Jeremy Harrell

Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Adoption Project

Jeremy Harrell is the founder, president & chief executive officer of The Adoption Project. He is an adoptive parent and advocate for adoption and foster care.

A seasoned strategist, Jeremy has deep ties to political and thought leaders across the state of Tennessee. His extensive network of top influencers, broad policy knowledge and keen instincts have put him squarely at the center of several critical campaigns and initiatives over the last decades. Before establishing The Adoption Project, Jeremy was a co-founder of a highly successful public affairs firm in Nashville.

Jeremy began his career building grassroots political coalitions for the Tennessee Victory operation in 2006. In 2008, Jeremy successfully ran the record-breaking statewide senate campaign for U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander. Jeremy was then tapped to serve as deputy campaign manager and political director for Governor Bill Haslam’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

Jeremy received his B.A. in History & Political Science with a minor in Economics & Finance from Trevecca Nazarene University. He serves on the board of the Tennessee Historical Commission and Harlenwood Foundation. Jeremy and his wife Michelle live in Eagleville with their son Wesley and daughters Ruby & Rosie.

Jennifer Donnals

Chief Operating Officer, The Adoption Project

Jennifer Donnals is chief operating officer of The Adoption Project. Jennifer is an adoptive parent and has long been a strong advocate for adoptive families.

A public service and communications professional with 30 years of experience, Jennifer most recently served as chief of staff for the Tennessee Department of Children's Services where she helped build coalitions and partnerships to support foster and adoptive families while overseeing the department's communications, legislative, administrative and continuous quality improvement divisions.

Prior to joining DCS, Jennifer served as former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam's director of communications and press secretary. In these roles, Jennifer worked with local, state and national press to communicate the governor’s legislative and policy agendas, including the Drive to 55 campaign to increase the number of Tennesseans with post-secondary degrees and TN Fosters, a collaborative initiative to increase the number of foster homes across the state.

Jennifer also previously served as communications director for the Tennessee Secretary of State, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and the Shelby County (Memphis) District Attorney's Office.

Donnals earned a B.S. in Communications from Ohio University. She lives in Nashville with her husband Brett and their daughter Hallie.

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