Class Of 2010

NEXUS Class of 2010 PROTEGES

Full Name Business Position
Ashli Avis University of Memphis Research Associate
Joel Bell Strategic Financial Partners Financial Advisor
Mollie Merry Campbell Bridges Director, Future Builders & O2E
Oscar Carr Glankler Brown PLLC Attorney
Joey Conner Crye Leike Real Estate Broker
Kristin Dunavant Baker, Donelson Bearman, Caldwell Associate
Latoya Elder Youth Villages Placement Specialist
Brian Fields Marsh USA, Inc. Assistant Vice President, Client Manager
Trey Haire Baker, Donelson Bearman, Caldwell Attorney
Brandy Hardaway Shelby Farms Park Conservancy Executive Assistant
Patrick Hendricks The Med Foundation Project Specialist
Darrin Hines International Paper Systems Specialist
Benjamin Hough True Temper Sports Sales Program Manager
Rob Hughes Porter Leath Development Coordinator
Ross Hurst Streets Ministries Business Office Coordinator
Grant Joiner BottleRocket President
Austin Jordan Presbyterian Day School Coach/Teacher
Jason Keen Lehman Roberts Finance & Business Systems Analyst
Erin Lenahan Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau Convention Center Sales Manager
Karen McConnico FedEx Express Project Engineer
Andrew Neel FedEx Services Technical Advisor
Jacqueline Oselen Women’s Foundation for Memphis Special Initiatives, Marketing & Development Coordinator
Stephen Owens nexAir Operations Project Manager
Tyson Peterson SunTrust Capital Markets Investment Services Specialist-Fixed Income
Bo Rhea Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor
John Russell Regions-Morgan Asset Management Portfolio Manager
Martina Stanley Youth Villages Outcome Evaluation Specialist
Michael Stockburger Morgan Keegan Vice President
Brady Tanner The Jefferson Awards for Public Service Regional Executive Director
Aaron Teaford First Tennessee IT Auditor
Preston Thomas Colliers Wilkinson Snowden Broker
Sarah Wandrey Memphis Urban Debate League Executive Director
Sharonda Wilson Youth Villages Senior Family Counselor
Crystal Vitullo ServiceMaster Clean Academy Team Coordinator

NEXUS Class of 2010 MENTORS

Full Name Business Position
Jim Brasfield Brasfield Business Resources Owner
Renee Carpenter Crump Mortgage Sr. Loan Officer
Jill Crocker First Tennessee Bank VP Bank Support
Rob Crump Crump Mortgage Vice President & Sr. Loan Officer
Greg Deener GTx, Inc. VP Marketing & Sales
Jim Ganier Hickory Limited Owner
Matt Gandy FedEx Express Pilot/FLT MGMT Asst. Chief Pilot
Jane Hanafin Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital Administrative Director, Heart Institute
Larry Higginbotham Higginbotham Family Dentistry Dentist
Hamp Holcomb Strategic Financial Partners Financial Advisor
John Holmes Retired Physician
Mark Jenkins Commercial Alliance Management Senior Vice President
Scott Knowlton Lewis & Knowlton Financial Group Vice President
David Leake Winchester Law Firm Attorney-Partner
Brenda Moore Methodist University Clinical Educator
Kim Moore Fox 13 Sales Manager
Ashley Pace Regions
Gifford Pace Valassis Sales & Marketing Account Executive
Sally Pace FTN Financial Senior Vice President-Marketing
Daniel Patterson Silverleafe Capital Partners, LLC Partner
Jacqueline Payne FedEx Express Business Systems Advisor
Susan Riley Methodist Germantown Surgery Center Nurse
Sara Reese Target Pharmacist
John Roberts Allstate Insurance Agency Agency Owner
Karin Sarratt International Paper HR Director
Bobby Shute Memphis Pool Vice President of Operations
Vicki Simmons Second Presbyterian Foundation Chief Administrative Officer
Dean Smith FedEx Express Managing Director-Planning & Engineering
Frank Stallworth Magna Bank President-Commercial Real Estate
Jeni Stephens The Exceptional Foundation of W. Tenn Executive Director
Dick Tarr InMotion Musculoskeletal Institute President & Executive Director
Harold Ware Second Presbyterian Church Administrator
Roby Williams Black Business Association of Memphis President
Kem Wilson Kemmons Wilson Companies Principal

