GREATER Nashville Technology Council (GNTC) has inducted B. Anderson "Andy" Flatt to its 2026 Hall of Fame, making him only the fourteenth such honoree since the Council's founding in the summer of 1999.
Announcement of Flatt's honor came in a press release May 13 followed by a celebration at GNTC headquarters, during the nonprofit's annual "State of Tech" event, which was convened by Chairman Rod McDaniel and President-CEO Mark Blaze.
Both men emphasized in their opening remarks their shared determination to continue engaging with business, academic and other allies throughout the entire community to ensure all segments are represented and to expand Nashville's international prominence as a tech ecosystem.
Responding to questions after the program, CEO Blaze told VNC that choosing Flatt for the Hall of Fame was the unanimous decision of the GNTC board of directors.
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Blaze added, "My personal view is the council is honored to have Andy in the Hall of Fame because he continues the tradition of amazing community leaders. Andy exemplifies what I believe is a Hall of Famer--an impactful servant leader, who personifies integrity and wisdom. Many times selections of this nature result in differing view points, but I haven’t met anyone who questioned Andy’s induction. I don’t think I’ve ever been part of a decision that has received such overwhelming approval."
Flatt, 64, is senior vice president and chief information officer of Murfreesboro-based National HealthCare Corporation (NHC). He is also a former chairman of GNTC's board of directors, on which he served 15 years.
In addition to NHC, during the past 25 years Flatt also held both SVP and CIO ranks in Corizon Health, HealthSpring and AIM Healthcare.
Still earlier in his career, he held IT directorships with HCA Healthcare Physician Services Group and Baptist Healthcare Group.
During 1984-1994, he was cofounder of MIQS Inc. (electronic medical records) and worked as a software developer with Dialysis Clinic Inc. (DCI), the latter his first tech job after college.
Interviewed for this story, Flatt said he and his tech colleagues have entered "a new frontier that's 'undefined' more than it has been in last 20-30 years," due to accelerating development and deployment of artificial intelligence and rising prospects for quantum-computing.
Asked to compare the explosion of generative AI with earlier experience, Flatt recalled that the "way-overblown" calendaring problem associated with "Year 2000" triggered a similar wave of anxiety that subsided relatively quickly, because by the time midnight of Year 2000 arrived, the greatest risks had in many cases been addressed. No global cataclysm ensued.
In contrast, C-suite leaders and technologists must now deal on a sustained basis not only with AI, but also with the vulnerabilities of cloud computing, and the need for boards and employees to grapple with issues related to engineering, development, grid-infrastructure, secure power supply, and cybersecurity defenses.
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Even though Flatt describes himself as a "glass half-full" guy who focuses on opportunity as well as risk, he says AI increases the need for professionals to be prepared to deal with a steady stream of challenges that are likely to disturb plans for workforce and talent development, funding of corporate innovation initiatives, individuals' compensation and careers and, of course, the trajectory of technology, itself.
"There's not a piece of the business that doesn't rely on technology and [tech leaders now must] understand everything about a business," said Flatt.
Drawing upon a caricature to make the point, Flatt emphasized that the days are gone when technologists were viewed as people best housed in a basement and fed by sliding pizzas under a door.
Instead, now it is imperative that tech-oriented professionals personally network and train continually; "show up" for opportunities to mentor young professionals across all communities; pursue degrees or certification in finance, management, strategy and-or operations--all while honing skills and staying current in technologies.
BACKSTORY
Expressing gratitude, Flatt explained that since 1984, when he graduated from Nashville's Lipscomb University with a bachelor's in Computer Science, he has continually been based within the Nashville region, always focused on founding, supporting, shaping and-or leading technology businesses or units within healthcare provider or payer organizations.
Including his undergraduate studies at Lipscomb, Flatt has been in Nashville 46 years. He was born in Cookeville, and lived in Tullahoma during high school.
Asked about lessons-learned through his career thus far, Flatt responded with an aphorism: 'You spend the first half of your career seeking success and the second half seeking significance'.
He explained that from the very outset of a career, there is no day-to-day operational success without collaboration.
In the second half of a career, 'significance' arises from engagement through good-faith relationships that one has been privileged to establish over the years.
Flatt currently serves as treasurer and board member of Tullahoma-based Ascend Federal Credit Union and chair of the Middle Tennessee State University’s MSPS Advisory Group.
Among a very long list of other honors and service roles, he received the inaugural 2022 Tennessee CIO of the Year Leadership Orbie Award and the inaugural Murfreesboro Technology Council CIO of the Year Award in 2024. He is also a member of the Nashville Chapter of the Private Directors Association.
Flatt and his wife reside in Nashville. They have two adult children and five grandchildren.
His son is an executive with a local healthcare company, his daughter is a neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse, his daughter-in-law works in K12 public education, and his son-in-law is lead accounting executive with a healthcare company.
In addition to Flatt for CY2026, GNTC staff provided this list previous GNTC Hall of Fame honorees*:
- 2023 Barry Vandevier
- 2022 Katherine McElroy
- 2021 Vanessa Hickman
- 2020 Marty Paslick
- 2019 Sal Novin
- 2018 Kevin B Johnson
- 2017 John Wark
- 2016 Linda Rebrovick
- 2015 Robert A Frist Jr.
- 2014 Noel Williams
- 2012 J. Tod Fetherling
- 2011 Beth Chase
- 2009 David Condra
*VNC welcomes additions, link corrections, etc. Coverage here of 501(c)(6) Nashville Technology Council, dba Greater Nashville Technology Council. VNC
.last edited 1644 15 May 2026