Class of 2018

NEXUS PROTEGES

Hunter Acosta

ADPDistrict Manager

Millie Adams

ALSAC/St. JudeSpecialist – Endurance Programs & Partners,
Fitness

Jeremy Andrews

BRIDGESStrategic Partnership Officer

Sara Beshires

Frazee Ivy DavisAuditor

Quintilianus Carger

Budget Car & Truck Rental of Memphis Branch Manager

Amanda Carpenter

ServiceMaster Business Process Solutions Analyst

Calvin Davis

Helena Chemical IT Decision Support Analyst

Laura Dickerson

First Tennessee Bank Data Analyst

Jay Edwards

Raymond James & Associates Financial Advisor

Austin Ehrat

CBRE, Inc. Associate

Sheleah Harris

Agape/Living Grace Memphis Community Coordinator

Kanesha Hines

Medtronic Regulatory Affairs Specialist

Alana Hu

First Horizon National Corporation Community Investment Manager

Stewart Hunt

Church Health Executive Assistant to CEO

Geoffrey Lewis

Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division Staff Attorney

Karlisa Kuykindall

United Way of the Mid-South Community Engagement
Associate

Matthew Marrapode

Medtronic Spinal & Biologics Research &Development
Engineer

Chris Memminger

NAVY Executive Officer

Amber Munchow

Frazee Ivy Davis Staff Accountant

Keith K. Okello

FedEx Services Finance Manager

Chris Pruett

Southern Sun Asset Management Associate

Alex Pope

Capital Financial Financial Advisor

Tarryn Sanchez

inferno Account Executive

Adee Shankle

International Paper College Relations Specialist

Parish Sharkey

EAG, Inc. Project Manager

Louisa Shepherd

LITE Memphis Alumni Director

Erica Siddell

St. Jude/ALSAC Employee Engagement Manager

Cooper Smith

Shoemaker Financial Financial Advisor

Meredith Taylor

Whole Foods Market Marketing & Community Liasion

Steven Thomas

AutoZone Marketing Program Manager

Bryant-Joshua Turner

ServiceMaster Scrum Master

Kierra D Warren

FedEx Services Senior Marketing Specialist

Worth Whitten

Deloitte & Touche LLP Audit Senior Assistant

Elizabeth Wilcox

Triumph Bank Medical & Professional Banking Portfolio

Terrence Williams

Varangon Academy Youth Counselor

NEXUS MENTORS

Julie Ashby

Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital Director, Brand Marketing &
Development