Announcements

  • Leading in Our Community

    Heather Hunt, NEXUS Executive Director recently represented NEXUS as a panelist at the NBMBAA meeting along with several NEXUS Alumni. The focus was “Leading in our Community”. Special thanks to NBMBAA for the invitation. #nexusleaders #leadershipdevelopment #mentoringmatters Read More
  • Rob Carter Returned to NEXUS to discuss “Leading with AI”

    NEXUS started the new year at the January session with Rob Carter, recently retired CTO & CIO for FedEx Global. Rob and NEXUS Board member Sridhar Sunkara, founder of enaiblr had a conversation on the topic of “Leading With AI”. The conversation started with how technology has transformed. We were encouraged to embrace AI as leaders and use the tool as critical thinkers. Rob mentioned when thinking of AI, be... Read More
  • Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from NEXUS

    On behalf of the NEXUS Board of Directors, we wish you a very Merry Christmas. May the new year be filled with purpose, growth, and meaningful impact. Thank you for your ongoing support for NEXUS. Read More
  • NEXUS Alumni and Judge Valerie Smith Shared at NEXUS

    At the December session, alumni and members of the Class of 2026 had the opportunity to hear Judge Valerie Smith speak. NEXUS Alumni Valerie Smith and Court of Appeals Judge for the Western Section spoke on the topic of “Ethical Leadership”. She shared her experiences and asked the class to ponder the question, “How do you want others to see you?”. Contact NEXUS to request the speaker’s audio. Read More
  • Lunch with Leaders

    Members of the NEXUS Network had the opportunity to network and be inspired by NEXUS leaders. During Lunch with Leaders Chris Coleman, Caroline Kuebler, and Bathsheba Sams shared their personal leadership journeys and the insights they’ve gained through experience. Read More
  • NEXUS Alumni Returns as November Session Speaker

    Alumni and members of the NEXUS Class of 2026 had the privilege to hear NEXUS Alumni Brooke Jones, Director for Strategy for Martin Brower return to NEXUS and speak at the November session. Brooke spoke on the topic of “Focusing as a Leader” and shared that it’s okay to give yourself permission and grace to be focused in the moment – that will set you up on the right path... Read More
  • Doug McGowan Shared with NEXUS Class of 2026

    Doug McGowan, President and CEO for MLGW spoke to the NEXUS Class of 2026 at the October session. Doug is a dynamic leader that spoke on the topic of “Planning as a Leader”. Doug’s remarks and examples provided valuable take-aways applicable to everyone. He discussed four kinds of Work/Buckets -Day to Day Work -Process Improvement -Break Through Thinking -Critical/Crisis Action Planning Plan + Metrics / Activity + Outcome / Measure... Read More
  • First NEXUS Class of 2026 Session a Success with Dr. Coopwood

    Dr. Reginald Coopwood, President & CEO for Regional One Health spoke at the first session to the NEXUS Class of 2026. Dr. Coopwood did excellent job speaking on his experiences as proven community-focused leader and a visionary. He shared a few things he believes makes an effective leader including culture is the most important thing and it starts with the top. The leader sets the expectations. NEXUS Alumni are invited... Read More
  • NEXUS Welcomes the Class of 2026

    NEXUS is excited to officially kick off another year of growth, connection, and impact with the newest class. The Class of 2026 represents the next generation of leaders who are ready to learn, serve, and make a difference in our community. We’re grateful to our mentors for sharing their wisdom and to our protégés for bringing their energy and curiosity to the table. The class recently had Orientation with the... Read More
  • Special Thanks to NEXUS Partner First Horizon Bank

    NEXUS partner First Horizon Bank recently hosted the NEXUS Class of 2026 Meet + Greet at the Ron Terry location. The event provided an opportunity for new NEXUS class members to get to know one another and set the tone for an impactful beginning to this year’s NEXUS experience. We are grateful for the partnership with First Horizon Bank and the role they play in supporting the development of emerging... Read More

Upcoming Events

February 12, 2026 - February 12, 2026
NEXUS Workshop – Actual Intelligence: Using AI to Lead with Clarity + Courage

NEXUS Alumni Audrey Willis, Chief Innovation & Programming Officer at CodeCrew will lead this NEXUS workshop on Actual

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April 7, 2026 - April 7, 2026
NEXUS IN MOTION on April 7 with David Jordan

NEXUS IN MOTION will take place on April 7 at Second Presbyterian Church at 5:30pm. This special event offers members of

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March 3, 2026 - March 3, 2026
March Session with AutoZone’s Rebecca Givens Rice

Rebecca Givens Rice, Vice President of Human Resources for AutoZone will share on March 3 with the NEXUS Class of 2026 on

