The Leader: Spring 2016

LEADER

THE

Empowering Our Community to Step Up Alumni Newsletter Spring 2016

MEALS FOR MEMPHIS RESULTS PG. 19

COLLEGE AND CAREER TOURS

WHAT’S THE IMPACT? PG. 16

LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON RECAP AND PHOTOS PG. 6

Jaqueline Oselen Director of Programs Carol Gaudino Director of Volunteer Memphis Shantile Franklin Operations Coordinator Amber Hampton Marketing and Communications Coordinator Courtney Miller Development Coordinator Alton Cryer Memphis Talent Dividend Coordinator Sheena Boyce AmeriCorps VISTA Community Resource Coordinator Dominique Primer AmeriCorps VISTA Community Resource Coordinator

GRADUATE MEMPHIS STAFF

Taylor Sherbine AmeriCorps VISTA Community Resource Coordinator

Renee McCreight Director of Memphis Talent Dividend and Graduate Memphis Nedra Bailey Educatoin Advisor Vietta O’Bryant Education Advisor Kimberly Jordan-Fluker Educaton Advisor Joya Smith Advising and Retention Coordinator

Lisa Droke Treasurer CFO Cotton Council

Mike Bowen Alumni Chair President and CEO T-Shirt Champions

Reggie Crenshaw Vice Chair Principal Crenshaw and Associates

Percie Strong-Jenkins Secretary SVP, Sr. Treasury Sales Officer Bank of America

Bryan Ford Volunteer Chair Senior VP Regions Bank

John Jackson Immediate Past Chair Vice President SPEI + CI FedeEx Tech Connect

Nyrone Hawkins Programs Chair Executive Director First Tee of Memphis

Dr. Betty Sue McGarvey MTD/GM Chair President Baptist College of Health Sciences

Daryl Arbor Audit Director Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare

Ephie Johnson President & CEO Neighborhood Christian Center

Terri Riley Senior VP Sedgwick

Sharon Barnett-Myers Memphis Region Commercial Manager UBC & Express Scripts

Linda Lauer Managing Director CBIZ

Jeff Rower VP/Senior Account Supervisor Retail First

Charles Buffington Global Account Manager Avaya

Vincent Lee President & CEO Service Master Facilities Maintenance

Janet Shipman Assistant County Attorney Shelby County Government

Clarence Carr Plant Manager Cummins, Inc.

Deidre Malone President & CEO The Carter Malone Group, LLC

Herman Strickland Senior VP & Manager of Diversity Banking Pinnacle Bank

Alexandra Matlock Owner Contigo Creatie

Mary Tate-Smith VP of Sales Cigna Healthcare

Lauren McHugh-Robinson President Huey’s Restaurants

Fred Towler VP of Supply Chain Operations International Paper

Linda Carter HR Consultant Jason Farmer Shelby County 911 Desi Franklin Senior VP, Assistant General Counsel First Horizon National Corporation Channa Halmon Resource & Referral Specialist LeBonheur Children’s Hospital Jay Healy President Century Wealth Management

Lori Patton Owner Roadshow BMW/Mini Reginald Porter, Jr. Chief of Staff Shelby County Schools Kelly Rayne VP, Public Policy Greater Memphis Chamber

Greater Memphis Chamber CEOs For Cities People First National Talent Dividend ALP TACL Graduate Network TCASN Seeding Success Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence Amberican Leadership Forum Drive to 55 Hands on Network Points of Light Foundation

STRATEGIC PARTNERS

Jared Bulluck Senior Director of Community and Alumni Engagement

Brian Stephens Board Chair CEO Caissa Public Strategy

MEMBERS & AFFILIATIONS

Latoria “Tori” Taylor Vice President

Mission: We prepare and mobilize leaders to work together for the good of the whole community.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

David Williams President/CEO

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LEADERSHIP MEMPHIS STAFF

LEADERSHIP MEMPHIS 2015-2016

Martha Wagley Pastor Emeritus First United Methodist Church

A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT Dear Alumni and Friends.

Here we are. The end of another Leadership Memphis program year. Number 37 has been good to Leadership Memphis. Just three more years and we turn 40!!

We want to recognize all our Leadership Memphis program graduates and new alumni. We high-five all those who volunteered through Volunteer Memphis. We applaud those who made the decision to go back to college with the help of Graduate Memphis. We humbly thank all those who provided financial support to us this year. Honestly, we have a lot to be thankful for in so many ways.

One group to whom we should express our thanks more often is our board of directors. In my twelve years at Leadership Memphis we have always been blessed to have a good board. This year has been no different. While individual board members change, the enduring leadership is always strong, steady and innovative with a focus on preparing and mobilizing leaders to work together for the good of the whole community.

Our outstanding board chair this year has been Brian Stephens, CEO, Caissa Public Strategies. Next year our chair is Reggie Crenshaw, principal of Crenshaw and Associates.

They are part of a long history of board chairs that steered the organization through calm waters and choppy seas.

Being the board chair of Leadership Memphis isn’t just an honor, it is a lot of long hours on top of a job, family and other community commitments.

The other members of the executive committee next year include Percie Strong-Jenkins (Bank of America) as vice-chair; Linda Lauer (CBIZ) as treasurer; Terri Riley (Sedgwick) as secretary; Linda Carter (HR Consultant) as program chair; Herman Strickland (Pinnacle Financial) as alumni chair; Jeff Rower (Retail First) as Volunteer Memphis chair; and Reginald Porter, Jr. (Shelby County Schools) as Graduate Memphis chair.

Vernon Stafford (First Tennessee); Terry Lynch (Southland Capital); Sridhar Sunkara (e2biz); Edmund Ford, Jr. (Memphis City Council); Rick Wagers (Regional One Health); Ernest Strickland (Greater Memphis Chamber) and Shiela Vinczeller (International Paper). We appreciate each and every one of the board members who continue their board terms this year, listed on the opposite page.

And we absolutely must thank the following board members who are rolling off the board, but who have served tirelessly on behalf of this organization: Kelly Rayne (Greater Memphis Chamber); Bryan Ford (Regions); Fred Towler (International Paper); Clarence Carr (Cummins); Lisa Droke (Cotton Council); Desi Franklin (First Tennessee); Reverend Martha Wagley and Alexandra Matlock (Contigo Creative).

Thank you board members past, present and future.

Leadership Memphis would not be where it is today without you and the sacrifices you have made and the time, talents and treasure you shared. We won’t reach our future goals without you, either. The work continues. The baton is passed. Our community is better off thanks to you. And I know I am a better leader to have served alongside you.

Thanks for all you do for Memphis!

