Author: Patrick Collins

  • 9/11 Days of Service and Remembrance 2021

    Volunteer Memphis and Leadership Memphis will engage volunteers to honor first responders on the 20th commemoration of the September 11 attacks. Police, Fire, EMT, and Military will participate in a parade, experience a moving tribute with a large event, followed by volunteers taking meals to each precinct and fire station. More details coming soon!

  • 2021 Executive Program Graduates Virtually


    On Wednesday, April 28, 2021, the Executive Program 2021 virtually graduated! Congratulations to all of the participants!

    Rachel Alkire, Regional One Health, Development Officer- Major Gifts
    Jen Andrews, Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, CEO
    Andrea Baird, Moore Tech, Chief Administrative Officer
    Ashil Bijou, Monogram Foods, Vice President & Head of Procurement
    Robert Blackwell, AccredoHealth, Director Business Planning
    T. Kevin Bruce, Bruce Turner, PLLC, Attorney
    Anthony Jerome Buckner, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Captain/Public Information Officer
    Austin Burress, Regions, Mortgage Production Manager
    Cindy Cleveland, Diversified Trust, Principal & Chief Talent Officer
    Bob Cole, First Horizon Advisors, Regional Director
    Patrick Collins, Morris Marketing Group, Executive Vice President
    Susan Cooper, Regional One Health, Chief Integration Officer, Senior Vice President
    Lorelei Davis, Urban Strategies, Inc., Case Supervisor
    Sabrina Dawson, The Collective Blueprint, Vice President, Programs
    Marci Fisher, Baptist Memorial Health Care, Staff Attorney
    Craig Gaffin, Smith & Nephew, Vice President & General Manager of Trauma & Extremities
    Brad Gates, MLGW, Manager, Lighting & Street Services
    Danielle Gore, Epicenter, Program Manager of ZeroTo510 Medical Device Accelerator
    Emily Graham, Pfizer, Director, Strategic Initiatives
    Doreen Graves, Tennessee Housing Development Agency, West TN Liaison
    Sherman Greer, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Executive Director of Government Relations & Executive Assistant to the President
    Tiffanie Grier, Assisi Foundation of Memphis, Inc., Programs Officer
    Lori Guy, Hutchison School, Strategic Communications Director
    Alexis Gwin-Miller, Momentum Edge Coaching & Consulting, Executive Director
    Kelley Henderson, Catholic Charities, Executive Director
    Laurie Hodge, Church Health, Dental Director, Dentist
    Eldon Holliday, III, Memphis Public Library, Central Library Regional Manager
    Chuck Hudspeth, Hudspeth Benefits Group, Partner
    Rev. Samuel Husband, New City Memphis, Church Planter
    Andre Jackson, Caesars Entertainment-Horseshoe Tunica, Regional Vice President of Hospitality
    Chet Jackson, The Works, Inc., Director Of Multi-Family Housing
    Dr. Brodie Johnson, Dufresne Spencer Group, LLC, Director of Project Management & Corporate IT
    Nicholas Kapphahn, FedEx Express, Managing Director
    Rodney King, Core Spaces, Senior Vice President – Development
    Dana Leake, Frontdoor, Sr. Director of Operations
    Rhonda Logan, Memphis City Council, City Councilwoman
    Anton Mack, Explore Bike Share, Executive Director
    Sherry Mackey, Agape Child & Family Services, Director of Marketing & Communications
    James McCraw, Avison Young, Vice President, Retail Brokerage Services
    Justin Merrick, Community Transformation Center, Executive Director
    Latasha Mister-Echols, Knowledge Quest, Director of Programs
    Matt Mooney, University Clinical Care, Executive Director of Clinical Operations
    Juliette Moore, Crye Leike Realtors, Realtor
    Tina Moore, Director of Account Management, BCBST
    Raushanah Morgan, Shelby County Government, Deputy Director for the Division of Community Services
    Anna Mullins-Ellis, New Memphis Institute, President & CEO
    Jared Myers, Heights Community Development, Executive Director
    Tamara Nolen, MLGW, Manager, Corporate Communications
    Robbin Page, FedEx Express, Vice President, Human Resources
    Cecilia Palazola, Concord Academy, Executive Director
    Terence Patterson, Memphis Education Fund, CEO
    Jerica Phillips, Shelby County Schools, Chief of Communications
    Cathy Pope, Mid-South Food Bank, CEO
    Clark Province, Watkins Uiberall, PLLC, Certified Public Accountants
    Malcom Rawls, Peer Power Foundation, COO
    Dr. Lewis Reich, Southern College of Optometry, President
    Derrick Reives, CareerQuo, Co-Founder & CEO
    Teri Rhodes White, Ietal Communication and Design, Founder
    Larry Robinson, Kudzukian, CEO
    Chad Rounder, Pinnacle Financial Partners, SVP, Business Banking Area Manager
    Terry Rush, U.S. Navy, Deputy, Total Force HR and Manpower
    Eric Schmitt, Sedgwick, Global Chief Information Security Officer
    Jenae’ Scott-Robinson, Gardenview Elementary School, Principal
    David Simpson, HopeWorks, Inc., Chief Operating Officer
    Bennie Smith, Smartsoft LLC, Owner
    Rev. William Smith, III, Berean Missionary Baptist Church, Pastor
    Dr. Charles Snyder, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Director of Health Disparities Education & Community Engagement
    Dr. Ed Stephens, STAR Academy College Preparatory Charter School, Chief Strategy Officer
    Kathleen Terry-Sharp, CBU, Associate Vice President for Corporate and Foundation Relations
    Melissa Thompson, Crye Leike Realtors, Realtor
    Joia Thornton, Southern Center for Human Rights, National Policy Strategist
    Kyle Veazey, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – ALSAC, Senior Vice President, Executive Operations
    Amy Ware, CBU, Director of Career Services
    Toni Williams, Shelby County Schools, Chief Financial Officer
    Camille Wright, Ampro Industries Inc., VP Brand Marketing & Communications
    Sarah Katherine Wright, The Tennessee Law Center, PLLC, Attorney

