History
Generation TN was founded in 2004 by a group of individuals who were committed to building a grassroots leadership organization to effect positive changes in Tennessee. That summer, more than 200 young professionals from across Tennessee convened in Nashville for a two day networking and leadership development conference that sought to inform and inspire a new generation of leaders.
The conference brought together young professionals and some of Tennessee’s most influential and recognizable leaders. While many of the participants were already leaders in their own rite, the chance to be face to face with the likes of Gov. Phil Bredesen, among others, presented a very unique opportunity.
Five years later, GenTN continues to be a unique organization, devoted to bringing together leaders from throughout the state, helping build connections and inspire ideas that will change the face of Tennessee in the years to come.
2009 Executive Committee
Jay Mayfield, Chair, Knoxville
Jay Mayfield is a Chattanooga native now living in Knoxville. A media relations coordinator at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, he is responsible for media and internal relations efforts related to UT Knoxville’s leading efforts in science, sustainability, technology and research. Mayfield is an alumnus of McCallie School in Chattanooga, and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from The George Washington University and a master’s degree in public relations from the University of Georgia. A ninth-generation Tennessean, Mayfield is an active member of First Baptist Church of Knoxville and is a former executive director of the Tennessee Young Democrats. This is his third year on the Executive Committee.
Jessica Betts, Nashville
Jessica Betts is the Resource Development Manager for the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville. She is responsible for management of workplace campaigns, development of new workplace campaigns, and building relationships with current and prospective leadership givers in the entertainment, sporting, insurance, and legal communities. She also recently started her own consulting firm, Better Strategies, Inc., which specializes in business development and relationship facilitation between government and corporate entities. Betts was the former Development Coordinator for Cumberland Region Tomorrow (CRT), a sustainable development and comprehensive planning organization for the Cumberland Region of Middle Tennessee. Jessica came to CRT after serving three years as a member of Governor Phil Bredesen’s campaign finance team and as the Finance Director for the Tennessee Democratic Party. Jessica is an active member of the board for the Alcohol and Drug Council of Middle Tennessee, the Gabe’s My Heart board, and she is serving her third year as Co-Chair for the state-wide fund development committee for GenTN. A native Nashvillian, Betts is a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder, where she received her BS in Economics and Business Administration. She is an avid skier, runner, equestrian, and rock climber.
Gina Bever, Chattanooga
Gina Bever, a native of Columbus, Ohio, is proud to call Chattanooga – and Tennessee – home. A communications consultant at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, she manages several corporate sponsorships and provides communications counsel and support to several areas of the company. Her work has been recognized with several local, regional and national awards. When she’s not cheering on her beloved Ohio State Buckeyes and Tennessee Titans, or spending time with friends and family, Gina serves as secretary for the North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy and is a long-time board member of the Lookout Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. She is also involved in the Young Professionals Association of Chattanooga and volunteers for a number of various non-profit organizations and events. Gina became involved in GenTN in 2007 and is excited to recruit more Chattanoogans to the organization.
Sam Davidson, Nashville
As President and Co-Founder of CoolPeopleCare.org, Sam Davidson has just one goal: to save the world. After a stint in the nonprofit and corporate worlds, he has been spoken and written extensively on issues related to social entrepreneurship, the next generation, and community service. His first book, “New Day Revolution: How to Save the World in 24 Hours” was published in 2007. This is his third year of involvement with GenTN. He has been married to Lynnette for five years.
Alfred Degrafinreid II, Nashville
Alfred was raised in Memphis, TN, and graduated from Raleigh-Egypt High School before earning a Bachelor of Science from the College of Health Sciences at Tennessee State University. Upon graduation, Alfred worked as a Political Consultant for a Mayoral Candidate in Nashville, Tenn., while pursuing a Master of Public Administration from Tennessee State University. Alfred works at the Tennessee General Assembly as a Legislative Assistant to one of the members of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Alfred is a board member of Voting is Priceless, LLC, an organization designed to encourage individuals in the 18 - 35 year old demographic to participate in the political process in Middle Tennessee.
