Cary Vaughn, Chair
Memphis, TN
CEO and President of Love Worth Finding Ministries, Inc. Cary has served with the State of Tennessee, Department of Economic and Community Development representing the Southwest Region. In the community, Mr. Vaughn participates with several boards and commissions: Jackson State Community College Foundation Board of Trustees (Past Chair), Lambuth University Alumni Association (Past Chair), Leadership Millington Steering Committee, UT Martin WestStar Board of Directors, H.A.R.E. Board of Directors (President), Memphis YMCA Board of Directors (Past Chair), Millington Education Foundation Board of Directors (Chair), and the Tennessee Association of Community Leaders Board of Directors (Past Chair).
John Rountree, Vice-Chair
Memphis, TN
John is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a BA in Organizational Leadership. John joined the team at Safelite AutoGlass as an Area Sales Manager in July of 2011 after several years as a Regional Sales Manager for a Railroad contractor working all over the South-east. John was promoted to Operations Manager of the Memphis Market in 2014 and oversaw record growth in sales and contribution between 2014 and 2016. John received the Safelite Wall of Fame award for 2017. In 2017 John was promoted to District Manager over all operations in West Tennessee, Arkansas and North Mississippi for Safelite and continues to serve in that capacity today.
Tim Dellinger, Treasurer
Jackson, TN
Vice President of Financial & Administrative Affairs
Jackson State Community College
James Ayers, Trustee
Nashville, TN
Jim Crone, Trustee
Eads, TN
Jim Crone is the Mid-South Director of Government and Corporate Relations/Comprehensive Solutions for the Trane Company working with Municipalities, Universities, School Districts and Hospitals throughout West TN, East AR, and North MS. His responsibilities are to develop energy performance based comprehensive solutions for capital improvements and operational efficiencies. Jim has been with Trane since 2010. His entire career has been helping to develop organizations (both corporate and non-profit/ volunteer) from a starting point into thriving organizations. He brings experience and energy to these organizations in an effort to support their mission. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Leadership Memphis and serves as the Chair of Volunteer Memphis. Additionally he serves on the Benjamin Hooks Institute for Cultural Change (University of Memphis), the Jackson State Community College Foundation (Jackson, TN), and serves on the Memphis/Shelby County Center City Revenue Finance Board.
Al Da Silva, Trustee
Memphis, TN
Al Da Silva is the founder and CEO of DaSilva Consulting-Your Consulting Network. His vision is to build a network of highly talented and diversified consultants to drive value to the business community through its Virtual COO Program. Al Da Silva is a graduate of Union University in Jackson, TN where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Nursing. He also holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Memphis. Finally, He is certified in Lean Six Sigma and Strength-based leadership development.
Hannah Gore, Trustee
Jackson, TN
A freelance photographer, graphic designer, and writer who serves the Jackson and West Tennessee area. She has worked with government and education entities, as well as advertising, public relations, entertainment, agricultural, and religious organizations. Hannah was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Vice-President of the Multicultural Student Association, and visual arts editor for the Spilled Ink Society. She was named Tennessee's New Century Workforce Pathway Scholar and was recognized in New York City. Hannah is a positive representative of Jackson and its surrounding communities, drawing on her broad range of experiences and connections.
Randy McKinnon, Trustee
Jackson, TN
Randy McKinnon is a Civil Engineer and President of TLM Associates, an Architectural and Engineering firm serving West Tennessee. He is a 1992 graduate of Tennessee Tech University. Prior to joining TLM 1998, Randy previously worked for Environmental Systems Corporation in Knoxville as a designer and project manager of environmental assessment and remediation projects.
Neta McKnight, Trustee
Jackson, TN
After receiving a 12-month certificate in Roentgen ray technique from the University of Tennessee Medical School in 1957, Neta began her career at the Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans. She then returned to Tennessee and, in 1970, was employed at Jackson State Community College. After 37 years as an associate professor and the first director of the radiography program, she looks back with pride at having developed the first college degree program in radiologic technology in the state of Tennessee - one of the first programs to receive national accreditation.
Natalie McCullough Porter, Trustee
Reggie Smith, Trustee
Jackson, TN
Deann Thelen, Trustee
Jackson, TN
Deann is originally from the state of Iowa and grew up on a farm near Iowa City. She attended University of Iowa for her education obtaining her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 1991. She worked as a registered nurse in critical care and cardiac procedural units for several years before moving into administration. She obtained her MBA in 2003 while still at the University of Iowa. Deann has worked in healthcare both clinically and administratively for nearly 30 years and still is focused on hospital operations. She relocated to Jackson, Tennessee in May of 2012 to become a Vice President for Hospital Services with West Tennessee Healthcare. In her current role she has administrative and operational oversight for several key clinical areas.
Delaney Timberman, Trustee
Savannah, TN
Executive Director, Hardin County Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Burton Williams, Trustee
Nashville, TN
Chief Executive Officer of Ayers Foundation Trust in 2023 and is a veteran leader in business, development, and education. Burton spent nearly 25 years in higher education administration, community engagement, academics, and research. Most recently, Burton was the Director of TrustCore Institutional at TrustCore located in Brentwood, TN. He previously served as Associate Vice President for Advancement, as well as Assistant Dean of the College of Education and Associate Dean of the College of Business at Lipscomb University in Nashville. He earlier held similar roles at Freed-Hardeman University in West Tennessee.
Joe T. Woods, Trustee
Lexington, TN
has worked in or with public education since 1986 serving as a teacher, coach, and administrator. He served for nine years as the Director of Schools for Lexington City Schools in Lexington Tennessee until 2011. He also worked as the Statewide Coordinator for Battelle for Kids to support the Tennessee Department of Education's implementation of First to The Top from 2011-2015. Since 2015, Joe has worked with the Paris Special School District and Marion County Schools in the area of expanding career exploration and career pathways. He is currently serving as the Special Projects Coordinator for Collierville Schools. Joe is also working with the National Rural Education Association and the Henderson County Alliance on Rural Workforce Development efforts.