30 Under 30 -Ana Sanchez
Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Image by Al Blanton
Ana Sanchez knows what it means to care deeply about an experience.
At Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, where she serves as House Supervisor and Trainer, that care shows up in a hundred small ways before the doors ever open. There are emails to answer, shifts to coordinate, ushers to prepare, VIP details to confirm, and artists’ teams to support.
“We are stewards of a history that existed long before we were alive,” she says, describing the weight and wonder of working in one of music’s most revered venues.
On event nights, her role becomes fluid - helping wherever she is needed, whether that means coordinating with tour managers, assisting security, or making sure her team has what they need to create a seamless experience for every guest who walks through the doors.
That instinct to create meaningful experiences did not appear out of nowhere. A 2021 graduate of Jasper High School, Sanchez has been drawn to live music for years. She has attended concerts since fifth grade, and over time, realized she wanted to pursue a career where her work felt alive.
While attending Birmingham-Southern College, Ana initially thought fashion might be her future. But after earning a spot on the school’s concert board and helping produce campus shows, she found her footing in live events. The long days, moving pieces, and high-pressure pace did not intimidate her. They energized her.“I realized I was good at this,” she says. “I could thrive in chaos.”
Even the abrupt closure of Birmingham-Southern, where Sanchez was part of the school’s final graduating class, reinforced something she still carries with her now: experiences matter because they do not last forever, and community matters because it helps carry people through what they cannot carry alone.
While she enjoys her work, it can often be stressful. As such, Ana picked up running as a hobby to help her become more grounded. Through major life changes, heartbreak, anxiety, and transition, running became something steady she could return to no matter what the day held.
In 2025, she ran the New York City Marathon, an experience she describes as one of the best days of her life. Now, she is preparing to run the Berlin Marathon this fall, continuing a challenge that has become both personal and purposeful. She says the most meaningful part is the opportunity to fundraise in support of inclusive youth running programs, including those serving young people with disabilities.
The miles are personal, but they also point outward toward access, encouragement, and the chance for more young people to experience the confidence and connection that movement can bring.
At the heart of it all, Ana cares about how people feel in a specific moment and what they carry from it once it’s over. That is true whether she is helping lead a night at the Ryman or running toward a finish line of her own. 78