Jason F. Hicks, Cookeville
Jason is a native Middle Tennessean, born in Nashville and now living in Cookeville, he is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and is a second year law student at Faulkner University’s Jones School of Law, in Montgomery, Alabama. While at UT he was active in the student government association serving as Senate Chair and he was the recipient of a Dean’s Citation for Campus Leadership. He has been active in his community by being involved with a number of political campaigns. Jason, an Eagle scout, has remained active in scouting by being an assistant scoutmaster and serving on the district committee for the Upper Cumberland area. He is also a founding member of the Cookeville Children’s Museum, a member of the Cookeville History Museum, and involved with Cookeville Lodge #266 Free & Accepted Masons.
Eddie Jackson, Pulaski
Eddie Jackson is a native of Giles County TN and currently serves as a Vice President / Chief Operations Officer at PES (formerly know as Pulaski Electric System). Eddie is a 1998 Electrical Engineering graduate from Tennessee Technological University and enjoys missions work with his church.
Katy Kirby, Nashville
Frank Langston, Memphis
A midtown Memphis native, Frank is co-founder of the domain name service IPM and serves as Manager of Strategic Development for Mr. Pride Car Wash in Memphis. A graduate of Memphis University School and Princeton University with an AB from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Frank has studied in Cape Town, South Africa and Avignon, France. He interned in the Congressional offices of Representative Harold Ford, Jr. and Senator Bill Frist and once worked as an operating room nurse’s assistant. Having returned to Memphis, Frank serves on the Boards of MPACT Memphis and the RISE Foundation, is class representative at Memphis University School, and is a Leadership Memphis FastTrack graduate and Leadership Academy Foudation Fellow. Frank is always looking for friends ready to travel, talk entrepreneurship, go snow skiing, and do all of the above at the same time.
Karen F. McCrary, Oakland
A native Memphian, Karen McCrary has worked as a Government Sales Account Manager for FedEx Services since 2006. In addition to her professional sales career, she has an extensive background in the beauty and wellness industries. With over 10 years of experience, Karen is a successful entrepreneur providing creative solutions and services to satisfied clients nationwide. Her passion for mentoring young adults has encouraged her to volunteer with YO! Memphis, a charter school for underprivileged youth; mentor and accompany of Memphis City School youth on travels abroad; and serve as speaker on several youth forums. Additionally, she advises and appears as a guest expert for several local media outlets regarding make-up applications and presentation skills. Furthermore, Karen serves as an Editorial Board member and contributor for a national paramedical skin care journal. Karen has lived in Michigan, Maryland, and New York. She currently resides in Oakland, Tenn.
Lacey Holloway McDonald, Johnson City
Lacey is the Executive Director of Appalachian Mountain Project Access, a non profit that bridges the gap between physicians, hospitals, clinics, and the uninsured. Outside of advocacy work, Lacey also pursues her interest in politics, environmental preservation and sustainable development. Lacey and her husband Erik welcomed their first baby girl in late 2008.
Melinda Medlin, Memphis
Melinda Medlin is a Senior Advisor at Capitol Network, Inc., a Washington, D.C. based, full service public relations and political consulting firm. Capitol Network represents a diverse client list, including fortune 500 companies; small businesses; federal, state and political leaders; and non-profit organizations. With more than 15 years of professional experience, Melinda has a proven background in communications, event production and political strategy. Melinda has worked for some of the most nationally recognizable elected officials, including Vice President and Mrs. Al Gore, Senator Ted Kennedy and Governor Phil Bredesen.
