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

The NEXUS Intersection Podcast with co-Founder Sandy Willson

New Release – “The NEXUS Intersection” – A NEXUS Podcast Co-founder of NEXUS Sandy Willson sat down with Heather Hunt and Ephie Johnson to talk about the vision he had for NEXUS and 20 years later why mentoring matters. Listen to the newest episode of “The NEXUS Intersection” titled “The NEXUS Vision & Why Mentoring”. Sandy shares about why NEXUS was founded and the purpose we continue to fulfill for... Read More
November Session with Memphis Grizzlies Jason Wexler

The NEXUS Class of 2024 hosted Jason Wexler, President for the Memphis Grizzlies at the November Session. Jason shared on the topic of “Motivating as a Leader” and how he personally is motivated and how he motivates his team. Read More
Mike Allen Shares on NEXUS Podcast – Episode 5

In the newest episode of the NEXUS podcast, “The NEXUS Intersection” co-hosts Ephie Johnson and Heather Hunt have a conversation with Mike Allen, Executive Director of the Memphis Botanic Garden and NEXUS Mentor. Mike shares the things he has learned through his three different acts as a corporate employee, entrepreneur, and a non-profit leader – all end with the same theme “Mike Gives Back”. To listen click HERE. Read More
Tom Cleves Returned to NEXUS

Tom Cleves, SVP – Corporate Affairs for Sylvamo returned to NEXUS in October. Tom shared the importance of “Focusing as a Leader” with the Class of 2024. He challenged everyone to ask themselves “What’s the one most important thing today?”. Figure out what matters and give it your undivided attention. To request the speaker’s audio email heather@nexusleaders.org. Read More
The NEXUS Intersection Podcast – Episode Four Released

Ignacio Vincentelli is the guest on the newly released NEXUS Podcast and talks about “Building Your Personal Team”. He shares the decisions he has made and how he has utilized “his team” along the way and why it’s so important to live in the present. Ignacio is Senior Counsel for International Paper and a NEXUS Alumni and Board member. LISTEN HERE. Read More
Sylvia Martinex Kicked Off Sessions for Class of 2024

The first speaker session for the NEXUS Class of 2024 took place on September 7 with Sylvia Martinez. Sylvia is the newly announced CEO for Girls, Inc. Sylvia shared about her journey as a leader and the things she has learned along the way focused on the leadership topic of “Planning”. Read More
NEXUS Podcast – Episode Three Released

A NEXUS Podcast – THE NEXUS INTERSECTION The third episode of the NEXUS Podcast with co-hosts Ephie Ballard Johnson and Heather Hunt. A conversation with NEXUS Alumni and Program Committee volunteer William Franklin. William shares the tough conversations he had with himself and mentors as he “Transition Careers” from a safe, corporate position to being employee number four with a startup company. William is currently the Vice President for Path... Read More
NEW Podcast Release

“The NEXUS Intersection” – A NEXUS Podcast The NEXUS podcast provides a diverse approach to leadership with interviews from NEXUS Alumni and key leaders in our city about timely topics, leadership journeys, and the backbone of any good leader – their mentors. Check out the second episode with co-hosts Ephie Ballard Johnson and Heather Hunt and the meaningful conversation with NEXUS Alumni Cami Fields. Cami is Manager of Strategic Marketing... Read More
NEXUS Launches Podcast “The NEXUS Intersection”

This podcast will provide a diverse approach to leadership with interviews from NEXUS Alumni and key leaders in our city about timely topics, leadership journeys, and the backbone of any good leader – their mentors. We created this podcast titled “The NEXUS Intersection”, to provide our listeners with a diverse approach to leadership by interviewing NEXUS alumni and other key leaders in our community. In each episode, our co-hosts Ephie... Read More
Congratulations to the NEXUS Class of 2023!

Congratulations to the NEXUS Class of 2023!! NEXUS successfully provided an engaging and meaningful NEXUS experience this year. NEXUS recently celebrated the Class of 2023 with NEXUS Graduation. This special event was hosted at the office of Kemmons Wilson Companies with Kayla Rodriguez Graff as the keynote speaker. On behalf of the NEXUS Board of Directors, it was a privilege to honor Kem Wilson, jr. and announce the Kem Wilson... Read More

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Testimonials

Daniel Pouget, VP – Commercial Banker, Simmons Bank & NEXUS Class of 2023 Protégé
Cameron Mann, Director of Corporate Partnerships, Methodist Le Bonheur & NEXUS Class of 2023 Mentor
YJ Lee, Marketing Advisor, Connect Healthcare & NEXUS Class of 2023 Protégé
Faedra Carter, Manufacturing Excellence Consultant, International Paper & NEXUS Class of 2023 Mentor
Travis Moody, CEO, Forward Memphis & NEXUS Class of 2023 Mentor
Will Adair, Construction Project Manager, CrestCore & NEXUS Class of 2023 Protégé
Andrew Mok, Category Manager, AutoZone & NEXUS Class of 2023 Protégé
Amy Beth Dudley, Dir. of Donor Services, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis & NEXUS Board member

“Mentoring relationships are crucial for both personal and professional growth. Through NEXUS, I have had the honor of both having a mentor and serving as one. A mentor walking alongside you to rejoice in successes and coach you through difficult situations makes all the difference. Serving on the board of NEXUS allows me to provide that connection and opportunity for others in our community.” Amy Beth Dudley, Dir. of Donor Services, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis & NEXUS Board member
Mason Massey, Assistant Marketing Manager, AutoZone, NEXUS Class of 2022 Protégé

“This is a unique opportunity to engage with both, peers and mentors, on current issues facing Memphis and beyond that is difficult to replicate. The relationship with my Mentor is something that I value greatly and will extend beyond the dates of the NEXUS program. It is difficult to put the relationship into words, as it is more of a friendship with someone who has much more life experience and accolades, but it has grown organically without feeling forced and I am very grateful for that.”
Jeanette O’Bryant, Development Director, Collage Dance Collective, NEXUS Class of 2022 Mentor

“This is one of the many great and satisfying programs that Memphis has to further develop and strengthen relationships and support in our community and our careers. I appreciate NEXUS so much for the opportunity and the wonderfully crafted sessions and speakers who graced us often with invaluable knowledge, testimonials and stories that seemed to fit me each month of my personal journey. Jeanette O’Bryant, Development Director, Collage Dance Collective, NEXUS Class of 2022 Mentor