  • Education Panel

    Join Leadership Memphis on Thursday, April 15, 2021, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. via Zoom as we hear from area professionals about what is and what is not working in our education system.

    This discussion will be moderated by Terence Patterson, President and CEO of Memphis Education Fund, and will feature panelists Chelsea Crawford, Chief of Staff of Tennessee Department of Education, and Miska Clay Bibbs, Board Chair of Shelby County Board of Education.

    REGISTER HERE!

  • Engage Luncheon

    Join us on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. as Demetria Frank, Associate Professor and Director of Diversity and Inclusion, University of Memphis School of Law, discusses Juvenile Justice in our city.

    REGISTER HERE!

  • Executive Class 2023

    The Leadership Memphis Executive Program brings together the brightest and most experienced leaders, decision-makers, influencers, and connectors in the greater Memphis community, with the goals of learning more about our great city, celebrating our community’s assets, and digging deeper into complex issues and challenges facing the Greater Memphis area. Over a nine-month period, participants in the Executive Program are immersed in an intensive experience aimed at building on existing personal and professional leadership skills, developing relationships and networks that drive and accelerate positive change, and delivering an ever-expanding pool of knowledgeable community leaders who are increasingly capable of taking the Memphis-metro area to the next level and beyond.

    Click here to apply for the Executive Class of 2023!

     

     

  • FastTrack Spring 2021

    Leadership Memphis’s mission is to prepare and mobilize leaders to work together for the good of the whole community. The FastTrack Program is designed for emerging leaders with high potential who are eager to make a difference in the Greater Memphis Area. Over a nine-week period, participants are introduced to challenging concepts, game-changing tools, and a network of opportunities to create positive change, personally and in the community.

    Click here to apply for the Spring 2021 FastTrack Class!

     

  • Leadership Memphis Announces 2021 Executive Class

    Members of the 2021 Executive Class celebrated their Opening Retreat over Zoom, meeting their classmates and learning about Leadership Memphis’ virtual program.

    MEMPHIS, Tenn., September 3, 2020 – Leadership Memphis is proud to announce the 83 local leaders that make up the 2021 Executive Class. This diverse group features executives from several professional sectors including business, nonprofit, government, faith, the arts, and more.

    “We are thrilled to welcome the 2021 Executive Class,” said Reggie Crenshaw, Interim President/CEO of Leadership Memphis, “These executives have already shown a deep desire to impact Memphis in a positive way and continue the Leadership Memphis tradition of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion while working together for the good of the whole community.”

