por Frank Rains Jr
Welcome to Episode 2 of “Midnite Snack”! This series is where I sit down with leaders, innovators, and changemakers over their favorite late-night snack — diving into authentic stories, real leadership moments, and the things that keep them up at night (and what they reach for in the fridge when they are). Today’s Guest: Mark Blaze Mark Blaze is the President & CEO of the Nashville Technology Council, leading the growth and influence of our region’s thriving tech community. Before stepping into this role, Mark served as Chief Revenue Officer at Groove Construction and spent 18 years as Regional President at Dex Imaging, where he built and led high-performing teams across the Southeast. Originally from Leeds, England, Mark came to the U.S. on a golf scholarship to Memphis State University — where he earned both his BBA and MBA — and proudly became a U.S. citizen in 2017. Mark is deeply committed to service and community impact. He has been honored with the Nashville Emerging Leader Award and Rocketown’s Betty Dickens Lifetime Achievement Award, and his board involvement has included Rocketown (Past Chair), Nashville Predators Foundation, Special Olympics Tennessee, EEOG, and St. Jude’s Middle TN Council. He is also a longtime member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Mark and his wife, Tara, call Brentwood home and stay busy with their blended family of six — affectionately known as the “Blazey bunch.” When he’s not helping accelerate Middle Tennessee’s tech future, you’ll find him on the golf course, cheering on the Preds or Titans, enjoying live music, or spending time with his close friends and community at Midtown Fellowship Church. About TMG At TMG, we help IT leaders save Time, save Money, and play more Golf. We serve as a trusted advisor, guiding organizations through complex technology decisions in cloud, cybersecurity, mobility, AI adoption, and connectivity — without adding cost to the client. We cut through vendor noise so leaders gain clarity, confidence, and measurable results. About the Host Frank Rains Jr. is a technology advisor who helps business leaders cut through the noise of thousands of IT vendors to make smart, confident decisions in cloud, mobility, cybersecurity, AI, and connectivity. His focus is—and always will be—serving clients’ requirements, not selling products. Frank is also an actor, speaker, emcee, improv comedian, and singer, bringing storytelling and human connection to every room he’s in. He combines analytical thinking with creativity and humor to make complex topics relatable, memorable, and sometimes even a little fun. Midnite Snack is a reflection of both sides of his world — leveraging deep industry insight and a passion for people to entertain, inspire, and spark meaningful conversations within the tech community and beyond.
Welcome to the first episode of "Midnite Snack"! This series is where I sit down with leaders, innovators, and changemakers over a late-night snack to share real conversations. The goal? To entertain, inspire, and give you authentic insight into how successful people think, lead, and overcome challenges. Today’s Guest: Andy Flatt Andy Flatt is a healthcare technology executive with over 41 years of experience leading organizations from startup to Fortune 500. He currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of National HealthCare Corporation. Throughout his career, Andy has held executive leadership roles at Corizon Health, Cigna-HealthSpring, AIM HealthCare, and Baptist Hospital. He is also deeply committed to community and professional leadership, serving on multiple boards including Ascend Federal Credit Union (Treasurer and Board Member), Middle Tennessee State University’s MSPS Advisory Group (Chair), and as Founding Chair of TennesseeCIO. Andy also mentors through InspireCIO NGL and NTC ELITE programs. His contributions have been recognized widely — from being named NTC CIO of the Year and Volunteer of the Year (2011) to winning the 2022 Tennessee CIO of the Year Leadership Orbie Award and the 2024 Murfreesboro Technology Council CIO of the Year Award About TMG At TMG, we help IT leaders save Time, save Money, and play more Golf. We act as a trusted advisor, guiding organizations through complex technology decisions in cloud, mobility, cybersecurity, AI adoption, and beyond — at no direct cost to the client. By cutting through the noise of countless vendors, we help our clients find clarity, confidence, and results. About the Host Frank Rains Jr. is a comedian, actor, singer, and technology advisor based in Nashville. By day, he works with business leaders as a trusted advisor at TMG, helping organizations cut through the noise of thousands of IT vendors to make smart choices in cloud, mobility, cybersecurity, and AI. By night, he brings his love of storytelling, humor, and community to projects like Midnite Snack — blending his professional experience with his creative side to entertain, inspire, and connect with audiences.