CONTENTS

We welcome incoming new board members: Reverend Karren Todd (New Directions); Blake Elliott (Regions Bank);

Programs...........................................4-5

Alumni in the News......................12-13

Graduate Memphis............18

Leadership Luncheon.......................6-7

SUCCESS High Schools...............14-15

Volunteer Memphis...........19

Corporate Sponosors........................8-9

College and Career Tours..................16

Save the Dates...................20

Alumni & Friend Sponsors...........10-11

Memphis Talent Dividend..................17

FastTrack Fall 2015

FastTrack Spring 2016

2015-2016 Leadership Memphis Graduates

LEADERSHIP MEMPHIS PROGRAMS FASTTRACK FALL 2015

Lisa Allen, Stax Museum of American Soul Music LaQuitta Bell, Memphis Consulting Group, LLC Sophia Boufidou, FedEx Corporation Sheena Boyce, Leadership Memphis Raymond Bradford, Jr., Belhaven University Deidra Brooks, Democrats for Education Reform Grady Brower, FedEx Corporation Lee Chase, IV, Literacy Mid-South Jennifer Clarke, Sullivan Branding Terrell Goldsmith, FedEx Corporation William Goodson, AIL Logistics Solutions Geoffrey Lewis, Fearnley, Martin & McDonald, PLLC Tehrian Martin, United Way of the Mid-South Angela Massengale, Memphis Public Library Tiffani Morrow, Grizzlies Team Up Youth Mentor Program Dominique Primer, Leadership Memphis Alicia Rose Taylor Sherbine, Leadership Memphis Jaqueline Sparks-Davila, Contemporary Media Neely Thomas, Attorney Troy Wiggins, Literacy Mid-South David Williams, FedEx Corporation

FASTTRACK SPRING 2016

Grassroots 2016

Criminal Juvenile Justice 2015

Executive Class 2016 We are pleased to present the 2015-2106 graduates from our Executive, FastTrack and Grassroots programs and the first cohort from our newest program, Criminal/ Juvenile Justice. These 167 individuals range from frontline leaders to high level decision makers with a broad spectrum of passions and interests. Yet, they are dedicated to take focused action to create a better Memphis.

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Janci Christopher, FedEx Corporation Cassi Conyers, Pink Diva Cupcakery Mary Fondren, World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Erica Freeman, Baptist Memorial Healthcare Amber Hampton, Leadership Memphis Brandy Hardaway, Shelby Farms Park Conservancy Whitney Harmon, Baker Donelson Gregory Hassler, Univar Sabrinia Haynes, Creativity Reigns Dalton Humphries, Cigna Healthcare Tiffany Jackson, BlueCross BlueSheild of Tennessee Richard Kelley, Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare Renee McCreight, Leadership Memphis Sydney McGhee, Shelby County Schools Courtney Miller, Leadership Memphis Candace Obadina, Memphis Teacher Residency Taylor Prewitt, FedEx Corporation Sabrina Samuels, Retired Frances Talbert, FedEx Corporation Chandra Towler Searcy, International Paper

GRASSROOTS 2016

Janet Booker, George Washington Carver H.S. Bridgett Bradley, Bradley & Jester, LLC Mildred Clark, Dominion Leadership Association Ptorey Crutchfield, Shelby County Schools Ellyn Daniel, Friends for Life Corporation Paris Ducker, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Michalyn Easter, Our Grass Our Roots April Jackson, Methodist Healthcare Andrea Jacobo, University of Tennessee Rachel Lawson, Anna Julia Cooper

Educational Services Maya Lee, George Washington Carver H.S. Courtney Lowery, Youth Villages Keith Millbrook, Barron Heights Transitional Center Tracey Millbrook, We Are Family Community Development Corporation William Roberson, Retired Carolyn Somerville, Shelby County Health Department Shirley Terry-Lewis, Shelby County Health Department Whitney Williams, RedZone Ministries

CRIMINAL JUVENILE JUSTICE CLASS 2016 Gerald Darling, Shelby County Schools Kirk Fields, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Sandra Green, City of Memphis Llana Greer, Pre-Trial Services Shelby County William Gupton, Shelby County Wanda Halbert, City of Memphis Jean Handley, Turning Point Partners Paul Juarez, University of Tennessee Health Science Center Bishop Mays, Memphis Gunned Down Stevie Moore, Freedom from Unnecessary Violence (FUNN) Steve Mulroy, University of Memphis Olliette Murry-Drobot, Family Safety Center of Memphis & Shelby County Brona Pinnolis, Memphis Shelby Crime Commission/Operation Safe Community Shawn Roberson Josh Spickler, Defender’s Resource Network Shelby County KB Turner, University of Memphis Ron Wade, Hope Works Roderick Woody, WIN-Workforce Investment Network Jill Carroll, Leadership Memphis/ALF Latoria Taylor, Leadership Memphis/ ALF

EXECUTIVE CLASS 2016

Timothy Gatewood, Kingdom Quality Communications Elizabeth Genco, TN Achievement School District Allison Gibbs Eugene Gibson, The Place of the Outpouring at Olivet Fellowship Tannera Gibson, Burch, Porter & Johnson, PLLC Tabitha Glenn, ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Christopher Hearn, KPMG Metrick Houser, International Paper JoeDae Jenkins, Office of General Sessions Clerk Joseph Jolly, FedEx TechConnect Jim Kothe, Expedient Wesley LaRue, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis Ben Ledsinger, SSR Ellers Stephanie Love, Shelby County Schools Joe Lyons, Barr Brands International Lloyd Martin, FedEx Services LaShaunda Massey, LaShaunda P. Massey, PhD Katie Midgley, Plough Foundation Ellen Minderman, Medtronic George Monger, The Consortium MMT Patricia Morgan, Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau Donna Newman, Leadership Germantown Michael Pardue, Regions Bank Patrick Parks, Self Employed Richard Peterson, ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Ayoka Pond, Baptist Memorial Healthcare Hattie Porter, Neighborhood Christian Center Colleen Radish, Inferno Creative Thomas Rieger, Memphis Chamber of Commerce Karen Rodriguez, Latino Memphis Kirby Salton, Artizan Constructors, LLC Douglas Scarboro, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Memphis Branch Jonathan Skrmetti, Butler Snow LLP Leslie Smith, EPIcenter Memphis Altha Stewart, University of Tennessee Health Science Center Poornima Sunkara, eBiz Solutions Belinda Tate, Brenstine Homes, LLC Kenneth Taylor, Soulsville Charter School Patrice Thomas, City of Memphis Phyllis Thomas, Memphis Public Library Rebbie Timmons, St. Francis Healthcare Marti Tippens Murphy, Facing History and Ourselves Karren Todd, New Direction Christian Church Michael Todd, Premiere Contractors Jonathan Torres, Memphis Athletic Ministries Joy Truly Brown, The Orpheum Theater Memphis Sheila Urevbu, Art Village Gallery Shiela Vinczeller, International Paper Ann Wagner, Moore Tech College Paige Walkup, Caissa Public Strategy Thomas Wallace, Memphis-Shelby Airport Authority Alfred Washington, Top Notch Security, Inc. Donna White, Self Employed Amy Whittemore, Smith & Nephew