    Over the next nine months, the 2021 Executive Class will complete an immersive virtual program aimed at connecting them to information about the developments and challenges facing Memphis while empowering them to work together for the good of the community.

    Leadership Memphis has graduated more than 3,600 leaders through its programs over the last 41 years. Their alumni include executives of Fortune 500 companies, pastors of some of the oldest congregations in the Mid-South, innovators in the nonprofit world, patrons of the arts, and countless small business leaders that are the lifeblood of Memphis. Those interested in learning more about Leadership Memphis’ programs can go to their website at https://www.inovativewebsolutions.agency/leadership/.

    2021 Executive Program Class:

    First Name Last Name Company Title
    Rachel Alkire Regional One Health Foundation Director of Development
    Jen Andrews Shelby Farms Park Executive Director
    Andrea Baird Moore Tech Chief Administrative Officer
    Ashil Bijou Monogram Foods Vice President Procurement
    Robert Blackwell AccredoHealth Director Business Planning
    T Kevin Bruce Bruce Turner Law Attorney
    Anthony Jerome Buckner Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Captain/Public Information Officer
    Austin Burress Regions Mortgage Production Manager
    Cindy Cleveland Diversified Trust Chief Talent Officer
    James Robert (Bob) Cole First Horizon Advisors Regional Director
    Patrick Collins Morris Marketing Group Executive Vice President
    Broderick Connesero The Common Church Preaching Visionary Pastor
    Susan Cooper Regional One Health Chief Integration Officer, Senior Vice President
    Lorelei Davis Urban Strategies, Inc. Case Supervisor
    Sabrina Dawson The Collective Blueprint Vice President of Programs
    Marci Fisher Baptist Memorial Health Care Staff Attorney
    Craig Gaffin Smith & Nephew Vice President & General Manager of Trauma & Extremities
    Brad Gates MLGW Manager, Lighting and Street Services
    Danielle Gore Epicenter Program Manager of ZeroTo510 Medical Device Accelerator
    Emily Graham Pfizer Director, Strategic Initiatives
    Doreen Graves Tennessee Housing Development Agency West TN Liaison
    Sherman Greer Southwest TN Community College Executive Director, External Affairs
    Tiffanie Grier Assisi Foundation of Memphis, Inc. Programs Officer
    Kyla Gutierrez-Guyette Workforce Investment Network WIN Executive Director
    Lori Guy Hutchison School Strategic Communications Director
    Alexis Gwin-Miller Momentum Edge Coaching and Consulting Agency Executive Director
    Kelley Henderson Catholic Charities Executive Director
    Laurie Hodge Church Health Dental Director, Dentist
    Eldon Eugene Holliday, III Memphis Public Library Central Library Regional Manager
    Chuck Hudspeth Hudspeth Benefits Group President
    Rev. Samuel Husband New City Memphis Church Pastor
    Andre Jackson Caesar’s Entertainment- Horseshoe Tunica Regional Vice President of Hospitality
    Chet Jackson The Works Director Of Multi-Family Housing
    Dr. Brodie Johnson Cornerstone Institutional Baptist Church Senior Pastor
    Nicholas Kapphahn FedEx Express Managing Director
    Rodney King Core Spaces Senior Vice President – Development
    Dana Leake Frontdoor Sr. Director of Operations
    Rhonda Logan Memphis City Council City Councilwoman
    Anton Mack Explore Bike Share Executive Director
    Sherry Mackey Clark Agape Child & Family Services, Inc. Director of Marketing and Communications
    James McCraw Avison Young Vice President, Retail Brokerage Services
    Justin Merrick Community Transformation Center Executive Director
    Latasha Mister-Echols Knowledge Quest Director of Programs
    Matt Mooney University Clinical Care Executive Director of Clinical Operations
    Tina Moore Director of Account Management BCBST
    Juliette Moore Crye Leike Realtors Realtor
    Raushanah Morgan Shelby County Government Deputy Director for the Division of Community Services
    Anna Mullins-Ellis New Memphis Institute President & CEO
    Jared Myers Heights Community Development Executive Director
    Tamara Nolen MLGW Manager, Corporate Communications
    Robbin Page FedEx Express Vice President, Human Resources
    Cecilia Palazola Concord Academy Executive Director
    Terence Patterson Memphis Education Fund CEO
    Jerica Monique Phillips Shelby County Schools Chief of Communications
    Cathy Pope Mid-South Food Bank CEO
    Clark Province Watkins Uiberall, PLLC Certified Public Accountants
    Malcom Rawls Peer Power Foundation COO
    Dr. Lewis Reich Southern College of Optometry President
    Derrick Reives CareerQuo Co-Founder & CEO
    Teri Rhodes White Ietal Communication and Design Founder
    Larry Robinson Kudzukian CEO
    Chad Rounder Pinnacle Financial Partners SVP, Business Banking Area Manager
    Terry Rush U.S. Navy Deputy, Total Force HR and Manpower
    Michael Scarbrough Prospero-Health President/CEO
    John Paul Schaffer BLDG Memphis Executive Director
    Eric Schmitt Sedgwick Global Chief Information Security Officer
    William Scott The Money Spartans Financial Group President
    Jenae’ Scott-Robinson Gardenview Elementary School Principal
    David Simpson HopeWorks, Inc. Chief Operating Officer
    Bennie Smith Smartsoft LLC Owner
    Rev. William Smith, III Berean Missionary Baptist Church Pastor
    Dr. Charles Snyder University of Tennessee Health Science Center Director of Health Disparities Education and Community Engagement
    Dr. Ed Stephens STAR Academy College Preparatory Charter School Chief Operating Officer
    Kathleen Terry-Sharp CBU Associate Vice President for Corporate and Foundation Relations
    Melissa Thompson Crye Leike Realtors Realtor
    Joia Thornton Just City Program & Partnership Manager
    Jessie Tucker Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare President – Methodist South Hospital
    Kyle Veazey City of Memphis Deputy Chief Operating Officer
    Amy Ware CBU Director of Career Services
    Tutonial (Toni) Williams Shelby County Schools Chief Financial Officer
    Camille Wright Ampro Industries Inc. VP Brand Marketing & Communications
    Sarah Katherine Wright The Tennessee Law Center, PLLC Attorney
  • Leadership Memphis Launching New Executive Search

