Revenue Adds Assistant Commissioner, Promotes Public Information Officer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Department of Revenue announces the welcoming of Assistant Commissioner Jennifer Hagan-Dier and promotion of Sara Jo Houghland to public information officer. Hagan-Dier will be focusing on tax policy and economic development opportunities as Revenue’s liaison to the Department of Economic and Community Development. Houghland, who has been with the department for eight months, will continue to contribute to communication efforts for the department. She will also serve as a liaison to the Tennessee Film Commission, providing information about Tennessee’s film incentives and promoting film and television production within the State.

“Given Jennifer’s talents and background, I feel that she can immediately contribute to the State of Tennessee’s economic development and tax policy efforts,” said Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr. “Revenue’s involvement in economic development efforts has led to many successful project announcements and better communication with taxpayers, and I feel that Jennifer will work hard to continue that tradition.”

“Sara Jo already has contributed greatly to the department’s internal and external communications efforts,” Farr said. “I look forward to her future work in publicizing Revenue initiatives, especially in partnership with the Film Commission.”

Hagan-Dier, a native of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., obtained a law degree from DePaul University in Chicago, Ill., where she was a member of the Order of the Coif honors society, editor of the Law Review and co-editor in chief of the Women’s Law Journal. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where she was awarded several honors.

Before joining Revenue, Hagan-Dier clerked for the Honorable Judge Thomas A. Wiseman of the U.S. District Court Middle Tennessee District in Nashville and practiced at Mayer, Brown, Rowe and Maw, LLP in Chicago.

Before joining the department, Houghland assisted in production and script development at Mandate Pictures Production Company in Beverly Hills, Ca. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Middle Tennessee State University. Originally from Nashville, Houghland currently lives in the Green Hills neighborhood and is an active volunteer with the Tennessee State Museum Foundation.