Tennessee Nonprofit Network

Our Staff

John Bazzanella

Chief Operating Officer
Email | LinkedIn
pronouns: he/him/his

As Chief Operating Officer, John is responsible for financial management and all aspects of daily operations and human resources administration. John holds a Master of Nonprofit Administration degree from the University of San Francisco, a Master of Business Administration degree from California State University Sacramento, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Santa Clara University. John is a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional and has worked and volunteered in the nonprofit sector for more than 29 years. John has served as a nonprofit board chair and done consulting work with nonprofits in areas of finance, strategic and business planning, board governance, and fundraising. John held several roles in TNN’s legacy organization including Director of Programs and Consulting. In addition to his operational responsibilities with TNN, John regularly designs and facilitates workshops in a number of subject areas and provides customized coaching and consulting services. A native Californian, John began his journey in the nonprofit sector as a summer volunteer for a residential camp program for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Over a span of nineteen years with that organization, culminating in him serving as the Director for the last six years of his tenure, John developed a deep appreciation for service to others and the power of small acts of kindness. Those early lessons continue to drive his commitment to service and his passion for the potential of the nonprofit sector. Outside of work John enjoys spending time with his very supportive wife and their two young sons.

April Carter

Chief Program Officer
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pronouns: she/her/hers
April serves as the Director of Programs with TNN. She worked for TNN’s legacy organization in roles varying from Executive Assistant to Membership Manager. April started her service to the community at 12 years old, volunteering at organizations such as The Salvation Army, The ARC Centers, and the Ronald McDonald House. She continues her service to the community through roles including administrative volunteer with the Memphis Business Academy’s The Standard after school program and Operations Manager for the nonprofit music label Standard Media, Inc., and is a frequent guest speaker for women’s group across the region, including the United Methodist Women’s group. April recently graduated from the inaugural LeadingUP cohort, a partnership initiative with TNN and Christian Brothers University’s Institute for Leadership Development. Outside of TNN, she has over 10 years of experience hosting game nights for couples’ retreats, ministry groups, local businesses and family and friends in the tri-state area, Georgia, Florida, and Illinois.

Kevin Dean

President & CEO
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pronouns: he/him/his

Kevin Dean is President & CEO of Tennessee Nonprofit Network. His previous positions include Executive Director of Momentum Nonprofit Partners,  Executive Director of Literacy Mid-South, Community Services Director at Volunteer Memphis and Director of Development at Hope House.


Kevin received his Bachelor’s in Communications from the University of Memphis in 2002. In 2009, he completed his Master’s Degree in Executive Leadership from Christian Brothers University. He received his doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Learning from Vanderbilt University in 2021. He is a Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant, and he has received his Certificate of Board Education from BoardSource.


Kevin was named one of Memphis’ Top 40 Under 40 by Memphis Business Journal in 2011. He is the 2013 recipient of the Ruth J. Colvin and Frank C. Laubach Award for Excellence in Community-Based Adult Literacy from ProLiteracy in Washington, DC. Kevin won the Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award from the Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence in 2015. He has also been named a Power Player by Inside Memphis Business in their Power Players issue since 2014,. Kevin was also the recipient of the 2015 Innovation Awards by Inside Memphis Business. In 2018, he was honored as an exceptional Bridge Builders alumni by BRIDGES, Inc. In 2021, he was named 150 for 150 by Christian Brothers University. In 2022, he was named one of the CEOs of the Year by Memphis Magazine.


Kevin is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Council of Nonprofits. He also serves on the Advisory Council for the University of Memphis’ Institute for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership as well as serving as a member of Independent Sector’s Public Policy Committee and the Federal Reserve Board of St. Louis’ Community Development Advisory Council.

Andrea Hill

Chief Development & Partnerships Officer
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pronouns: she/her/hers
Andrea Hill has received her Bachelor of Science in Human Services Management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and her Master in Public Administration from Kennesaw State University. She is certified in Volunteer Administration through the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration. She served as the 2018-2020 President of Directors of Volunteers In Agencies (DOVIA). She is also an appointed member of the Volunteer Tennessee board.

She has been named one of the 2017 Top 40 Under 40 Urban Elite professionals. She was also named one of the 2018 Memphis Business Journal Top 40 Under 40 professionals. She was awarded the National Urban League Young Professionals Inaugural Heroes In The Movement Award. She is the 2017 Junior League of Memphis– Provisional of the Year, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis- GIVE 365 member, Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement Board member, Leadership Memphis Alumni, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Andrea is also a proud supporter of WKNO.

Dorian Hines

Middle Tennessee Regional Director
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pronouns: he/him/his
Dorian Hines serves as the Partner Services Manager at TNN. He is a native of North Carolina who relocated to Memphis from Auburn, Alabama, where he attended graduate school. He received his Master of Public Administration from Auburn University and his Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Mass Communications from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. His previous positions include Community Engagement Manager at Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South and Recruitment and Marketing at The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Greensboro, NC. Dorian is also a part of a number of organizations including, Embark at the New Memphis Institute and the International City and County Management Association.