    Leadership Memphis Launching New Executive Search

    Leadership Memphis’ board, led by Board Chair Reginald Porter Jr., is launching an executive search for their next top executive.

    MEMPHIS, Tenn., August 18, 2020 – Leadership Memphis has launched an executive search to find the organization’s next President/CEO. After serving for 16 years, current President/CEO David Williams is pursuing a new challenge outside of Leadership Memphis. Reggie Crenshaw, graduate of the Leadership Memphis Executive Class of 2011, will act as Interim President while the Board of Directors conducts the search. A complete job description and details for applying can be found on the Leadership Memphis website at this link: https://www.inovativewebsolutions.agency/leadership/careers/.

    “Leadership Memphis has grown tremendously under the leadership of David Williams and we are forever thankful for his dedication and contributions to the organization and the leaders of Memphis,” said Reginald Porter Jr., Leadership Memphis Board Chair. “David ushered more than 2,000 of the total 3,600 alumni through Leadership Memphis programs, acquired Volunteer Memphis, and has led Leadership Memphis to many more successes during his tenure. As a Leadership Memphis Alum, David has already pledged his support of the organization and we look forward to his continued involvement as a member of the class of 2006.”

    For more than 40 years, Leadership Memphis has been the premiere Mid-South organization for preparing civic-minded leaders to work together and improve their communities. Leadership Memphis boasts more than 3,600 alumni that are executives in Fortune 500 companies, pastors of some of the oldest congregations in the Mid-South, innovators in the nonprofit world, patrons of the arts, and countless small business leaders that are the lifeblood of Memphis.

    “The board has chosen Leadership Memphis alumnus and long-time supporter and contributor to the organization, Reggie Crenshaw as the Interim President while the search is underway. We have the utmost confidence in Reggie’s ability to excel as Interim President to continue our 40+ year tradition of engaging leaders and impacting Memphis,” added Porter Jr.

    Leadership Memphis is in its 42nd year of serving the Mid-South and welcomes its 2021 Executive Program class this month. You can read more about Leadership Memphis and its programs at their website leadershipmemphis.com.

  • Leadership Memphis Announces 2021 Board Members

    MEMPHIS, Tenn., August 10, 2020 – Leadership Memphis is proud to announce its Executive Committee and Board Members for the 2021 fiscal year. The board is comprised of a diverse group of community, business, government, faith, education, and non-profit leaders that are dedicated to preparing leaders to work together for the good of the whole community.

