim for its blend of family holiday drama, hidden secrets, and culinary delights, reminding readers that love binds traditions, yet even the closest families hold surprises.
With unforgettable characters, loyal animal companions, and richly detailed settings, Sinclair invites readers to savor mysteries where food, music, friendship, and curiosity are always on the menu.
hello@gretasinclair.com, www.read.gretasinclair.com
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