Our Team
Kelley Mathis Hess
CEO & Lobbyist
With her 15 year experience in the TN General Assembly and Masters Degree in Public Administration, Kelley Mathis Hess brings first-hand knowledge of the legislative process, political action committees, membership trade associations and the importance of being involved in the political process. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and is a registered lobbyist for the Tennessee Growers Coalition. Kelley founded the TN Growers Coalition along with others in 2018 with the goal of supporting and protecting the Tennessee Hemp industry through political advocacy.
Rob Mock
President
Born and raised in Humboldt, CA, Rob has a literal lifetime of knowledge and experience in this industry. He has always had a passion for horticulture and gardening, but he doesn’t subscribe to conventional farming and gardening techniques. Instead, he prefers organic and other alternative growing methods which, he believes, will be standard practice in the future. After working his way to Operations Manager at another company, he decided to branch out on his own and open Urban Horticulture Supply in 2017. In this capacity, he strives to help return farming to small businesses and individuals.
After the passage of state legislation in 2014, Rob began advocating for Tennessee farmers engaged in the research and growth of industrial hemp. When the federal government passed the Farm Bill of 2018 authorizing those activities across the country, he began fervently supporting local farmers through fundraisers and at hemp-based conferences and conventions.
Allison McKelvey-Janes
Communications Manager
Allison was brought on as the communications manager in 2022. She earned her degree in Agriculture from Tennessee Tech University in 2017. She was hired on as the general manager of Urban Horticulture Supply shortly after graduation. Allison has been advocating for the plant since then.
Allison brings a vast knowledge of the plant and the growing licensing process to the team. Her work is seen in our social media posts, emails, and other media that the TGC releases. She is often found learning more about the plant and helping farmers thrive in Tennessee.
The Bivens & Associates
Lobbying Firm
We are honored to have the Bivens on our team. They have been lobbying in Tennessee for over 30 years. They bring an enormous amount of experience and knowledge to the table. They assist us during session to be our eyes and ears on legislation that impacts the industry. Mike, Brian, Nicole and Vivian are all trusted and accomplished lobbyist on the hill. We are proud to be clients amongst the big names like AirBnB, TikTok and eBay.
Heather Pinckard
Heather is the TGC’s finance manager. She is our go to quickbooks guru and keep us in line. She is an advocate for the industry and a major asset to the team.
You can find Heather around the world in her many travels. She is a big believer in supporting small business and her local farmers!