Alice Hudson Pell Named 2026 Model Behavior Honoree by Nfocus Magazine
TennGreen Land Conservancy is deeply proud to celebrate Executive Director Alice Hudson Pell as one of Nfocus Magazine’s 2026 Model Behavior honorees—a recognition celebrating Nashville leaders whose work, service, and commitment to their communities exemplify the very best of civic and professional leadership.
For more than three decades, Nfocus has been a distinctive voice in Nashville, covering the people, places, culture, style, events, and ideas that shape the city and its surrounding communities. Each year, the publication’s Model Behavior recognition shines a particular light on individuals who are making a meaningful difference through their leadership and community service.
For Alice, that recognition is especially meaningful because her leadership has always been rooted in the belief that lasting change is a team effort.
“I’ve spent my career in the nonprofit sector because I believe strong organizations can make extraordinary things possible,” Alice reflected on the award. “I’m honored to be recognized by Nfocus Magazine alongside such giving, distinguished women.”
At TennGreen, Alice has helped lead an organization whose work is inherently collaborative. Conserving Tennessee’s forests, farms, rivers, caves, mountains, and other special places requires the vision of landowners, the expertise of conservation professionals, the generosity of supporters, the dedication of volunteers, and strong partnerships with organizations and public agencies across the state.
‘I have the privilege of experiencing shared purpose every day’
Alice sees her role not as an individual pursuit, but as helping bring those people and resources together around a shared purpose.
“At TennGreen Land Conservancy, I have the privilege of experiencing shared purpose every day: talented people, committed partners, generous supporters and landowners working together to conserve the places that make Tennessee feel like Tennessee,” she said.
That collaborative spirit has been a defining characteristic of Alice’s leadership. Since joining TennGreen, she has helped guide the organization through a period of significant growth while strengthening its ability to protect Tennessee’s most important natural and cultural landscapes. Under her leadership, TennGreen has continued to build conservation partnerships, protect private lands, expand public lands, and connect more Tennesseans with the places that make our state unique.
Recognition through Model Behavior brings greater visibility to the importance of nonprofit leadership and the work being done every day across Tennessee to strengthen communities and protect the places people call home. TennGreen is deeply grateful for this, too. And for Alice, the accolade goes straight back to that critical teamwork.
“Leadership in this sector is rarely an individual accomplishment,” Alice said. “I’m grateful for the colleagues, board members, mentors, donors and community partners who have trusted me, challenged me and helped make the work possible.”
‘Conservation is Never Accomplished Alone’
As she continued, “Conservation is never accomplished alone.” Every permanently protected acre represents a landowner willing to make a lasting commitment, partners willing to work together, supporters willing to invest in the future, and conservation professionals willing to see a project through from vision to reality.
To celebrate, NFocus hosted honorees and their guests at City Winery in downtown Nashville to highlight their achievements and foster further community growth.
Nfocus’s recognition of Alice also highlights something important about conservation itself: protecting land is about far more than acreage. It is about people—the communities, families, partners, and future generations who will benefit from the places we choose to protect today.
In kind, we are thankful to Nfocus for recognizing Alice’s leadership and for shining a light on the importance of nonprofit service in our community. And we are especially proud that this honor recognizes a leader who is quick to share the credit with the people who make TennGreen’s work possible.
“Thank you to my fellow honorees for all of their continued leadership, courage, grace, and community service,” Alice lauded. “I’m proud to be among you.”
Congratulations again, Alice, on this well-deserved recognition. TennGreen is fortunate to have your leadership—and Tennessee is fortunate to have your commitment to conserving the places that make this state feel like home.