About Us
Delta Public Strategies was founded by Emily Cupples to deliver transformative strategies tailored to each client’s unique goals. Inspired by the meaning of 'Delta' as transformation, we know that winning looks different for every client, which is why we tailor every strategy to turn challenges into opportunities. Built on creativity, bold ideas, and meaningful relationships, we help amplify your voice and deliver the wins that matter most.
About Emily
Founder and Principal
Born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, Emily Cupples carries the essence of transformation in her roots. Her upbringing in this rich and historic region instilled a deep understanding of how grit, creativity, and strategic thinking can drive meaningful change. (Hence our firm’s name.)
Emily brings decades of experience in public affairs, issue management, government relations, and strategic communications to Delta Public Strategies. She has worked in multiple states before settling in Middle Tennessee. Emily is one of the few public affairs professionals who has worked in all 95 counties in Tennessee, giving her an unmatched understanding of local dynamics and statewide policy challenges. Her ability to combine innovative tactics with creativity and a deep knowledge of legislative processes has led to successful outcomes for clients across numerous industries.
When she’s not problem solving, Emily enjoys exploring local farmers markets in search of the juiciest tomatoes, discovering new dives and digs, hosting Sunday Suppers, long walks with her dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Lionel, sweating it out in a sauna, or tracking down the best martinis in town. The latter two of which she’s been known to take meetings while doing so.
Zach Fetzer
Policy and Communications Associate
Born and raised in Tennessee, Zach Fetzer brings a deep understanding of the state’s political landscape and how the role of clear, strategic communications plays in shaping the public. As a Policy and Communications Associate at Delta Public Strategies, Zach supports clients through research, messaging development, media outreach, and stakeholder engagement across a range of public affairs issues.
Zach has worked on multiple political campaigns, gaining hands on experience in campaign management, fundraising strategy, voter targeting, and media coordination. He has also supported advocacy efforts through policy research and direct outreach to elected officials and key decision-makers. Freshly a graduate from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Zach combines academic training with real world experience in politics, public relations, and public affairs.
Outside of work, Zach enjoys the Nashville life of live music, where he has attended over 150 concerts throughout the last ten years. When he is not at a show or in a Ticketmaster queue, he enjoys spending time at local businesses, attending Tennessee football games, and spending time with people he loves.
Courtney Grable-Nelson
Strategy Manager and Campaigns Coordinator
As a Nashville native, Courtney Grable-Nelson has had a front-row seat to the city’s growth, transformation, and evolving identity. Watching Nashville transform over the years sparked her passion for public policy, political strategy, and the role thoughtful leadership plays in shaping resilient communities.
In her role as Strategy Manager and Campaigns Coordinator, Courtney utilizes her experience across public affairs and strategic communications to help shape thoughtful messaging, impactful initiatives, and community-focused engagement efforts. Prior to discovering her passion for political strategy and campaigns, she explored career paths in marketing, public relations, and internal auditing within local government. These experiences strengthened her ability to blend big-picture thinking with practical solutions that connect people, policy, and purpose.
A graduate of Lipscomb University, Courtney holds a B.B.A. in Business Management with a minor in English and is currently pursuing a master’s degree through the Lipscomb Institute for Sustainable Practice, with a focus on public policy and urban development. When she’s not working or studying, Courtney enjoys spending time in her garden, discovering new restaurants and cocktail bars, reading, and spending time with her husband, Ryan, their son, Eliot, and their dog, Bonnie.