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Testimonials

  • Beth Price, The Marston Group, Mentor – Class of 2025

    “Participating in NEXUS has been a fantastic experience! While nurturing relationships across varied professional fields, NEXUS is cultivating a network of individuals that go out into the community to lead & inspire others. The objective of building leaders through encouragement, mentorship & community service is beneficial to all participants & ultimately the city of Memphis.” - Beth Price, The Marston Group, Mentor - Class of 2025
  • Sam Pope, CoolRoofs, NEXUS Protege – Class of 2025

    "As one of the younger protégés in the NEXUS Class of 2025, I found the experience to be both grounding and transformative. My mentor created space for honest dialogue and offered insight rooted in years of leadership. The speaker sessions reinforced the importance of calm leadership and challenged me to see people not as problems, but as the purpose." Sam Pope, CoolRoofs, NEXUS Protege - Class of 2025
  • Michael Moore, International Paper, NEXUS Alumni, Class of 2024

    "As a NEXUS Alumni, I came back for one of the sessions because of my professional relationship with the speaker. It was one of the most rewarding NEXUS sessions I’ve attended! I also enjoyed a fruitful conversation with a new friend at the table and we plan to continue to connect. This is what NEXUS should look like on both ends (past/future…mentor/protégé)!" Michael Moore, International Paper, NEXUS Alumni, Class of 2024
  • Travis Moody, Forward Memphis, NEXUS Mentor, Class of 2025

    “This was my second year as a NEXUS mentor. As before, I really enjoyed building a relationship with my protégé as well as connecting with the other mentors. I always learn something new from the monthly speakers. Even as a mentor, I see NEXUS as a huge part of my continued development as a leader.” - Travis Moody, Forward Memphis, NEXUS Mentor, Class of 2025
  • Sarah Farrell, Memphis Fire Department, NEXUS Mentor, Class of 2025

    “I am thankful for my time this year with my protégé, monthly meetings and engaging conversations with the entire NEXUS community. The ongoing focus on networking, leadership and encouragement is unlike any other. It is a positive representation of the Memphis community, and I am glad to be a part of it.” Sarah Farrell, Memphis Fire Department, NEXUS Mentor, Class of 2025
  • Francisco Trujillo, The Marston Group, NEXUS Protégé, Class of 2025

    “As a first-generation college graduate and professional, I was unaware and unprepared about certain aspects or situations that come along in a professional setting. I am grateful at the resources that NEXUS has given me. I now have a mentor, whom I ask for guidance or advice on how to become a better more prepared leader, professional, and every day-to-day person.” – Francisco Trujillo, The Marston Group, NEXUS Protégé, Class of 2025
  • Ramonda Clayborn, Sylvamo, NEXUS Class of 2025 Mentor

    "I've absolutely loved building a dynamic and mutually beneficial relationship with my mentee. NEXUS has been a phenomenal platform for gaining actionable insights from community leaders and program participants, greatly enriching both of our professional development journeys." Ramonda Clayborn, Sylvamo, NEXUS Class of 2025 Mentor
  • Lauren Morgan, The Bank of Fayette County, NEXUS Protégé, Class of 2025

    “The NEXUS program has meant so much to me both personally and professionally. My mentor offered incredible wisdom and support, and I truly felt seen and encouraged throughout the process. I also had the chance to meet other protégés I wouldn’t have crossed paths with otherwise—some of whom have turned into genuine friendships. I’m incredibly thankful for NEXUS and all the growth it brought into my life this year. - Lauren Morgan, The Bank of Fayette County, NEXUS Protégé, Class of 2025
  • Emmanuel Amido, AgroTech Noire, NEXUS Protégé, Class of 2025

    "An essential aspect of growth as an entrepreneur and business professional lies in learning from the paths of those who came before you—seasoned lifelong learners whose wealth of experience drives economic progress and strengthens our community's foundation. NEXUS gave me that opportunity, as I hope to contribute to our community's economic growth. " Emmanuel Amido, AgroTech Noire, NEXUS Protégé, Class of 2025
  • Beverly Gates, Monogram Food, NEXUS Mentor, Class of 2025

    “The NEXUS program is one of a kind. From my time as a protégé many years ago to the last year as a mentor, I have learned so much through this program. The inspiring, experienced speakers NEXUS attracts never fail to provide life lessons. The future of Memphis is in the hands of some extraordinary, passionate young leaders who are working hard to improve lives in our community. “ -Beverly Gates, Monogram Food, NEXUS Mentor, Class of 2025