Dyersburg Mayor John Holden Appointed Chairman of Public Entity Partners Board of Directors

Public Entity Partners is pleased to announce that John Holden, Mayor of the City of Dyersburg, was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors during the December Board meeting in Franklin.

In addition to Holden’s appointment, Public Entity Partners also welcomed four new members to our Board of Directors. Click here to learn more about them.

Holden brings more than four decades of public service, community leadership and municipal experience to his role as Chairman. A longtime advocate for local government, he has been an active and respected member of the PEP Board, contributing invaluable insight, experience, and a deep understanding of the needs and challenges facing Tennessee municipalities.

First elected Mayor of Dyersburg in November 2006, Holden is now serving his fifth term following his re-election in November 2022. He is a 1978 graduate of Dyersburg High School and attended Dyersburg State Community College before transferring to the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where he earned a degree in business administration in 1983.

Holden was named Mayor of the Year in 2024 by the Tennessee Municipal League during its 84th Annual Conference in Knoxville — a recognition that reflects his exceptional leadership and commitment to strengthening the communities he serves.

Before his 2006 election as Mayor, Holden served 12 years on the Dyer County Legislative Body, including three years as Budget Committee Chairman and seven years as Education Committee Chairman.

Holden currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Dyersburg-Dyer County Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trustees for West Tennessee Healthcare Dyersburg Hospital and the Board of Directors for the Northwest Tennessee Development District (NWTDD).

He is a past President of the Tennessee Municipal League and a Paul Harris Fellow through Rotary International. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the United Way of West Tennessee, where he recently completed a term as Chairman, and is an active member of the West Tennessee Mayor’s Association.

A 2016 graduate of the WestStar Leadership Program, Holden continues to serve on the Board of Trustees. He is also a past President of the YMCA of Dyer County and the Dyersburg State Community College Alumni Association. He has two children, ages 22 and 21, and is an active member of First Baptist Church Dyersburg.

“Mayor Holden’s experience, institutional knowledge and commitment to strengthening Tennessee communities make him an invaluable part of our leadership team,” said Michael Fann, President and CEO of Public Entity Partners. “We are so pleased to have him serve as Chairman of our Board of Directors. His thoughtful perspective and extensive understanding of municipal operations continue to enrich our organization and our members across the state.”