When you talk with Alayna Barton Peters, you can’t help but feel the warmth she brings into every conversation. She’s the new President and CEO of the Goodlettsville Area Chamber of Commerce, and if you ask me, she’s the perfect person for the job.
I’ve known Alayna for years, and when I heard she was stepping into this role, I couldn’t stop smiling. Her energy, her heart for people, and her love for connection—those are exactly what Goodlettsville needs right now.
Finding Her Way to Good Work
Alayna’s story reminds us that sometimes the path to purpose isn’t straight. She calls her journey a “winding road through the woods” that led her to a beautiful meadow—and that meadow is her role at the Chamber.
With a background in education and years spent teaching special education in New York City, she never imagined this would be her next chapter. But when she moved back home to Tennessee, she found herself volunteering—often and deeply. That volunteer spirit led her to community work, to leadership in her local PTO, and eventually to the Goodlettsville Chamber.
Now, she spends her days doing what she loves most: connecting people. “We like to say we’re a connection agency,” she shared. “We connect businesses to each other, to residents, and to the city itself.”
What Good Work Means
When I asked Alayna what “good work” means to her, she had done her homework. She looked up the definitions of “good” and “work” and found a beautiful intersection:
“Good means for the benefit of others,” she said. “Work means effort to achieve a purpose. So, good work is effort that benefits others—work that doesn’t really end.”
Isn’t that perfect?
Growth and Goodlettsville’s Next Chapter
If you’ve spent time in Goodlettsville, you’ve probably noticed the change—it’s growing fast and stepping into a new era. From the upcoming Rivergate Mall redevelopment to new small businesses filling empty spaces, there’s new energy in the air.
The Chamber is keeping pace. Alayna shared plans for Goodlettsville’s first Restaurant Week this February and a Small Business Month celebration in the spring. Both are designed to shine a light on the local businesses that make the city special.
“We want the Chamber to grow right alongside the community,” she said. “There’s so much opportunity to bring people together.”
Finding Community (and Connection)
One of my favorite moments in our conversation was when Alayna talked about community. She said that after living in New York City for over a decade, she noticed how easy it was to connect there—you ran into people on the subway, in the park, everywhere. But in Tennessee, it takes more intentionality.
That’s where the Chamber comes in. “We create opportunities for those small moments of connection,” she explained. “Whether you come to an event, read our newsletter, or just see a ribbon cutting online—it’s all about inviting people in.”
And that invitation is everything. Because so many small business owners feel like they’re on an island. As Alayna said, “We all rise together.”
The Heart of Goodlettsville
When I asked what’s new in town, Alayna lit up talking about Rachel’s Garden, the city’s new inclusive playground—a nearly decade-long community project. The $1.7 million playground is now open behind the Goodlettsville Community Center, and it’s a shining example of what happens when a community dreams together.
“It’s named after Rachel West,” Alayna shared. “She wanted to play with her nieces and nephews, and now she can. It’s such a joyful reminder of what happens when people come together.”
Staying Full to Pour Out
Like many leaders, Alayna’s still learning how to balance all the good work she’s doing with rest and refilling her own cup. For her, that means spending time outside with her family, volunteering in meaningful ways, and unplugging whenever she can.
“I try to put the screens down,” she said with a laugh. “Even if it’s just for a little bit. I’ve started diamond painting recently—it’s calming and quiet, and I love it.”
I love that too.
A Final Pour
Alayna’s leadership reminds me that doing good work isn’t always about grand gestures. It’s about connection, kindness, and consistent effort—the kind that benefits others, the kind that builds community one small invitation at a time.
Goodlettsville is lucky to have her. And I have no doubt that under her care, this community—and its chamber—will continue to grow in all the right ways.