Joey Bland

Commercial Advisors, LLC Vice President-Team Leader Farmland
Advisors

Priscilla Bland

Christ Methodist Day School Teacher

Teresa Blanton

Medtronic, Inc. Business Process Analyst

Sonji Branch

Communities in Schools for Tennessee Executive Director

Carl Carter

International Paper Associate General Counsel

Leslie Coleman

International Paper Business Human Resources Manager

Reggie Davis

Streets Ministries Executive Director

Rebecca Dupuy

International Paper Global Sourcing Consultant/Process Steward

Pam Faulk

Commercial Advisors Asset Services, LLC Senior VP Asset Management

Jeb Fields

Cushman Wakefield Commercial Advisors
Principal

Ed Garrison

International Paper Director
Leadership
Development

Cecil Godman

Mercury Investment Group Chief Marketing Officer & Partner

Angela Hill

City of Memphis Youth and Family Administrator

Andrea Hill

Leadership Memphis Director of Volunteer Memphis

Shelley Hill

Neighborhood Christian Centers, Inc. Chief Strategy & Execution
Officer

Alex Ivy

Frazee Ivy Davis, PLCMember

Mark Jenkins

Commercial Advisors, LLCEVP
Principal

Lori Kirkpatrick

Commercial Advisors, LLC CFO

Caroline Kuebler

Community Foundation of Greater Memphis Director of
Development

Margaret McDonald

Girls Inc. of Memphis Development Officer

Larry Papasan

Smith & NephewRetired President

Lesley Patel

ALSAC St. Jude
Director-Marketing Operations

Don Riley

Discipling Men, Inc. Executive Director & Founder

Jeff Sample

United States District Court Case Administrator

Amy Simpson

TruGreenSenior Director-Corporate Communications

Elizabeth Smith

Commercial Bank & Trust CompanyVice President & Bank Loan
Officer

Gregg Smith

Wiseacre Brewing

Greg Spillyards

Commercial Advisors, LLCEVP

Rhea Taylor

Americraft Carton, Inc.President

Rob Walters

International Paper Senior Manager-IT Strategy & Planning

Andre’ Wilkes

Renasant Bank Associate Managing Director

Roby Williams

Black Business Association of MemphisPresident

Allison Willingham

Raymond James FVP

Kem Wilson

Kemmons Wilson Companies Principal

Announcements

  • NEXUS Serves at St. Jude Marathon

    NEXUS Alumni and members of the NEXUS Class of 2025 volunteered at this year’s St. Jude Marathon. Volunteers cheered for marathon runners and served at a Hydration Station. Read More
  • Monica Wharton Shares with Class of 2025

    Monica Wharton, EVP & COO for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare spoke to members of the Class of 2025 and Alumni at the December session. Monica shared on the topic of “Ethical Decision Making” and how important it is to be a transparent and authentic leader. To learn more about the session contact NEXUS. Read More
  • NEXUS Volunteers with AKA on CHIPPS Project

    Members of the NEXUS Class of 2025 volunteered with the AKA Sorority and their CHIPPS program. Together over 400 food bags were packed to distribute to students in the Mid-South to take home for the weekend.  Read More
  • Tom Cleves on Communicating and Using Smart Brevity

    On November 5, Tom Cleves, recently retired as SVP – Corporate Affairs for Sylvamo had a discussion with the mentors and proteges in the NEXUS Class of 2025 on the topic communicating as a Leader and using smart brevity. To learn more about this session or to request the speaker’s audio, contact NEXUS. Read More
  • Sally Pace Challenges the NEXUS Class of 2025 to Ask the Right Questions

    At the October session, Sally Pace, CEO for Connect Healthcare Collaboration spoke to the NEXUS Class of 2025 on the topic of “Asking the Right Questions”. Sally did an amazing job and truly challenged participants to think about the importance of questions. To request the session audio contact NEXUS. Read More
  • NEXUS Volunteers at Make-A-Wish

    Members of the NEXUS Class of 2025 recently volunteered with Make-A-Wish Mid-South. Participants volunteered and learned more about the impact Make-A-Wish is making on the children of the Mid-South! Read More
  • Lori Evans on the Newest Episode of “The NEXUS Intersection” Podcast

    New Release – “The NEXUS Intersection” – A NEXUS Podcast In this episode of “The NEXUS Intersection” co-hosts Ephie Johnson and Heather Hunt have a conversation with NEXUS Alumni Lori Evans on the topic of “Leading + Engaging our in City”. Lori is the Patient Experience & Community Engagement Manager for Regional One Health and the President of the Junior League of Memphis. At a young age, Lori learned she... Read More
  • Class of 2025 Kicks Off with Dr. Russ Wigginton

    The first speaker session for the NEXUS Class of 2025 took place on September 10 with Dr. Russ Wigginton. Dr. Wigginton serves the National Civil Rights Museum as President and shared about his leadership journey and what makes an effective, focused leader. To request the speaker’s audio contact NEXUS. Read More
  • Mike Allen Named Kem Wilson NEXUS Leadership Award Recipient

    On behalf of the NEXUS Board of Directors, it was a privilege to honor NEXUS Mentor Mike Allen with the Kem Wilson NEXUS Leadership Award that is awarded each year to someone that leads like Kem. This award is given at Graduation to someone who has unwavering commitment to the NEXUS program and mission and fully engaged with fellow members of the Class of 2024. Read More
  • Congratulations to the Class of 2024!

    Congratulations to the NEXUS Class of 2024!! On May 2, NEXUS graduated its 20th Class and has now trained over 1200 leaders equipped and motivated to lead our city! At Graduation the Mentor and Protégé graduates were honored for their accomplishments and dedication over the past ten months. NEXUS co-Founder Sandy Willson was the keynote speaker on the topic of “Dreaming as a Leader”. Special thanks to the mentor and... Read More

Upcoming Events

January 14, 2025 - February 11, 2025
Winter Workshop Series – Communicating with the Enneagram + AI

NEXUS is inviting you to a two-part workshop series focused on using tools to be an effective communicator.  In this series

Read More
December 31, 2024 - December 31, 2024
Think of NEXUS With Your Year End Giving!

