NEXUS Class of 2023

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PROTEGES
Will Adair / CrestCore / Construction Project Manager
Lyndal Brumley / La Cherie Weddings / Owner/ Wedding Planner
Sheena Dixon / AutoZone LLC / Category Manager (Buyer)
Peyton East / Union Service Industries, Inc. / Accounting Manager
Ky Evans / Bentley Systems / Internal Communications Specialist
Carrie Fehnel / Baptist Memorial Healthcare Corporation / Thoracic Oncology Research Program Manager
Kristen Goetzka / International Paper / HR Service Delivery Sustain Coordinator
Brett Harris / GEICO / Tennessee Claims Manager
Brady Johnston / The Williams Company / Vice President of Food, Bakery, Confections, & Ingredients
Jonathan Knight / Alvea / Pre-clinical Strategy Manager
YJ Lee / Connect Helathcare Collaboration / Strategy Marketing Advisor
Tayloe Lowrance / 20twelve / Sales Associate
Andrew Mok / AutoZone, Inc. / Category Manager
Cal Overman / Simmons Bank / Business Development Officer II
Quinn Peebles / Financial Services Representative / Strategic Financial Partners
Michael Peterson / Memphis Shelby County Schools / Teacher
Justin Perry / First Horizon Bank / Private Client Banker
Charles Pittard / PCR insurance / Owner
Daniel Pouget / Simmons Bank / Commercial Portfolio Manager
Jordan Purdham / SSM Partners / Associate
Ashleigh Rainer / Make-A-Wish Mid-South / Volunteer Coordinator
Marcedes Richardson-Davenport / International Paper / HR Generalist
James Ryan / Second Presbyterian Church / Coordinator for Music Outreach and Student Worship
Hunt Steele / International Paper / Account Executive
Elizabeth Steles / First Horizon Corporation / Financial Consultant
Suhey Sturm / Church Health / Manager of Patient Services
Aaron Thompson / First Horizon / Teller
Anna Thompson / New Memphis / Marketing & Communications Manager
Christopher Thompson / Vaco / Recruiter
Logan Tyree / Binghampton Development Corporation / Business Hub Operations Coordinator
Andres Velasquez / LifeDOC Health / Manager/ Applied Research and Data

MENTORS
Mike Allen / Memphis Botanic Garden / Executive Director
Coors Arthur / Hilltop Securities / Trader
Paula Beale / First Horizon Bank / SVP, Brand Strategy and Strategic Partnerships
Terri Bernhardt / Harkavy Shainberg Kaplan, PLC / Attorney/Senior Counsel
Shericka Blair / Memphis Shelby County Schools / Federal Programs Inventory Manager
Rick Brown / Varsity Spirit LLC / SVP/CIO
Albert Carruthers / Memphis Net & Twine Company / President
Faedra Carter / International Paper / Manufacturing Excellence Consultant ( Continuous Improvement)
Allen Chapman / Retired – The Lincoln Electric Company / Memphis District Sales Manager
David Coleman / FedEx / Director, Services Finance
Will Conrad / Amazon AWS / Business Development Lead – Agriculture
Charlene Cox / ALSAC/St. Jude / Sr. Liaison Development – Analytics
Frank Crump / FHN Financial / Senior Vice President – Fixed Income Sales
Joanna Curtis / The University of Memphis / Vice President for Advancement
Ted Davis / Bright Investments LLC / Partner/Wealth Advisor
Olga Dickard / TrueSense Marketing / Senior Account Director
Billy DuBose / International Paper / Pine Chemicals Manager
Matt Gandy / FedEx / Managing Director Air Safety & Regulatory Compliance
Brown Gill / Gill Properties, Inc. / President
Evan Hattan / ID.me / Director of Operations
JJ Keras / Community Volunteer
Janie Lowery / Church Health / Development
Cameron Mann / Methodist Le Bonheur / Director of Corporate Partnerships
Aimee Massey / Alexander Thompson Arnold PLLC / Chief Operating Officer
Travis Moody / Life Church / The Lomah Group / Pastor/Mid-South Financial Champion
Don Riley / Discipling Men, Inc. / Executive Director & Founder
Tom Ryan / International Paper Company / Chief Counsel–Global Intellectual Property
Bathsheba Sams / Retired – International Paper / VP – Human Resources
Alissa Campbell Shaw / International Paper / Senior Manager, Global Corporate Social Responsibility & Community Engagement
Ignacio Vincentelli / International Paper / Senior Counsel
Lewis Williamson / Hilltop Securities / Co-Head – Mid-South Region
Kem Wilson / Kemmons Wilson Companies / Principal

Announcements

  • First Speaker Session for the 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

  • NEXUS Night Out was a Success

    The annual NEXUS Night Out was a success bringing the current class participants and NEXUS Alumni together to connect. Special thanks to NEXUS ALumni Norma and Kem Wilson for hosting this event. To learn more about how to re-engage as a NEXUS Alum contact heather@nexusleaders.org. Read More

  • NEXUS IN MOTION

    NEXUS IN MOTION took place on Thursday, April 13 with Alumni returning and serving as a table leaders along with a keynote message. The event provide valuable face time and personal interaction among members of the NEXUS Network. Dr. Russ Wigginton, President of the National Civil Rights Museum was the keynote speaker on the topic of “Dreaming as a Leader.” Special Thanks to the TABLE LEADERS Including Their TOPICS LYNN... Read More

  • NEXUS + Streets Ministries

    Members of the NEXUS Class of 2023 recently volunteered at the Graham location of Streets Ministries. Each year, NEXUS selects non-profits to learn more about and volunteer with. Streets Ministries is impacting the youth in our city daily. Read More

  • NEXUS Welcomes the Class of 2024

    The Class of 2024 began their NEXUS experience in August with Orientation. The successful event provided an opportunity for Mentors and Proteges to connect with fellow class participants, learn about individual strengths, and participate in training. The impact of the Mentor/Protégé relationship and the interactive, teaching lessons from key Memphis leaders paired with a proven curriculum continues to make NEXUS unique. The Orientation provided the foundation for a successful year... Read More

  • NEXUS Class of 2023 Meet & Greet

    NEXUS Class of 2023 Mentors and Proteges had the opportunity to meet fellow class members and NEXUS Board of Directors prior to the class orientation. Special thanks to Perkins-Everitt Lighting & Controls for hosting. Read More
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Upcoming Events

December 7, 2023 - December 7, 2023
NEXUS December Speaker Will Be Ericka DeBruce

Ericka DeBruce, Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Officer for ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

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November 2, 2023 - November 2, 2023
Jason Wexler Will Speak on Nov. 2

The NEXUS Class of 2024 2ill host Jason Wexler, President for the Memphis Grizzlies to speak on the leadership topic

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October 5, 2023 - October 5, 2023
Tom Cleves Returns to NEXUS on 10.5.23

Tom Cleves, SVP – Corporate Affairs for Slyvamo will return to NEXUS and speak to the Class of 2024 on the topic of

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Partners

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