Freddie O’Connell, Nashville
Freddie O’Connell is a native Nashvillian and an alumnus of Montgomery Bell Academy (1995) and Brown University (2000, AB/ScB). A former candidate for State House of Representatives, he has long been active in the political and non-profit worlds. He is currently serving on the boards of directors of the Nashville MTA, Belcourt Theatre, and Walk/Bike Nashville, as well as serving as president of the executive board of his neighborhood association. And he has been asked to serve on Nashville mayor Karl Dean’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. With Mary Mancini, he co-hosts Liberadio(!), a political talk radio show that broadcasts live on 91.1 WRVU-FM on Monday mornings from 7:00-9:00 a.m. Professionally, Freddie works as Internet Strategist at SouthComm, a regional media company.
Eric Robertson, Memphis
Eric Robertson, Economic Development Director for the LeMoyne-Owen College Community Development Corporation (LOCCDC) is a native Memphian. Mr. Robertson attended the University of Memphis, where he majored in Anthropology with a concentration in Urban Studies and this year was one of the youngest recipients of an Outstanding Alumni Award. Eric currently serves as the Past Chairman of the Board of MPACT Memphis, the largest young professional/ creatives membership organization in the city. Eric graduated in 2006 from the Leadership Memphis Executive Program and is currently serving on the Program Planning Committee. Recently Eric was asked to join the founding Executive Committee of the Memphis Regional Design Center.
Douglas Scarboro, Memphis
Dr. Douglas Scarboro is the Director of Community Engagement at The Leadership Academy, where he provides innovative opportunities for alumni to engage with one another and develops programming and events in partnership with The Leadership Academy alumni and community partners. Dr. Scarboro has a BA in political science from Morehouse College, an MBA from Campbell University and Ed. D. in Higher and Adult Education from the University of Memphis. Dr. Scarboro’s current scholarly research focuses on the use of cultural competency training in pharmacy pre-professionals and evaluating leadership development programs in Memphis and Shelby County. In his spare time, Dr. Scarboro is a board member of Lantana Projects, a non-profit (501c3) dedicated to making Memphis, TN a leader in the global contemporary arts community, an adjunct professor of Organizational Behavior at Christian Brothers University and assists MIFA (Memphis Inter Faith Association) and RISE (Responsibility, Initiative, Solutions and Empowerment) with community based initiatives.
Tim Story, Johnson City
Brandon Tidwell, New York
A member of the Social Responsibility & Ethnic Outreach team at FedEx, Brandon serves as the lead for philanthropic investments in education and the environment. Since joining FedEx in 2007, Brandon led the re-design of local market giving programs, managed the process for reviewing requests to executives, and oversaw the charitable programs designed with FedEx Racing, NFL and the FedEx Cup. Today, Brandon oversees the investments in Teach For America, a number of minority scholarship funds, and Net Impact. He is also working with the office for Environmental Sustainability to build a portfolio of charitable partners that reflect the corporation’s work in sustainable transportation and the reduction of carbon emissions. Prior to FedEx, Brandon served as the Vice President of Training at The Leadership Academy where he provided leadership development programs to young professionals, New Leaders for New Schools, charter school principals and a host of corporations, including Williams-Sonoma, Medtronic and Methodist Healthcare. Brandon has his Masters in Social Work from Baylor University and has served on a number of non-profit boards. Brandon currently resides in New York City.
Katie Williams, Nashville
Katie is a graduate of Wake Forest University who relocated to Nashville in 2002. She is a Financial Representative with the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network and her mission is to empower and guide her clients through the important decisions in their lives. When not working or spending time with her family, Katie is active in her community through organizations such as the Bethlehem Centers, Generation TN and The Tomorrow Fund. Katie is married to Anderson Williams.
Matt Wiltshire, Nashville
Matt is a Director in Investment Banking at Avondale Partners, LLC, where he provides mergers and acquisitions advice and raises capital for companies primarily in the consumer industry. Matt serves on the Boards of Hands On Nashville and the Sennet Society of the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville and is an active member of Belmont United Methodist Church. A Nashville native, Matt graduated from Hume-Fogg Academic High School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Dartmouth College. Matt is married to Lisa Wiltshire and they have two sons, John Ashley and Alex.
Board of Directors
| Jennifer Brundidge | Matthew Wiltshire |
| Byron Trauger |