Petrick Adams, FedEx Services Noma Anderson, College of Health Professions UTHSC Rico Andrews, Always Best Care of Memphis Monroe Ballard, Optimum Studios Dan Barron, Entercom Communications Michael Berry, Sony Electronics Robert Blankenship, Sedgwick Dr. Ian Buchanan,Democrats for Education Reform Chris Buziak, U.S. Navy John Cameron, City of Memphis Chris Chastain, Flintco, LLC Claudia Cogswell, Memphis Clean Sarah Colley, Regional One Health Mary Cuyler, BDO John Daho, Memphis Light, Gas & Water Allan Daisley, Memphis Bioworks Cynthia Davis, Methodist Healthcare Nelia Dempsey, Senator Mark Norris Jason Dillon, The Commercial Appeal Katie Easter, CBIZ MHM, LLC Terri Freeman, National Civil Rights Museum Duncan Galbreath, First Tennessee Ron Garrison, Memphis Area Transportation Authority Debra Gates, Shelby County Trustee David Zaleski, FBSciences, Inc.

DO YOU KNOW A

COMMUNITY

LEADER? Take a Moment Introduce us to a Community Leader Leadership Memphis recognizes that community leaders exist in all corners of our community, representing all socio-economic and demographic categories, professions and neighborhoods.

Thus we created an eco-system of programs that prepare and mobilize these leaders to work together for the good of the whole community. While each program is unique, all programs share common threads of advancing diversity and inclusivity, increasing individual and collective impact, and promoting civic engagement that makes a difference. If you will take a moment and introduce us to a community leader you know, we will take it from there. To nominate or apply see info below.

“Leadership Memphis provided me with a holistic approach to leadership through experiential activities designed to provide you with insight into yourself as a leader and an awareness of what real leadership means. It provided many opportunities to see what is available to you to expand your leadership role by serving in your very own community. ” -Phyllis Taylor Thomas, EP 2016

OUR PROGRAMS EXECUTIVE CLASS

FASTTRACK CLASS

GRASSROOTS CLASS

CRIMINAL JUVENILE JUSTICE CLASS

Our original program brings together the brightest local executives so they can learn more about themselves, each other and the greater community. This creates a powerful forum for networking, shared learning, and making a difference.

This unique program is designed to bolster the effectiveness of existing grassroots leaders by focusing on ten basic leadership skills, exploring leadership processes and techniques, and demonstrating the “how to” capacities of front-line leaders.

To learn more: www.leadershipmemphis.org/Programs

Emerging, high-potential leaders hungry to make a genuine difference in the community are introduced to challenging concepts, game-changing tools and inspirational opportunities. They want to take Memphis to the next level and we want to help them.

This program is in partnership with the American Leadership Forum and is designed to join and strengthen leaders involved in all aspects of criminal justice in the Greater Memphis community.

To nominate or apply: www.leadershipmemphis.org/Apply or contact: Jared Bulluck, Sr. Director of Community and Alumni Engagement jbulluck@leadershipmemphis.org

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2016 LEADERSHIP AWARDS LUNCHEON

More than 550 people came out to the Hilton on March 2 to celebrate standout leaders in our community. As one of our three signature events, our annual Leadership Awards Luncheon is always a great time to connect with your fellow Alums and see who is stepping up and doing great things in our community.

Toney Armstrong accepting the 2016 Kate Gooch Leader of the Year Award from Board Chair Brian Stephens and Vice Chair Reggie Crenshaw.

13 award recipients were honored at this year’s luncheon. From students to the recognized community organization, each recipient has exemplified what a community leader should be and are blazing a trail through Memphis.

1 keynote speaker D. John Jackson accepting the 2016 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award from Board Chair Brian Stephens and Vice Chair Reggie Crenshaw.

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left everyone motivated to step up in Memphis. Carol Coletta’s presentaton focused on Talent, Opportunity, Connections, and Distinctiveness and how to use these to create the Memphis we want to see.

Sandra Walls accepting the 2016 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award from Board Chair Brian Stephens and Vice Chair Reggie Crenshaw.

2016 Step-Up Award Scholar recipients: Jason Harris, Carver H.S.; Mildred Goins, Carver H.S.; Jeremy Becton, Trezevant H.S.; Kimberly London, Kirby H.S.; Mia Sutton,Kingsbury H.S.; Caleb Fair, Hamilton H.S.; Linneka Watson, East H.S.; Deunta Jeffries, Melrose H.S.; Caren Guevara, Fairley H.S.

Executive Director Diane Terrell accepting the 2016 Community Champion Award for the Memphis Grizzlies Foundation from Board Chair Brian Stephens and Vice Chair Reggie Crenshaw.

Keynote Speaker Carol Coletta, Senior Fellow with the American Cities Practice at the Kresge Foundation.

2016 LEADERSHIP AWARDS LUNCHEON

Mary E. Mitchell and LueElla Marshall

Nico Hardaway, Tim Jordan, Joel Katz, Mason Massey, Mike Vinson

Christy Fletcher, Alicia Carney, Danitra Martin, Courtney Wallace

Bill Gupton and Benise Bollheimer

Jill Crocker and Herman Strickland

Alonzo Weaver, LaSonya Hall, Jill Madajczyk, Odell Johnson 7

CORPORATE SPONSORS Leadership Memphis is deeply appreciative to the following corporate sponsors. Funding support from our corporate sponsors makes it possible for Leadership Memphis to deliver 4 community leadership programs (Executive, FastTrack, Criminal/Juvenile Justice and Grassroots), 3 signature events (Multicultural Breakfast, Alumni Holiday Party, Community Leadership and Awards Luncheon), numerous alumni activities, events and continuing education opportunities (3,000+ alumni), and 4 action initiatives (Memphis Talent Dividend: College Attainment Initiative, Graduate Memphis, SUCCESS High Schools, and Volunteer Memphis.

Sponsors as of April 4, 2016

LEADER $30,000+

ENTREPRENEUR $12,500 - $29,999

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CORPORATE SPONSORS

TEAM BUILDER $6,500 - $12,499

INNOVATOR $3,000 - $6,499

ADVOCATES $1,000 - $2,999 1Source Belhaven University CBIZ MHM LLC & Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C.

Duncan-Williams, Inc. HRO Partners LRK, Inc. Metropolitan Bank

Owen Brennans Rhodes College Spikner Union University 9

ALUMNI AND FRIEND SPONSORS Leadership Memphis is deeply appreciative to the following alumni sponsors. Funding support from our alumni sponsors makes it possible for Leadership Memphis to deliver 4 community leadership programs (Executive, FastTrack, Criminal/Juvenile Justice and Grassroots), 3 signature events (Multicultural Breakfast, Alumni Holiday Party, Community Leadership and Awards Luncheon), numerous alumni activities, events and continuing education opportunities (3,000+ alumni), and 4 action initiatives (Memphis Talent Dividend: College Attainment Initiative, Graduate Memphis, SUCCESS High Schools, and Volunteer Memphis).

