STARS

Hope. Health. Connection.

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Board of Directors 2023

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Rita McDonald, Chair, Nashville Chamber of Commerce

Carnell Elliott, Past Chair, ChangeHealthcare

Erin Tomlinson, Chair Elect, Ambition

Robin Barrick, Treasurer, Smith, Seckman & Reid (Retired)

Jamaal Oldham, Secretary, DELL

Sperry Bell Simmons, Co-Development Chair, ABF (Retired)

Jillian Frist, Co-Development Chair, Ankura

John Thetford, Associate Board Liaison, Thetford Insurance Services, Inc.

OPERATING BOARD MEMBERS

Ryan Armstrong – Concept Technology

John Bearden – Civis Bank

Bill Burrow – Jackson National Life Insurance Company

Patrick Fears – Aon

Katie Grant – Kraft CPAs

Rasheen Hartwell – Enterprise Holdings

Tracey Henry – Community Volunteer

Ellie Ivancich – Morgan Stanley

Nikki Jones

Sharon Kay – JAZZY 88 FSK/Fisk University

Greg Kelly – Heartland Steel Products

Tyler Layne – Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis LLP

Shelby Lomax – Bradley Boult Arant & Cummings LLP

Andrew Maraniss – Vanderbilt Athletic Department

Lizzie McKeand – Truxton Trust

Ellis Metz – Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock

Casey Mulligan – Pinnacle Financial Partners

Renease Perkins – Belmont University

Mary Leigh Pirtle – Bass, Berry & Sims

Andrew Quinn – AJ Advisors

Robert Rosario – Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty

Andrew Solinger – Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis LLP

Richard Stone – CapStar Bank

Grace Sweeney – Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Alden Ward – Dollar General

Mary Wessel – Hands on Nashville

James R. Williams – Nashville Veterinary Specialists and Animal Emergency

HONORARY BOARD

James Bradshaw III – Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP

Brogan Bunnell – Nuffer, Smith, Tucker Public Relations

Daphne Butler – Community Volunteer

Jacques Cabell – Judicial Magistrate, Williamson County Juvenile Court

Karla Calderon – Community Volunteer

Mike Coupe – Place of Hope

Beth Cox – Decisions, Choices & Options, Inc.

Kevin T. Dyson – Centennial High School

J. Bryan Edwards – Hughes-Edwards Custom Builders

Hilton B. “Buck” Forcum – Nashville Office Consulting

LeShane Greenhill – Pishon Consulting

Orrin Ingram – Ingram Industries

William A. (Tinker) Kelly – VEBA

Paige Kisber – Hospital Alliance of Tennessee

Mary LaGrone – Attorney at law

Darwin Mason Sr., Ed.D. – Metro Nashville Public Schools – Retired

Derrick Mason Sr. – 102.5 The Game

Colton Mulligan – FoxFuel Creative

*Brackney Reed – Gresham, Smith & Partners

John R. Robinson – Nashville Lawn Equipment

Sabrina S. Ruderer – HCA – Retired

Bill Rutherford – HCA

Christopher C. Sabis – Sherrard, Roe, Voigt & Harrison

J.C. Siegrist Jr. – Entrepreneur

Douglas M. Smith – UPS – Retired

Tricia Spehr – Community Volunteer

Sammy V. Swor, Ed.D. – Metro Nashville Public Schools – Retired

Christian von Allmen

Kimberly Watts –  athenahealth

Richard Winstead – Crosslin & Associates

Luther Wright, Jr. – Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.

Ron York – York & Friends Fine Art
*Charter

ASSOCIATE BOARD

Kerry Burke, Chair – Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock

Blake Stadler Maschmeier, Chair Elect – Coupa Software

Margaret-Anne Byerly – Enterprise Solutions LLC

Karen Chan

Brianna Collins – Apostrophe

Josh Curtis – Lyft, Inc.

Sam Curtis – IQVIA

Birdie Loeffler – ProAssurance

Miranda McDonald – Save the Children US

CEO
Rodger Dinwiddie

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In Their Own Words

STARS' MOVE2STAND team created a life-changing and inspiring day. I look forward to working with them again.

Courtney Fergie

STARS' MOVE2STAND opened my eyes to what is actually happening in our schools.

M2S student

STARS' MOVE2STAND let me be me. I didn’t have to hide anything. I had a voice.

M2S student

At STARS' MOVE2STAND, I was finally heard!

M2S student

At STARS' MOVE2STAND, I learned how people actually feel.

M2S student

STARS' MOVE2STAND made me come out of my comfort zone and interact with my peers. I loved the training!

M2S student

I loved sharing my story and hearing others’ stories at STARS' MOVE2STAND. I enjoyed how personal the training was.

M2S student

At STARS' MOVE2STAND, I let my guard down and realized how many people are just like me.

M2S student

STARS' MOVE2STAND has shown me what I need to do as a person.

M2S student

Because of STARS' MOVE2STAND, I better understand how to help people.

M2S student

Everyone came together like a family at STARS' MOVE2STAND.

M2S student

STARS' MOVE2STAND made me feel less lonely.

M2S student

We will continue the STARS' MOVE2STAND message in our school and community indefinitely. Positive relationships between young people are essential for student success in all areas of life. We would strongly recommend M2S for school systems looking to improve climate and build cohesive, productive atmospheres. The training created lasting impacts that will be remembered forever.

STARS' MOVE2STAND was by far one of the best student trainings I have ever seen after working in bullying prevention for eight years. The one-day leadership training had a profound impact on 150 students in grades 6-12 from Vermilion Local Schools. The students have taken the M2S momentum into their own hands and created welcoming, cross-age mentoring and community relations committees.

Our STARS’ SAP counselor is an asset to our school. So many students deal with issues outside of school that affect their ability to do their best at school. As a school counselor, my job has many parts and changes daily. I’m not always available to see a child in crisis, and I can't usually provide ongoing counseling to a student or group sessions. That is where our SAP counselor comes in. She does free individual and group therapy to help our students overcome personal issues and to succeed at school.

Christy Hood School Counselor

"Magnificent," "life-changing" and "incredible" don't give STARS' MOVE2STAND justice. The event inspired emotions, passion and realizations at Beech High School.

Jamie Greer Spanish Teacher

We have many students who have autism and ADHD, and STARS' Kids on the Block has changed how these students are understood by their peers. For example, one autistic second-grader has made great gains this year due to his classmates’ acceptance. This would not have happened without KOB.

Janet Watkins School Counselor

STARS' Kids on the Block is doing great work to keep our children safe.

Dawn Crumpton School Librarian

STARS' Kids on the Block’s puppet shows are developmentally appropriate and find a delicate balance between fun-loving and thought-provoking messages. Students like seeing a new show every year, ranging from problem solving to diversity awareness.

Deborah Finch School Counselor

STARS’ SAP program helped me be a better person, improve my attitude and work things out with my parents. STARS’ SAP program had a huge impact on me. My counselor Mr. Mayes gave good advice and helped me with a lot of problems I had in middle school.

Gra-Mar Middle School student

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STARS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, culture, religion or creed, socioeconomic status, language, age, sexual orientation, or national origin. No one shall be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any of STARS’ programs or activities. STARS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

This agency is funded, in part, by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Tennessee Department of Education and by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. This project is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee.
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