Executive Leadership

Lance Villio

Executive Director, Appointed by Governor Bill Lee in 2022

Appointed by Governor Lee of Tennessee, Lance Villio serves as the Executive Director for the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. In this pivotal role, he functions as the liaison between state government, faith-based groups, and community nonprofits. His primary focus is on forging partnerships that address Tennessee's most pressing community needs.

Before stepping into his current role, Villio was the CEO of Think Native, a mentoring software designed to improve the lives of those in recovery. He has also held leadership positions in national faith-based organizations such as Q Ideas and I Am Second. Notably, he was the founding employee at RestoreNYC, where he was instrumental in establishing the first safe house in New York City for international victims of sex trafficking.

Residing in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife, Hannah, and their three children, the Villio family is deeply committed to their community. Hannah serves as the PTO co-president, emphasizing their shared commitment to public education and community engagement. Guided by strong convictions, Lance Villio uses his expertise in strategy and execution to create partnerships that meaningfully improve the lives of Tennesseans.