Warren Wells
Appointed by Governor Lee in February 2022, Mr. Warren Wells serves as the Board’s representative for the Fourth Congressional District. Mr. Wells currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. He is the fifth CEO in the Celebration’s rich history and was formerly the Assistant Vice President for Government Affairs at Unum Group, a Fortune 500 employee benefits company headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Mr. Wells began his career in politics as an intern for the Tennessee Senate Education committee. He also served as a research analyst for the Senate Transportation Committee. Later, Mr. Wells joined Governor Bill Haslam’s administration as Deputy for Legislation and then advanced to a senior staff role in the administration as Director for Legislation. In this role, Mr. Wells was the governor’s chief lobbyist and primary liaison between the administration and the Tennessee General Assembly. Additionally, Mr. Wells was also responsible for managing the administration’s legislative agenda. One of the most impactful pieces of legislation that Mr. Wells led was the IMPROVE Act, which contained the largest tax cut in Tennessee history. He was also instrumental the passage of the Reconnect Act and the STRONG Act, landmark initiatives for Governor Haslam.
As a first-generation college graduate, Mr. Wells earned his A.S. in Criminal Justice from Motlow State Community College and his B.S. in Political Science from Middle Tennessee State University. Mr. Wells also served in the Tennessee Army National Guard from 2001-2010 and in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005-2006, where he earned a Combat Action Badge and an Army Commendation Medal. Mr. Wells, his wife Jessica, and their sons Walker and Wright reside in Bedford County, Tennessee.