Nashville 40 Under 40: Building Nashville the Right Way: Why Community First Tourism Still Wins
- Paul Whitten
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
If you spend enough time walking the streets of Nashville, you learn something pretty quickly. This city rewards people who show up, do the work, and give back. That belief is at the core of Nashville Adventures, and it is the reason moments like being named to Nashville’s 40 Under 40 matter far beyond a headline.
Recently, I was honored to be recognized by the Nashville Business Journal as part of the 2026 Nashville 40 Under 40 class. The award highlights leaders under 40 who are making a measurable impact across Middle Tennessee through business growth, civic leadership, and community engagement. For us, it was never about chasing awards. It was about building something that feels honest, local, and rooted in service.
Nashville Adventures Was Built on Purpose, Not Volume
Nashville Adventures launched in 2023 with a simple idea. Tourism can be profitable without being shallow. You do not have to rush people from stop to stop or turn history into trivia to build a successful company.
From day one, our tours have focused on:
Historically grounded storytelling
Responsible tourism that respects neighborhoods
Real connection between guests and the city
That approach has allowed us to grow into one of Nashville’s fastest growing independent tour companies without losing our soul. We are veteran owned, locally operated, and deeply invested in the community we walk through every day.
Why Being Named to Nashville 40 Under 40 Matters
The Nashville 40 Under 40 program recognizes more than business success. It looks at how leaders contribute to the region as a whole. Being included on that list was a reminder that Nashville still values businesses that put people first.
For Nashville Adventures, that means:
Donating 1 percent of all revenue back into the community
Supporting organizations like Operation Stand Down Tennessee
Funding the Nashville Adventures Community Leadership Scholarship to support students pursuing civic and community focused leadership
Those choices are not marketing strategies. They are part of how the company operates, day in and day out.
A Veteran Led Approach to Entrepreneurship
My leadership style did not come from a boardroom. It came from service. I am a U.S. Army combat veteran, a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, and a former UK Parliamentary Fellow. Each of those experiences shaped how I think about leadership, accountability, and responsibility.
Veteran led businesses bring something unique to local economies. They tend to value mission, teamwork, and long term impact over short term wins. That mindset is baked into Nashville Adventures, from how we train guides to how we partner with local organizations and institutions.
We also work closely with veteran focused entrepreneurship programs, including partners connected to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, to help expand pathways for veterans entering business and leadership roles.
Tourism That Gives Back to Nashville
Tourism is one of Nashville’s strongest economic engines. But not all tourism is created equal. Responsible tourism supports local workers, respects history, and reinvests in the community.
Our tours are designed to do exactly that. Whether it is our Nashville History Walking Tour, Civil War focused experiences, or custom private tours, we slow things down. We talk about the choices that shaped the city. We point out what still matters. And we make sure guests leave with a deeper understanding of Nashville, not just photos on Broadway.
If you want to see the city beyond the surface, you can explore our core experiences on our Tours page, including the Nashville History Walking Tour.
Awards Are Milestones, Not Finish Lines
Before the 40 Under 40 recognition, I was honored to be named Nashville’s General Manager of the Year and Tennessee’s General Manager of the Year. Those awards reflected strong growth, healthy margins, and disciplined operations. But they also reflected something more important. You can scale a business without sacrificing values.
The 40 Under 40 recognition is another milestone. It signals that Nashville still sees value in companies that are built carefully, intentionally, and with the long game in mind.
Walking Forward Together
Every tour we give is a small act of trust. Guests trust us to tell Nashville’s story accurately and thoughtfully. The city trusts us to represent it well. Our partners trust us to show up and give back.
If you want to experience Nashville through stories that actually matter, we would love to walk with you. And if you are a local who believes tourism can be done better, we are proof that it can.