Donors as of April 4, 2016

STEP UP LEADER

Darryl Arbor EP 1997 Austin Baker EP 2008 Sharon Barnett-Myers EP 2010 Shelley P. Baur EP 1991 Stanley Blue EP 2012 Stephanie Boggins EP 2015 Mike Bowen EP 1997 Gloria Boyland EP 2008 David Bradford EP 2015 Al Bright Jr. EP 2014 Diane Brown EP 2011 David Bulluck FTF 2012 Jared Bulluck FTF 2010 Chirag Chauhan EP 2006 Darrell T. Cobbins EP 1999 George H. Cogswell III EP 2014 Carol Coletta Reggie Crenshaw EP 2011 Lisa Droke EP 2009 Hughetta Dudley EP 2011 Adrienne Evans EP 2015 Jason Farmer EP 2015 Robert Fockler EP 2001 Quran Folsom EP 2014 Kathy & J.W. Gibson EP 2003, 1999 Jennifer Gilbert EP 2010 Stephen Good EP 1995 Sylvia Gray EP 2014 Briggette Green EP 2013 Pat Halloran EP 1988 Channa Halmon GR 2013 Nyrone Hawkins EP 2014 Jay Healy EP 2008 E. Florence Hervery EP 2014 Robert Holman Bruce Hopkins EP 1984 Tony Hotchkiss EP 2013 Charles Hyde II John Jackson EP 2007 Karl Schledwitz & Blair Jackson EP 1982 Carol Johnson EP 2015 Robert Johnson EP 2014 Beverly Jordan EP 2008 Chris Kelley EP 2009 Edith Kelly-Green EP 1987 Marty Kelman EP 1997 Jenny Kiesewetter EP 2013 Linda Lauer EP 2014 Jerry Lee EP 2015 Melvin Lee EP 2006 Vincent Lee EP 2013 Ruth Lentz EP 2011 Jason Little EP 2009 Steve Lykins EP 1987 Terry Lynch EP 2009 Jill M. Madajczyk EP 2014 Deidre Malone EP 1999 Richard Marsh EP 2007 10

Douglas McGowen EP 2011 Lauren McHugh-Robinson EP 2007 Valarie Morris EP 2014 Christine Munson EP 1991 Sybille Noble EP 1984 Keith Norman EP 2009 Lori Patton EP 2010 Tracy Pearson EP 2007 Reginald Porter Jr EP 2013 Paul Posey Jr EP 2007 Lawrence Reddick EP 2014 Frank Ricks EP 1992 Teresa L. Riley EP 2015 Beverly & Howard Robertson EP 1989, 1990 Jeff Rower EP 2013 Michele Ryland EP 2015 Joe Sanders EP 2015 Glenn Sessoms EP 1997 Linda Sessoms FTS 2008 Patricia(Patsy) Smith GR 2008 Rufus Smith EP 2013 Susan Springfield EP 2002 Vernon H. Stafford Jr. EP 2015 Brian Stephens EP 2009 Percie A. Strong-Jenkins EP 2014 Mary Tate-Smith EP 2010 Latoria Taylor EP 2013 Fred & Ruth Towler EP 2011 Gerre Craig & Fred Turverey EP 2012 Michael Uiberall EP 1985 Chuck Utterback EP 2011 Rob Varner EP 2007 Martha Wagley EP 2010 Regina Walker EP 1987 Sandra Walls EP 2012 Trey Watkins EP 2005 Alonzo Weaver EP 2014 Monica Wharton EP 2014 David Williams EP 2006 Scott Wilson EP 2013 Luke Yancy EP 1981

AMBASSADOR

Calvin L. Anderson EP 1984 Pan Awsumb EP 1990 Charles Buffington FTS 2015 Rene Bustamante EP 2009 Linda Carter EP 2011 Clarence Christian EP 1984 Daniel Conaway EP 1982 Phillip G. Coop EP 2014 Reginald Coopwood EP 2012 Linda Cornish EP 2008 Deborah Cotney EP 1987 Fred Davis Lynn Field EP 2011 Bryan Ford EP 2009 Fabiola Francis EP 2012

Desiree Franklin Les Freeman Brenda Gaines-Ollie Scott Gill Bradley Johnson Ephie Johnson Ellen Klyce Lawrence Madlock Keenon McCloy Mary McDaniel Betty Sue McGarvey Eileen McGinley Deborah Northcross Pamela & Ben Peternell Ginger Pilgrim Tom Plath Kelly Rayne Ron Redwing Janet Shipman Jeff Smith Joseph Steffner Herman Strickland Mary Sweebe Sylvester Tate Stephen Tower Michael O. Ugwueke Joaquin Villarreal MichaeL & Robbie Weinberg Scott Wilson Sharon Younger

EP EP EP EP EP EP EP EP EP EP EP EP EP

CONNECTOR

EP 1993 EP 1990 EP 2004 EP 2003 EP 2012 EP 2013 EP 1986

Donna Abney Ben Adams Sudhir Agrawal Nancy Averwater Louise Barden Greg Barnes Karl Birkholz Russell Bloodworth Jr James Boyd Otha Brandon Linda Brashear Ruby Bright Scott Brockman Caron Byrd Suki Carson Chermale Casem Jeane Chapman Cynthia Childress Lisa Clark Dorothy Cleaves Stephanie Cobb Larry Colbert Cindy Conner Nancy Crawford Meg & Scott Crosby Gerre Currie Celeste Davis

1993 2006 1988 2011 2011 2011 2005 1994 2007 2002 2012 1997 1986

EP 1997, 1991 EP 2012 EP 2010 EP 2003 EP 2014 EP 2008 EP 2012 EP 1997 EP 1997 FTS 2013 EP 2012 EP 2005 EP 2009 EP 2014 EP 2008, 2012 EP 2009 EP 2012

EP 1981 EP 1982 EP 2001 EP 1998 EP 1996 EP 2013 EP 2007 EP 2001 EP 2014 EP 1982 EP 2003 EP 2010 EP 1995 FTS 2015 EP 2012 EP 2013 EP 2010 EP 2009 EP 2013 EP 2012