Dorian has a never-ending passion for public service and giving back to the community. He has volunteered with a great number of nonprofit organizations throughout his career. He prides himself in being his authentic self, while being eager in discovering new and effective ways in servicing the community. When not at work, Dorian loves to be outdoors, eating, exercising and spending time with family and friends.

Natalie Jones

Director of Advocacy & Research
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pronouns: she/her/hers
Natalie Jones is the Director of Advocacy and Research at Tennessee Nonprofit Network. A native of Tennessee, Natalie has over twelve years of experience serving in and working with the nonprofit community. Driven by the belief that strong communities are built on effective, evidence-based policies, she brings a specific data-informed lens to her role and is passionate about identifying ways for nonprofits to measure and share their impact with others. Prior to her work at TNN, she served in multiple partnership-focused roles at Christian Brothers University and in various business development and policy roles at Youth Villages. While at Youth Villages, she developed an expertise in and passion for child welfare and Medicaid policy, government and agency relations, and nonprofit administration. Natalie received her Masters in Public Administration from the University of Memphis, and earned her Bachelors of Social Work from Union University.

Angela Meekins

West Tennessee Regional Manager

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pronouns: she/her/hers

Angela Meekins, a Memphis native, brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit development, communications, broadcasting, and event management. A dynamic leader in storytelling, community engagement, and project management, Angela’s career has been defined by her passion for connecting people and driving impactful initiatives. As the former Engagement & Event Manager at Porter-Leath, Angela spearheaded key community partnerships and elevated outreach efforts across the region. She was instrumental in managing logistics for high-profile fundraising events, including the Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival, one of the largest crawfish festivals in the U.S. Before transitioning to the nonprofit sector, Angela built a successful career in broadcasting. She served as Promotions Director at Entercom Communications, where she led the creation and execution of marketing strategies for a regional cluster of radio stations. Angela also shined as a producer and on-air personality at ABC Radio Networks, where she planned and produced nationally syndicated broadcasts, including the widely renowned Tom Joyner Morning Show, which reached millions of listeners.

Kate Moss

Director of Operations
Email | LinkedIn
pronouns: she/her/hers
As Director of Operations, Kate is responsible for the general operations of the organization, including event and training logistics, database and website management, as well as performing various supportive administrative tasks. Originally from Jackson, TN, she has lived in Memphis since 1999. Kate earned her B.A. from the University of Mississippi, majoring in English and Psychology, with a minor in Spanish. She is a Certified Nonprofit Professional, credentialed through Nonprofit Leadership Alliance in 2018, and a Certified Standards for Excellence Consultant. Kate brings over 20 years’ operational and business experience to TNN.

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors fully supports the organization’s mission to build the momentum of the nonprofit sector to drive equitable, measurable, and lasting change.

Mark Jordan

Board Chair
MIFA

Sonji Branch

Vice Chair

Consultant

Amanda McCollum

Secretary
Adams Keegan

Bonnie Hollabaugh

Treasurer

World Methodist Evangelism

Teresa Cheeks-Wilson

Community Volunteer

Natalie Robinson

MMBC Continuum

Lori Patton

RoadShow BMW

Community Action Councils

West Tennessee 

Forrest Alton, 1000 Feathers
Andrea Baird, Memphis Oral School for the Deaf
Tiffany Crumpton, Memphis Leadership Foundation
Keena Friday-Gilbert, The Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee
Kate Haywood, Daily Design Group
Arnetta Macklin, MIFA
Patricia Melton, Community Volunteer
Juanita Ortiz, Consilience Group
Greg Spillyards, Commercial Advisors
Lisa Tillman, RIFA
Tracy Zerwig-Ford, Hutchison

Middle Tennessee 

Kaitlin Dastugue, Civic Design Center
Geree Jackson, Nashville Symphony
Josh Ireland, Jefferson Bridge Capital
Phillip Many, St. Luke’s Community House
Meena Swaminathan, PENCIL
Samantha Wigand, Imagine Nashville

East Tennessee 

Rachel Bailey, Family Crisis Center of WDCC, Inc.
Torrie Boggs
, United Way of Greater Knoxville
Rebecca Brado, University of Alaska Anchorage
Claudia Caballero, Centro Hispano de East Tennessee
Mark Cruise, STRONG ACC
Abby Garrison, United Way of Greater Chattanooga
Trudy Hughes, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Katie Kirkpatrick, Community Volunteer
Sarah Long, The Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee
Vicki McCaig, CASA for Kids Kingsport
Anthony Prince, Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Phil Trammell, Nonprofit Resource Center
Wendy Wand, United Way of Blount County

Help us create equitable, measurable, and lasting change in Tennessee.

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