    Since 1979, Leadership Memphis has continually developed new ways of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the Mid-South by connecting leaders to leaders, leaders to information, and leaders to the community.

    “We are extremely fortunate to have assembled another outstanding board of directors for this year and will rely on their leadership to guide us forward,” said David Williams, Leadership Memphis President/CEO.  “As a nonprofit organization committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we are proud to have a majority-minority board for the seventh straight year, as well as a female-majority board for the second time in the past five years.”

    Leadership Memphis is in its 42nd year of serving the Mid-South and welcomes its 2021 Executive Program class this month. You can read more about Leadership Memphis and its programs at their website leadershipmemphis.com.

    2021 Leadership Memphis Executive Board Members:

    Board Chair – Reginald Porter, Jr., SVP, Corporate Social Responsibility, Chief Diversity Officer, ALSAC/ St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

    Vice Chair – Valerie Morris, President & CEO, Morris Marketing Group

    Immediate Past Chair – Terry Lynch, President, The Southland Capital Corporation

    Secretary – Rick Wagers, Senior Executive Vice President and CFO, Regional One Health

    Treasurer – Shirley Ford, CFO, City of Memphis

    Program Chair – Shunji Brown-Woods, Director of Professional Affairs, Smith & Nephew

    Alumni Chair – Vernon Stafford Jr., EVP/Chief Audit Executive, First Horizon National Corporation

    Volunteer Memphis Chair – Ginger  Pilgrim, Principal, Price Waterhouse Cooper

    At Large – Belinda Anderson, Community Volunteer

    At Large – Ted Townsend, Chief Economic Development and Government Relations Officer, University of Memphis

    At Large – Percie Strong-Jenkins, SVP, Senior Treasury Officer, Bank of America

     2021 New Board Members

    Regina Ann Campbell, Chief Program Officer, Epicenter Memphis

    Joanna Crangle, Market President/ Publisher, Memphis Business Journal

    Gwyn Fisher, Regional Director, Department of Economic & Community Development, State of Tennessee

    Paul Haught, Vice President for Academics, Christian Brothers University

    Marlinee Iverson, County Attorney, Shelby County Government

    Carol Johnson, President, Spaces Group, LLC

    James Kirkwood, Executive Director, Memphis Christian Pastor’s Network

    Kimmie McNeil Vaulx, System Director of Corporate Communications, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation

    Dr. Albert Mosley, SVP, Chief Mission Integration Officer, Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare

    Kandace Stewart, Director, Business Operations & External Affairs, Memphis Grizzlies

    Dan Weddle, President and CEO, ProTech Services Group, Inc.

     2021 Returning Board Members:

    Rene Bustamante, Staff Vice President & Assistant Treasurer, FedEx

    Jim Crone, Government & Corporate Relations/Comprehensive Solutions, Trane U.S. Inc.

    Blake Elliott, Senior Vice President, Regions Bank

    Julie Ellis, Senior Counsel, Butler Snow

    Edmund Ford Jr., Commissioner, District 9, Shelby County Commission

    Jean Morton, SVP, Manager, Institutional & Government, SunTrust Bank/Truist

    Patrice Robinson, Council Member, District 3, Chair, Memphis City Council

    Linda Sawyer, CAO/CFO, Memphis Tourism

    Sylvester Tate, Owner, Tate Computer Systems

    Karren Todd, Empowerment Coach, Life Coach    

    Chuck Utterback, Assistant Vice President, Network Management, CIGNA

    Marvin White, Manager, Desktop Planning & Innovation R&D, FedEx TechConnect

    Laurie Whitney, Integrated Products Sr. Project Manager, Sedgwick

     

  • Volunteer Memphis Awards

    Our 4th Annual Volunteer Memphis Awards will celebrate excellence in volunteerism by individuals, civic groups, nonprofits, and businesses across the Mid-South. Volunteer Memphis will recognize finalists and winners during a virtual award ceremony  June 24, 2021.

    The Volunteer Memphis Awards is a “thank you” to the 300,000 volunteers who give so tirelessly of themselves each year, as well as an opportunity to put a spotlight on many of the most passionate, dedicated, and caring.

    Learn More and Register Here!