Elvernice & Cynthia Davis EP 2001, 2008 C.William Denton EP 1996 Ann Duncan EP 1992 Robert E. Duncan EP 2006 Rafael Durand EP 2012 Jay Earheart-Brown EP 2013 Stephen B. Edge EP 2015 Julie Ellis EP 2013 Karen Ellis EP 1996 James Etter EP 2009 Joseph Evangelisti EP 1994 Donald Fisher EP 1998 Donna Fisher EP 1985 J. Randolph Flatt EP 1998 Edmund Ford EP 2010 Renee Frazier EP 2011 Liz ”Boo” & Gary Gardo FTF 2013 John Gemmill EP 2011 Jerry and Bobbi Gillis EP 2001 MaryJo Greil EP 2003 LaSonya Harris Hall EP 2015 Tyler Hampton EP 2014 Ronald Harkavy EP 1984 Alfred Harris EP 1995 Sharon Harris EP 1998 Deborah Hester Harrison EP 1999 Tomeka Hart EP 2007 Henry Herrod EP 1991 Sam E. Hines Jr. EP 2015 Randall Hutchinson EP 2006 Dorothy Johnson EP 1993 Carol Jones EP 2010 Christine Jones EP 2015 Mary Kavanagh Day EP 2004 Calvin King EP 2014 Pierre Landaiche EP 2011 Ann Langston EP 1995 Nancy Lawhead EP 1980 Desiree Lyles Wallace EP 2013 Mary McCain EP 1991 Chris McDermott EP 2003 Steve McManus EP 2005 Jackson Moore EP 1990 Eva Mosby EP 2008 Gary Mosley EP 2007 Dot Neale EP 1995 Veena Neelakantan EP 2013 Wendy Oliver EP 2004 Cardell Orrin EP 2007 James Overstreet EP 2011 Larry Papasan EP 1984 Carla Peacher-Ryan EP 2010 Martha Perine-Beard EP 1998 Victor Perini EP 2006 David Poteat EP 1995 Richard Ranta EP 1981 Denise Richardson Smith

ALUMNI AND FRIEND SPONSORS Orr Rivero Michael Robb Letitia Tish Robertson Ashley Robilio Patrice J. Robinson Marc Rubenstein Verties Sails Jr Mona Sappenfield Robert Schreiber Janet Scott Jeanne Sebring Gwendolyn Shields Robert Simpson Linda Sklar Dionysia R. Smith Lewie Smith W. Hamilton Smythe Dorchelle Spence Joyce Springfield-Collins Jill Steinberg Denise Burnett Stewart Madeleine Taylor Theodis Thompson Janice Toshach Johnnie Turner Lashell Vaughn Rick Wagers Myra Whitney Linda Williams Barry Yoakum

INNOVATOR

EP 2002 EP 1986 EP 2007 EP 2009 EP 2006 EP 1998 EP 1982 EP 2014 FTS 2008 EP 1989 EP 2014 FTF 2010 EP 1992 EP 2007 GR 2015 EP 2015 EP 1999 EP 2010 EP 1990 EP 1996 EP EP EP EP EP EP EP EP EP EP

2012 2012 1982 2009 1980 2002 2013 1996 1996 1996

Peter Abell EP 2015 Jennifer Alejo FTS 2013 Howard Allenberg EP 1986 William Andrews EP 2001 Jeanne Coors Arthur EP 1981 Howard Averyhart EP 1994 Carolyn Bailey EP 1995 Dianne Berry EP 2001 Barbara Biehner EP 2003 Katherine Bingham EP 2004 Ceylon Blackwell EP 1984 Patricia Bogan GR 2014 Marcia Boyd EP 2008 Tamala Boyd EP 2012 Gina Myers Brewer EP 2015 William Bullock EP 2003 Dana Burkett EP 2006 Cynthia Calhoun EP 1993 L. Hunt Campbell EP 2005 Tamika Carwell EP 2013 Eugene Cashman EP 1984 Pam Castleman EP 2001 Sidney Chism EP 1996 Shirley Cobbins GR 2008 David Cocke EP 1983 Jerry Cocke EP 1983 Viola Cole EP 1984 Ronald Coleman EP 1990 Ulysses Cosby EP 1995 Glynis Cox-Finnie FTF 2010 Kathe Crane EP 1983 Charles Crawford EP 1983 Janice Crawford EP 1995 Ashley Crockett Jim Cross EP 2000

Pearson Crutcher EP 2008 Mark Dean EP 2001 Michael Detroit EP 2005 Dean Deyo EP 1985 Henry Doggrell EP 1980 Bettye Donahue EP 1985 Virginia Dunaway EP 1990 Anne Edmiston EP 2008 Joey Edwards EP 2012 Steve Ehrhart EP 1986 Maurice Elliott EP 1982 Shane Evans EP 2008 V. Lynn Evans EP 1981 Edward Felsenthal EP 1990 Phyllis Fickling EP 2010 Stephen Fimple EP 2012 William Finney EP 1992 John Flack EP 2007 Rose Flenorl EP 1987 James J. Folz EP 2001 Mary Nell Ford EP 1998 Sylverna Ford EP 2002 Jonathan Frisch EP 2009 Daniel Garrick EP 2008 Herbert Gerson EP 1994 Art Gilliam EP 1987 Larry Godwin EP 2007 Robert Gordon EP 1991 William Gotten EP 1981 Shamichael Hallman EP 2013 Carrie Harris EP 1990 Marieta W. Harris EP 2002 Mary Ryan Harris FTS 2015 William Harrison EP 1991 James Harvey EP 2015 Carolyn Head EP 1996 David Hill EP 1980 Ethele S. Hillard EP 1984 Virginia Hill-Davenport EP 2007 Earnest Hilliard EP 1989 Gene Holcomb EP 1986 Janice Holder EP 1993 Sherrie Hollis EP 2000 Henry Hooper II EP 1989 Myron Hughes EP 2004 Jordan E. Huntze FTS 2015 Allen Israel EP 1992 Eric Janssen EP 2011 Whitney Jo FTS 2008 James Johnson EP 1993 Joseph Jolly EP 2016 Karen A. Jolly FTF 2014 Teresa Jones EP 2014 Wesley Jones EP 1994 Michael Kaplan EP 1990 Nancy Kelso EP 1993 William Kenley EP 2007 Barbara C. King EP 1997 Rosalva King EP 2005 Maudie Kite-Powell EP 1993 Curtis Kittrell EP 1989 David Krueger EP 1998 Aurelia Kyles EP 1993 Michael LaBonia EP 1992 Barbara Lapides EP 1979 Mike Lawhead EP 1980 Scott Ledbetter EP 1982 Susan Lee EP 2011 Steven Levy EP 1991

