Clint Brewer

Stones River Group President Mark Cate , until a year ago the chief of staff to Gov. Bill Haslam, announced yesterday the addition of former journalist and former State Economic & Community Development Assistant Commissioner Clint Brewer as the company's newest principal.

Brewer, 45, worked for both ECD Commissioners Bill Hagerty and Randy Boyd, the incumbent.

He will work alongside former D.C.-based Podesta Group VP Alexandra "Alex" Sollberger in developing the Stones River Group's public relations practice, Cate said in a press release.

Mark Cate

Prior to joining TNECD, Brewer was a journalist and media executive for 16 years, serving as editor of the Nashville City Paper and the Lebanon Democrat as well as government and politics editor of The Tennessean (Gannett).

He also was also briefly editor of a Capitol Hill "watchdog" publication that followed legislative matters.

VNC has not yet determined who, if anyone, has succeeded Brewer in his former ECD role. This story will be updated as warranted.

Sollberger, who joined Stones River in March, also worked for several years as a communications director and senior advisor in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the Committee on Small Business and in the office of former Congressman Geoff Davis (R-KY).

Earlier this week, reporters for The Tennessean wrote of concerns in some quarters that Cate personally may have breached some legislative registration and government "cooling-off" requirements of former state employees. Cate has denied any improprieties.

Brewer and his wife reside in Wilson County with their three children, ages 8 to 15.

A year ago, former Haslam Administration Communications Director Alexia Poe also launched a communications consultancy, as reported by Venture Nashville here. VNC

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