HomeUncategorizedNEXUS Board Chair Reflects on This Past Year

NEXUS Board Chair Reflects on This Past Year

May 17, 2021 Uncategorized

May 2021

These past fourteen months have looked more different than we could have ever imagined, and we have learned more about each other and our world than we ever thought.

I am proud of the NEXUS Board of Directors for their dedication and commitment as we have led together.  Our Board knows the importance of relationships and were determined to fulfill that need for the Mentor and Protégé participants.  I am proud of the volunteers that serve on the NEXUS Program Committee;  they have been dynamic and creative as the environment and sessions changed monthly.

I am proud of the NEXUS Class of 2021 for entrusting us to provide a safe and successful NEXUS experience.  This year’s Mentors and Proteges began meeting in-person in August through November with masks and social distancing.   In December and January, the class met via zoom due to the spike in COVID-19 numbers paired with the holiday season.  We came back together in-person in February through the spring and are celebrating with Graduation in the Garden in May.  We have continued to offer a virtual option throughout the year for those not comfortable meeting in-person.

I am proud of our partners who have continued to support NEXUS and also led our city through a world pandemic.  We want to express our sincere gratitude to those committed individuals and partners who share our vision of building a stronger Memphis through the duplication of principle-centered leaders.  Our partners include AutoZone, Baptist Memorial Health Care, eBiz Solutions,  First Horizon Foundation, International Paper Foundation, Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation, and The Marston Group.  A special thanks to Memphis Botanic Garden for hosting the Graduation in the Garden event to celebrate the NEXUS Class of 2021 and Class of 2020.

As this year comes to an end and we start to plan for the Class of 2022, we are committed to provide an engaging & interactive experience for both mentors and proteges no matter what the environment looks like.  The NEXUS experience is proven!

On behalf of the NEXUS Board of Directors, congratulations to the Class of 2021! 

Bathsheba Sams, NEXUS Board Chairman

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Announcements

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  • Monica Wharton Shares with Class of 2025

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  • NEXUS Volunteers with AKA on CHIPPS Project

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  • Sally Pace Challenges the NEXUS Class of 2025 to Ask the Right Questions

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  • NEXUS Volunteers at Make-A-Wish

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  • Class of 2025 Kicks Off with Dr. Russ Wigginton

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December 31, 2024 - December 31, 2024
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Partners

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