Sheri Lipman EP 1995 Paulette Smithers Luker EP 2004 Michael Lupfer EP 1980 Shirley Lupfer EP 1985 Mark Luttrell EP 2001 George Mabon EP 2005 Kim MacQueen EP 2004 Saree Mading EP 2014 Karen Madlock GR 2015 Blee Mallory EP 1979 Chris Marszalek EP 2012 Shawn Massey EP 2003 Rick Masson EP 1994 Alexandra Matlock EP 2013 Estella Mayhue-Greer EP 2012 Mary McDonald EP 1987 Daphene McFerren FTS 2008 Harrison McIver III EP 2002 Mark Meadows FTF 2010 Linda Miller EP 1994 James Mitchell Jr. EP 2000 Kathy Moore Cowan EP 2009 Larry Moore EP 1980 John Moorhead EP 2003 Sutton Mora-Hayes EP 2009 Jacquelyn Nerren EP 1991 Elizabeth Nickelson FTF 2012 Mark Norris EP 1991 Jacqueline Oselen GR 2006 Deanie Parker EP 1989 James Perrin EP 1999 Gail Petty EP 1990 Jean Phebus EP 2013 Stuart Polly EP 1993 E. Anthony Porter EP 2003 Mohammad Rafieetary EP 2008 Suzanne Ratliff EP 2008 William Rehberg Laurel Reisman EP 1998 Ann Rice EP 2001 Stephanie Richards EP 2013 Bud Richey EP 2012 Mike Ritz EP 1983 Kay Robilio EP 1986 Jay Robinson EP 2012 Leshundra Robinson GR 2015 Robert A. Rogalski EP 1997 Inetta Rogers EP 1989 Julia Romine EP 2012 Elizabeth Rouse EP 2003 Sherry Samuels EP 1980 Linda J. Sawyer EP 2008 Stanley Sawyer EP 1987 Barry Schultz FTS 2015 Nicole Seltzer EP 2014 Rachel Shankman EP 1994 Pearl Shaw EP 2012 Hollye Shotwell EP 1994 Kathy Simonetti EP 2004 Mary Singer EP 2000 J. Ritchie Smith Jr. EP 2015 Mark Stansbury EP 1979 Ed Stanton Jr. EP 2014 Peter Stark EP 2012 Jill Stem EP 1998 Joey Stem EP 2007 Patricia Stringer EP 2014

Ann McCormic Sullivan EP Carla Thomas EP Edwina Thomas EP Jon K. Thompson EP N. Gordon Thompson EP Sherry Thornton EP Cristie Travis EP Sybil Tucker EP Gloria Tuggle EP Melvyn Tuggle EP Carolyn Turman EP Gloria Jodie Vance EP Peggy Veeser EP Cecilia Villa EP Robert Vornbrock EP Dee Wallace EP Johnsie Wallace EP Karen Ward EP Carol Warren EP Alexander Wellford EP Thomas Wicinski EP Willie Mae Willett EP Freda Williams EP Lois Williams EP Nancy Williams EP Roby Williams EP Page Williamson EP Betty Anne Wilson EP Paul Winter EP Ron Wong EP Delilah Rita Works EP

1980 1989 1987 1981 2003 1989 1999 1993 1991 1979 1993 1999 1990 2008 1998 1997 2007 2001 1995 1984 2010 1980 2010 2010 2005 2008 1995 1996 1995 2003 2000

ALUMNI DONOR

Sherri Renee Anthony FTS 2014 Cheryl Beard EP 2007 Melanie Blakeney EP 2015 Toni Boland-Evans EP 2003 Warner Dickerson EP 1980 D. Hutton Easley EP 2013 Noemi(Nina) Grayer GR 2008 Alvin E. Harris GR 2015 Eric Harris FTS 2011 Laloma Harris FTS 2015 Andrea Charise Hill FTS 2015 Angela Hill FTS 2015 Sheria Holmes FTS 2011 Jane Hopkins EP 1997 Vicki L. Jerideau EP 2015 Toya Mason GR 2013 Dusty Nelson FTS 2015 Nelle Pallme Clifton Rockett GR 2014 Margo Roen EP 2014 Carol Ross-Spang EP 1999 Nicole Sandlin FTF 2014 Sheronda Smith EP 2014 Maura Black Sullivan EP 2006 Tony Svarczkopf FTS 2011 Yalaunda Y. Taylor GR 2015 Jennifer Tiscia FTS 2015 Sandra Upchurch GR 2008 Maria Van Werkhooven EP 1996 Park Vestal EP 2007 Belinda Watkins EP 2000 Daniel Wilkinson EP 1979 Cindy Wilson FTS 2009

HELP US CONTINUE TO EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY TO STEP UP. www.leadershipmemphis.org/donate

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ALUMNI IN THE NEWS We love hearing about YOUR successes. Share your accomplishments with us so we can share them with everyone. If you have a story to share, email Amber Hampton, Marketing and Communications Coordinator at ahampton@leadershipmemphis.org. Don’t forget to use #LMAlums when posting on social media, too.

Dr. Rosie Bingham (EP 1990), VP of Student Affairs at The University of Memphis honored at the Memphis 100 Black Tie Gala and Awards Ceremony in February for demonstrating outstanding service toward “Building future leaders TODAY.”

Cato Johnson (EP 1985), Sr. VP

Nyrone Hawkins (EP 2014) was

David Porter (EP 1987) was

Estella Mayhue Greer (EP 2012),

Willie Gregory (EP 1998), Director,

Fred Towler (EP 2011), VP of

Rachel Knox (FTF 2013) was

given the Billy J. Murphey Award by The University of Memphis M Club on February 5, 2016.

Global Community Impact with Nike, Inc., will be honored in May as an Honorary Alumnus at the University of Memphis’ 36th Distinguished Alumni Awards.

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Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Methodist Healthcare was an honoree at the Memphis 100 Black Tie Gala and Awards Ceremony in February for demonstrating outstanding service toward “Building future leaders TODAY.”

honored by The University of Memphis Black Student Association with the Authur S. Holmon Lifetime Achievement Award.

Supply Chain Operations with International Paper, will be honored in May as a Distinguished Alumnus at the University of Memphis’ 36th Distinguished Alumni Awards.s board

member.

Shannon Brown (EP 2001),

Sr. VP/Chief Diversity Officer at FedEx Express was honored at the Memphis 100 Black Tie Gala and Awards Ceremony in February for demonstrating outstanding service

toward “Building future leaders TODAY.”

President and CEO of Mid-South Food Bank, received the 2015 Memphis City Council Humanitarian Award.

recognized by the Memphis Flyer as one of 20 Memphians under 30 who are working to build a better Memphis.

ALUMNI IN THE NEWS

Barbara C. King (EP 1997),

Carolyn Hardy (EP 1995), Chairman of the Greater Memphis Chamber, is the first guest featured in WMC Action News 5’s ongoing series My Empire, focusing on successful and inspirational women

Linda Sessoms (FT 1998), founder and president of Sisters-in-Motion Memphis has been honored with the 2016 Women of Achievement “Vision” Award from Women of Achievement, Inc.

Linda “Linn” Sitler (EP 1991)

Bennie Nelson-West (EP 1982),

Beverly Robertson (EP 1989)

Stan Burton (FTF 2010), Sr.

