Nashville District admin staff gather for training, team building

Lancaster, Tenn. (Aug. 26, 2026) - Administrative professionals from across the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District stepped away from their daily routines Aug. 18 to connect, collaborate and learn at the 2026 Educational Seminar & Conference for Administrative Professionals Enrichment.

Hosted at the Center Hill Resource Office, the ESCAPE event centered on the theme,

The gathering offered a dedicated space for support staff to strengthen professional ties, share resources and invest in the community that sustains the district’s daily operations.

Kevin Salvilla, Center Hill resource manager, welcomed attendees and commended the staff for their flexibility and dedicated support of the USACE mission. Salvilla and his team hosted the full-day event, ensuring participants also gained firsthand insight into the district's operations at the local project site.

A major highlight of the morning was the recognition of the Administrative Resource Binder Team for developing a modernized, digital tool for district staff. Trina DuBois and Jessica Lynch, acting on behalf of Nashville District Commander Lt. Col. Guillermo Guandique, presented the awards.

Amanda Collins received the Civilian Service Achievement Medal for leading the project, while team members Anna Collins, Ryan Lawson, Melissa Kear, Jenny Nelson and James LeForce earned Commander's Coins for their contributions.

Their collective efforts transformed the traditional, physical ESCAPE binder into the new Nashville District Administrative Resource Hub. This living digital platform provides a centralized location for current guidance, tools and information, designed to continuously evolve with input from subject matter experts. It aims to support employees with both routine duties and infrequent administrative tasks long after the seminar concludes.

The agenda also focused heavily on professional development. Rhonda Nichols and Karen Halter led morning presentations, which transitioned into an interactive “Administrative Exchange.” The open forum, featuring Halter, Nichols, Shannon Beach and Adrienne Bostic, encouraged attendees to troubleshoot common challenges and share institutional knowledge across different offices.

Following the classroom sessions, the focus shifted to team building. After a networking lunch, Salvilla and the Center Hill team guided attendees on a boat tour of Center Hill Lake. The on-the-water experience gave the administrative professionals a unique, frontline perspective of the Nashville District mission and the specific work being accomplished at the dam and reservoir.

Ultimately, the 2026 ESCAPE proved to be more than just a single-day retreat. By fostering communication, collaboration and professional development, the event underscored a core district philosophy, investing in the people behind the scenes directly strengthens the entire organization's ability to execute the mission.

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