WHO WE ARE

WE ARE AN AGENCY THAT CELEBRATES DIFFERENCES

We show each other dignity through our partnerships, decisions, and language.

We intentionally engage, represent, and partner with our diverse communities.

We demonstrate our values by learning together with staff, board, volunteers, youth, families, and investors to think and act with sensitivity and intentionality.

Driven by the voice of our stakeholders, our agency develops responsive and respectful programming and builds strategic and thoughtful alliances.

Our team consists of people of all backgrounds and walks of life to ensure an equitable environment where everyone feels represented and included in our work. We’re always actively seeking to diversify our team and bring more voices to the table. Each of our team members brings unique perspectives and skills, and we are committed to building a culture where voices are heard, differences are celebrated, and everyone has the opportunity to do meaningful work. At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, we’re inspired by our talented, passionate colleagues who motivate us to do and be our best each and every day. We are bigger and better together! 

MEET THE TEAM

ABOUT OUR CEO

Melissa Hudson-Gant began serving as the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee in June 2018, bringing to the organization more than 20 years of nonprofit management and leadership experience. Most recently, Melissa served as the Vice President of Philanthropy and Chapter Development for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF). Serving as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, she was responsible for developing and leading regional chapters and diversifying the organization’s revenue base. During her tenure, she launched a national run/walk fundraising program and created a robust portfolio including major and annual giving and grant programs, quadrupling revenue in four years. She also cultivated partnerships to increase the organization’s impact leading to an organizational expansion nationwide.

Prior to PBTF, Melissa served as Regional Development Director and Director of Major Gifts for the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, and Director of the “Team in Training” and “Light The Night” campaigns with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Tennessee Chapter. As a native of the area and an MTSU graduate, Melissa is honored to lead such a well-respected organization helping our young people realize their potential.

Melissa Hudson-Gant

Chief Executive Officer

Emily Lara

Director, Office of the CEO

Bryan Currie

Chief Impact Officer

Alicia Yoder

Volunteer Coordinator

Jessica Corser

Director of Program Development

Joe Farris

Family and Youth Engagement Coordinator

Nadine Bidwell

E-Mentoring Coordinator

Ana Helis

Volunteer Engagement Coordinator

Kendra Jones

Program Specialist

Leigh-Ann Treece

VP of Program Operations

Anna Roberts

Manager of School-Based

Brooke Goodson

Sports Buddies Coordinator

Gracen Niazi

Program Specialist

Clarissa Gardner

Program Specialist

Tara Dixon

Director of Site-Based Programs

Rachel Becker

Manager of Community-Based

Anthony Fisher

E-Mentoring Coordinator

Emme Davenport

Program Specialist

Cory Piper

Program Specialist

Kathryn White

Director of Community-Based Programs

Dustin Hamby

Manager of Site-Based Facilitated

Alexa Regina Melo

Program Development Coordinator

Alondra Woodard

Program Specialist

Conner McDaniel

Program Specialist

Not Pictured

Caleb Hill – Program Specialist

Caitlin Sward – Family Intake Specialist

Ayanna Jones – Program Associate

Doug Halleen

VP of Development

Molly Stewart

Development Coordinator

Lauren Fenn

Director of Volunteer Recruitment and Community Engagement

Paige Hardy Brown

Community Engagement Coordinator

Veronica Chambers

Director of Development

Hanna Leighton

Development Administrator

Alyson Woods

Director of Annual Giving

Alejandra Mauricio

Volunteer Recruitment and Community Engagement Manager

David Estrin

Chief Operating Officer

Bridget Heary

Employee Development and Engagement Manager

Suzanne Boone

VP of Quality Assurance and Reporting

ALICIA YODER

Manager of Volunteer Experience and Retention

Amber Leach

VP of Employee Experience

Ruthie Thomas

Administrative Coordinator

Russell McBride

Director of System Administration

Nicole Ceccacci

VP of Finance

Doug Anaya

Accounting Manager

Amanda Jones

Grants Manager

Grant Kinnett

Immediate Past Chair
Executive Committee
Retail Leasing & Sales Director Boyle Nashville, LLC.

Erica Vick Penley

Executive Committee
Partner
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC

Neema Mehta

Global Head of HR – Strategy, Transformation, and Process (ST&P)

Philips Healthcare

Amelia Bozeman

Lecturer

Department of Management

Middle Tennessee State University

Marq Burnett

Executive Committee
Associate Editor

American City Business Journal

Brandon Corbin

Regional Technology Officer

Ascension Saint Thomas

Dana Frierson

Jackie Baxter

Internal Relations Committee Chair
Executive Committee
VP, Operations
Nashville Electric Service

LuSheena Jones-Coofer

Executive Committee
School Psychologist
MNPS

Missy Acosta

Vice President
Executive Committee
VP, Brand Strategy
Delta Dental of Tennessee

Tom Lampe

Chair
Executive Committee
Messer Construction Co.

Scott Romine

President, Advisory Solutions

Jackson National Life Insurance

Suzanne Smith

Senior VP & Private Client Manager

Bank of America

Parker Mallchok

YLC Board Intern

James Hallock

SVP, Development & Strategy
CoreTrust

Winston Justice

Private Wealth Advisor
AllianceBernstein

Edward Rucker

Metropolitan Police Dept.
Community Coordinator

P. Danielle Nellis

Deputy General Counsel

Tennessee State Board of Education

Rik Reitmaier

Senior VP of Information Technology

Ascend Credit Union

Digna Forbes

M.D., Pathologist

Meharry Medical College

Sarah Mosely

Youth Board Member

Brent Gay

Treasurer
Executive Committee
Chief Financial Officer
Advance Financial

Kelly Hodges

External Relations Committee Chair
Executive Committee
Chief Development and Engagement Office
Gresham Smith & Partners

Marquita Qualls

Owner and Founder
Entropia Consulting

Cher Porties

Member at Large
United Parcel Service
President

Naomi Walker

Youth Board Member

Liz Sitgreaves

Special Counsel

Not Pictured

Shannon Myers – Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Tony Grande – Chief Development Officer, EVP

Josh Wood Partner

Lori Williams

Kelly Hodges

Chief Development and Engagement Officer

Alicia Yoder

Volunteer Coordinator

Tom Lampe

Nashville Region Vice President – Messer

Nadine Bidwell

E-Mentoring Coordinator

Anders Hall

Vice Chancellor, Investments – Vanderbilt

David Bailey

Principal – Hastings Architecture

Missy Acosta

VP – Brand Strategy

Curt Sullivan

President – TransCor

Brent Gay

CFO – Advance Financial

James Hallock

Chief Transformation Officer – CoreTrust

Not Pictured

Chad Greer – Senior Wealth Advisor – Northwestern Mutual

Steve Cook – Executive Managing Director – LFM Capital

Jeremy Hopwood – President, CEO – 5iron Cyber

Ken Rideout – Regional President – CBIZ Employee Benefits

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