Jen Andrews (FT 2009), will take

Eric Robertson (EP 2006), LIFT and

Executive Director of The Exchange Club Family Center, received the 2015 Legacy Award at the Lipscomb Pitts Breakfast Club annual SPARK Award ceremony. The center also received a corporate SPARK Award.

was named as a 2016 Legend Award Honoree. Linn accepted the Innovation Award from the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Mermphis in April at the Legends Award Reception.

Financial Analyst at International Paper, was appointed to serve on the Advisory Council for the Hope Credit Union in the Memphis area. The council aims to guide the Hope Credit Union to improve brand awareness to the community in terms of their feedback on products and services.

founder and executive director of Memphis Black Arts Alliance has been honored with the 2016 Women of Achievement “Initiative” Award from Women of Achievement, Inc.

over the role of Shelby Farms Park Conservancy Executive Director this month, previously having served as the director of development and communications. Andrews has been with the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy since 2006.

has been named as a 2016 Legend Award Honoree. Beverly accepted the Catalyst Award from the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Mermphis in April at the Legends Award Reception.

RCC President, has been appointed to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Memphis Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

13

SUCCESS HIGH SCHOOLS

Leadership Memphis launched the SUCCESS High Schools Initiative in 2013 as a service learning component of the Execuitve Program. The program is implemented in eight high schools - East, Fairley, George Washington Carver, Hamilton, Kingsbury, Kirby, Melrose and Trezevant - with the goal to increase the post-secondary continuation rate for these schools. SUCCESS infuses 400 Executives over a 5-year period to positively impact nearly 7,000 students.

The Leadership Clubs and the Graduation Advisory Program (GAP), and College and Career Tours are the primary components providing direction to high school students.

The eight leadership-service clubs, primarily for Juniors and Seniors, are designed to strengthen student soft skills, career awareness, and guide their decisions related to post-secondary enrollment in a 4-year or 2-year college, technical career, vocational training or military enlistment.

95%

of seniors in Leadership Clubs have completed the FAFSA.

$2 million+ in scholarships have been awarded to Leadership Clubs students.

70%

of Leadership Clubs students have applied to college, technical school, or the military.

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State testing has prevented complete data collection. Showing results from Carver, Hamilton, Kirby, Melrose.

SUCCESS HIGH SCHOOLS

The Graduation Advisory Program (GAP) provides direct engagement with all Seniors in the graduating class who opt-in to participate. GAP is designed to give the student a source of information in order to pursue life goals, whether it is college, trade school, the military or a career. GAP Advisors provide encouragement and guidance towards accomplishing certain action steps and help resolve challenges encountered during this crucial period of transition and adjustment.

The students will begin to develop an individualized post-secondary plan by completing the FASFA, a college entrance exam (ACT/SAT), college applications & scholarship applications and by performing community service.

Advisors are available at no charge during their Senior year and the year following high school graduation to answer questions and help resolve challenges encountered during this crucial period of transition and adaptation.

Advisors spend up to 6 hours carrying out GAP requirements from November until the end of May, with the goal of continuing the mentoring relationship into the first year of post-secondary life.

377

Seniors opted-in to the GAP program and were matched with an advisor from November through May.

240

GAP students have been accepted to 2 or 4 year institutions

150

GAP students have taken advantage of TN Promise.

Anthony Thornton, senior and validictorian at George Washington Carver High School, has been busy this year, busy earning scholarships. He currently has more than $861,000 in scholarship money awarded to him from schools and private organizations.

It hasn’t been an easy road, though. Anthony says he had to give up a lot of the typical teenage activities this year to focus on securing these awards.

“The hardest part was just managing my schedule and getting in a rush when the deadlines came,” he said.

He has committed to Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss. where he has secured a scholarship and financial aid package that makes sense for him. The program offered at JSU also appeals to him. Though he plans to major in meteorology, he’s thinking ahead, too.

“I like that their program is flexible so if I want to change my major, maybe to chemistry or something, it would be easy to do in the first two years,” he said.

Anthony credits his involvement with Leadership Club for helping to develop his social and communication skills, which served him well through the scholarship and college application process.

“I learned how to be with a group of people and not feel isolated, and start a conversation without being awkward,” he said.

Though it’s taken much hard work from Anthony to reach this point, he acknowledges power of having people in your corner. He said his parents are very supportive and ready to provide anything he needs to ensure his success. He also has a cousin who is a senior at Craighmont High School, who is working through the same process.

“It’s great to talk to her and give each other tips and help each other out,” Anthony said.

Congratulations to Anthony on his many accomplishments, and good luck as you step-up to the next level.

LEADERSHIP

limelight

15

COLLEGE AND CAREER TOURS

Over the 2015-2016 school year, more than 600 juniors and seniors were given the opportunity to learn about 2 and 4 year institutes, vocational colleges, and military enlistment in order to encourage training and education beyond high school.

In addition to touring local colleges and univiersities, the final tour of the year was a regional tour, where 80 sophomores were taken to Jackson, MS and New Orleans, LA to tour Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, Dillard University, Xavier University, and Loyola University. Many students who had never traveled outside of their own neighborhoods had the opportunity to tour these historic colleges and see what they had to offer.

What do students say?

99% 86% 76%

of students learned about colleges that could be possible options for them to attend. of students have a better understanding of the college admission process and requirements. of students gained a better understanding of how to prepare to attend college.

College and Career tours are making a difference for these students. They are gaining the knowledge they need to make informed choices for their post-secondary opportunities and learning how to navigate the often intimidating college entrance process. We want to expand this learning opportunity for more students in the 2016-2017 school year, and we are currently fundraising for that effort.

Thank you to our 2016-2017 donors Carol Coletta Bob Simpson David & Penney Williams Stephen Edge Fred Turverey Joy Truly Brown Jill Stem Amber Hampton Lisa Anderson-Houston Pan Awsumb Jonathan Frisch Scott Brockman Rachel Knox Leanne Kleinmann

Sheila Noone James Drummond Tyler & Cindy Hampton Jared Bulluck Jacquelyn Nerren Lauren McHugh Robinson Maurice Elliot Deborah Hester Harrison Shantile Franklin Alicia Saulsberry Mr. & Mrs. Joaquin Villarreal Phyllis Fickling Kathy Moore Cowan Reggie Crenshaw

Karen Tate Bud Richey Natalie Diener & Michael Cosenza James D’Angelo Elizabeth Genco Ansel Sanders Brett & Veronica Batterson Metrick Houser Meredith Pace Rick Wagers Dan Conaway Renee McCreight Lauryce Graves

Madeleine Griffith G.C. Washington Jeff Rower Holly Coleman Brandon & Ericka Hill Sharon Younger Janas Jackson Denise Parker Rhonda McDowell Debbie Hodge Eric Sabatini Nelia Dempsey Juanita White Louise Barden

Darryl Arbor Jeanine Coors Arthur Carol Johnson John S. JRW BUSINESS DONORS Innovative Counseling & Consulting, Inc. Ken Dowling - Young & Rubicam Kroger Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance as of 4/4/2016

Ready to add your name to the list?