THINK OF NEXUS WITH YOUR YEAR-END GIVING!  Over the past 20 years, NEXUS has trained more than1200 graduates motivated to

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January 7, 2025 - January 7, 2025
Christian Owen to Share in January

Members of the current NEXUS class will begin 2025 with Christian Owen, Founder and Publisher of RiverCity Lifestyle

Read More

Testimonials

  • Celebrating 20 Years of NEXUS – Alumni Highlight – Ephie Ballard Johnson

    “I was honored to participate in the inaugural year of NEXUS, 20 years later I’m honored to still be involved in NEXUS as a mentor, past speaker, and Board member. Just five years after being a protégé I became President & CEO of NCC, because of NEXUS I appreciate and see the importance of servant leadership.” Ephie Ballard Johnson, President & CEO of Neighborhood Christian Centers
  • Celebrating 20 Years of NEXUS – Alumni Highlight – Billie Jo Parker

    “The greatest benefit from participating in NEXUS are the connections you make. I am grateful for the personal and professional network of colleagues and friends I have encountered because of NEXUS.” Bill Jo Parker, SVP Pinnacle Bank and NEXUS Alumni
  • Celebrating 20 Years of NEXUS – Alumni Highlight – Douglas Skipworth

    “NEXUS is unique because it trains people's minds, hearts, and hands. I love NEXUS because it does both of those while also adding a higher purpose component to its program. In my experience, that's very rare. Thanks to NEXUS, the proteges who graduate each year are not only skilled and ambitious, but they are also compassionate leaders who are making a meaningful difference in Memphis!” Douglas Skipworth, Principal Broker, CrestCoreRealty, LLC and NEXUS Alumni
  • Celebrating 20 Years of NEXUS – Alumni Highlight – Amy Beth Dudley

    “NEXUS has been an important part of my professional life for over a decade. Starting as a protégé, moving to the mentor role, and now serving on the NEXUS Board of Directors. I have had the opportunity to see the impact of mentoring and that has been tremendous.” Amy Beth Dudley, Director of Donor Services, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis + NEXUS Alumni
  • Celebrating 20 Years of NEXUS – Alumni Highlight – Cameron Mann

    “The greatest part about NEXUS is the diversity of relationships made that last a lifetime, particularly multi-generational relationships.” Cameron Mann, Director of Corporate Partnerships, Methodist Healthcare + NEXUS Alumni
  • Celebrating 20 Years of NEXUS – Alumni Highlight – Amy Simpson

    “NEXUS provides the opportunity to learn from others who love Memphis and want to make a difference!” – Amy Simpson, Corporate Communications, International Paper + NEXUS Alumni
  • Celebrating 20 Years of NEXUS – Alumni Highlight – Lewis Williamson

    “The NEXUS program offers an opportunity for a young person to gain some of the knowledge and experience of their mentors. I was a rather young mentor at the time of my initial experience. Today I am older with hopefully more experience to share. NEXUS offers me another network – especially with a younger group and I have made many new friends and hopefully provided beneficial help to those in the next generation.” -Lewis Wiliamson, HTS Commo
  • Celebrating 20 Years of NEXUS – Alumni Highlight – Caroline Kuebler

    “I’d say NEXUS is unique due to the opportunity to learn from and interact with local leadership in the small group monthly meetings. Of course, the relationships built between mentors and proteges is one of my favorite things.” - Caroline Kuebler, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis + NEXUS Alumni
  • Celebrating 20 Years of NEXUS – Alumni Highlight – Sally Pace

    “I came to NEXUS at a time where I desperately wanted a mentor from my industry who understood some of the challenges and opportunities I would be facing as I grew my career. I found that and so much more in the program, and the curriculum and discussions helped frame the path I would take over the coming years as I moved through various levels of management. - Sally Pace, Connect Healthcare Collaboration + NEXUS Alumni
  • Celebrating 20 Years of NEXUS – Alumni Highlight – Andrew Mok

    “As a NEXUS graduate, I have benefitted from the program through the guidance and support from my mentor at such an early stage of my professional career. I feel more confident in making informed decisions and navigating challenges. The program assisted in the development of my leadership skills including communication, problem solving, and emotional intelligence." - Andrew Mok, AutoZone + NEXUS Alumni