Visit our IOBY Crowdfunding page through leadershipmemphis.org to make your contribution today.

Special thanks to the Turley Family Foundation for their 2:1 crowdfunding match, up to $25,000.

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MEMPHIS TALENT DIVIDEND

OUR PARTNERS AT WORK In 2012, Nucor Steel Memphis, Inc., adopted nearby Mitchell High School and implemented a number of programs and services for students, including scholarships, mentoring, and Professional Development Week. Since then, these efforts have been expanded to all schools in the 38109 zip code and the Nucor Memphis Community Outreach team has been formed.

Professional Development Week is a key component to the team’s outreach efforts. A number of different workshops are hosted to provide students with leadership and problem solving skills, resume and interviewing techniques, and budgeting fundamentals. At the end of this week, two or three students are selected for the Co-Op Internship Program, which is separate from other internships offered at Nucor.

The co-op internship works with students who are enrolled in a post-secondary opportunity to obtain real life job training while completing their education. Interns work one day a week, and transportation is provided for those who may need it and demonstrate their desire to be there.

Jessica Williams is one of the first student co-op interns. After graduating from Mitchell High School

Back: Mike Shelton, Donna King, Adrienne Campbell, Carolyn Stracener, Mark Davis Front: Ebony Rawlinson, Shante Jones, Jessica Williams, Rasheda Jones

and enrolling in Southwest Tennessee Community College, she was accepted into the program and has been an intern for the two and a half years she has been working toward her degree. Majoring in Industrial Engineering, Jessica will graduate in May and step into her new permanent role at Nucor.

The community outreach team is quick to praise Jessica for her hard work in the metal shop’s chemical lab, and they say her offer of employment was not guaranteed through the internship, but earned through her work ethic.

As for Jessica, she has joined the community outreach team at Nucor, intent to give others the opportunity that she was afforded.

Nucor Steel Memphis, Inc. is a partner of Memphis Talent Dividend and the Post-Secondary Access Collaborative Action Network (CAN). Ebony Rawlinson, a level 2 Automation Engineer at Nucor and member of Nucor Memphis Community Outreach is a Leadership Memphis Alumna (GR 2015).

MTD leads the Memphis/Shelby County FAFSA Completion Campaign.

MTD is an action initiative of Leadership Memphis and serves as the convener for both the Post-Secondary (PS) Access Collaborative Action Network (CAN) and the Post-Secondary Attainment CAN through Seeding Success. Members consist of youth serving community and faith based organizations, Local and Federal Government, Shelby County and Achievement School districts, and Higher Education Institutions.. Desired goals for CAN listed below: PS Access CAN Outcome: All Shelby County high school graduates have access to post-secondary opportunities PS Attainment CAN Outcome: Increase post-secondary persistence and completion in Shelby County by pursuing an attainment goal tied to Tennessee’s Drive to 55 initiative and the Lumina Foundation’s Goal 2025 To learn more about how to get involved: Contact Alton Cryer acryer@leadershipmemphis.org

#fafsamemphis • www.fafsamemphis.com

63%

of Shelby County High School students have completed the FAFSA as of April 15, 2016.

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GRADUATE MEMPHIS

Student Spotlight Debra Warren In 2013, Debra registered with Graduate Memphis, ready to pursue her personal goals. Recently inducted into the Alpha Sigma Lamba Honors Society, she is set to graduate in May 2017 from Bellhaven University with a BA in Social Services. We sat down with Debra to talk about her postsecondary journey and the role that Graduate Memphis has played.

GM: So, Debra, tell us how you started your educational journey as an adult student.

Debra: Well, I’d finished raising my children and then I decided to take that step. I wanted to do something for me.

GM: How’d you determine your major?

Debra: I knew I wanted to work in a capacity that would help people. So I started off in Nursing at Southwest.

Then eventually I started taking some health courses at Victory University.

When Victory closed suddenly, I was at a fork in the road. I knew I didn’t want to throw in the towel. I had to go back and reassess what I wanted and needed to do. So I sought God and prayed hard about it. I took an assessment that a past professor at Victory told me to do and it led me to Social Services.

GM: How did you learn about Graduate Memphis?

Debra: I learned about Graduate Memphis through a friend of mine who was also attending Victory. Graduate Memphis at the time was very instrumental in helping the students affected by the school’s closing. I reached out to them and we sat down and talked about my options and one of the advisors, Kim confirmed my previous assessment without even knowing I had taken one. She said based on our conversation, “Would it surprise you if I said it sounds like you should be a social worker?” It was such great confirmation me.

I was totally lost about where to go from there. She helped me look into the schools that would have the curriculum that I needed, and we thought Belhaven would be a great fit.

I enrolled in 2013 part-time, taking one class a semester.

I’ve just been staying focused and giving my all to each class and to my pleasant surprise, I received an email last week inviting me to join the Alpha Sigma Lamba Honors Society, a distinguished honor for students maintaining a 3.5 or higher!

Graduate Memphis, an action initiative of Leadership Memphis, is a college resource center that helps adults who are finally ready to earn their post-secondary degree. We don’t just help adults who want to earn a 4-year degree from a college or university. We help adults get Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees, as well as degrees and certificates from career colleges, technical schools, and vocational programs. If you’ve been out of high school for a couple of years, or have completed a short amount of post-secondary education and have taken some time off, contact us!

901.415.2774 • www.graduatememphis.org 18

VOLUNTEER MEMPHIS

EXECUTIVE CLASS MAKES MEALS FOR MEMPHIS 4.26.16

April was National Volunteer Month - a time to focus attention on the undeniable power of volunteerism and service. It’s about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities.

Volunteer Memphis is at the forefront of taking action and encouraging individuals and their respective communities to be at the center of social change – discovering and actively demonstrating their collective power to make a difference.

Our 2016 Executive Class set an example by packaging nearly 10,000 meals for the Mid-South Food Bank through The Outreach Program on April 26. To find meaningful ways to volunteer in the community and/or post your agency’s volunteer needs, visit:

www.volunteermemphis.org and #DoGoodInMEM!

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Nonprofit US Postage PAID Memphis, TN Permit #1246

365 S. Main St. Memphis, TN 38103

SAVE THE DATES

6.10.16

Community Luncheon ft. Ray Lewis Memphis Botanic Garden 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

10.26.16

Multicultural Breakfast Holiday Inn 7:45 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

12.08.16

Holiday Party Shelby Farms 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

3.02.17

Leadership Luncheon Hilton Ridgeway 11:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Visit leadershipmemphis.org for more information