Our Staff
Kevin Dean
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 and an Advisory Board member for Sycamore Institute.
April Carter
April serves as the Chief Program Officer for TNN. She worked for TNN’s legacy organization in roles varying from Executive Assistant to Membership Manager to Program Director. 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.
Kate Moss
Chief Administrative Officer
As Chief Administrative Officer, Kate keeps the organization running smoothly behind the scenes, overseeing day-to-day operations and internal processes that support efficiency, compliance, and long-term goals. She enjoys creating streamlined systems that help both staff and members thrive.
Originally from Jackson, Tennessee, Kate has called Memphis home since 1999. She earned her B.A. in English and Psychology, with a minor in Spanish, from the University of Mississippi.
Kate is a Certified Nonprofit Professional and a Certified Standards for Excellence Consultant. With more than 20 years of operational and business experience, she brings a thoughtful, steady presence and a genuine passion for supporting the nonprofit community through her work at TNN.
Dorian Hines
Director of Programs
Dorian Hines serves as the Director of Programs 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
Angela Meekins
Director of Membership
Email | LinkedIn
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.
Tony Murchison
East Tennessee Regional Director
Tony Murchison has recently accepted the role of East Tennessee Regional Director with Tennessee Nonprofit Network. In this role, he will work to provide technical assistance, training, and collaborative opportunities to all nonprofit organizations from Bristol to Chattanooga. Prior to this role, Tony served as the Director of Community Partnerships at the UTK College of Social Work. Through this role, he worked to develop relationships with key partners across the state and beyond, coordinated the Social Justice Innovation Initiative grant project, and supervised the college’s Continuing Education efforts including the annual eVOLve Conference. Tony serves on the boards for Magnolia Harbor Carefarm, the Mental Health Association of East Tennessee, and the Maryville College Alumni Association. Prior to UTK, Tony worked in mental health Quality and Compliance at Helen Ross McNabb Center for nine years. Married for 23 years, Tony and his spouse share 3 cats and 10 nieces and nephews. In his spare time, Tony likes to travel, read, write books (none published yet), hang out with friends, eat, and do craft projects.
Bev Vitali
Leadership and Capacity Building Fellow
Dr. Bev Vitali is TNN’s Leadership and Capacity Building Fellow. With more than two decades of experience as an educator, facilitator, and consultant, she has spent her career equipping leaders across the corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors with the skills, insight, and confidence to lead well.
As founding Director of the Institute for Leadership Development at Christian Brothers University, Bev designed and delivered leadership development experiences for audiences as diverse as emerging leaders in Fortune 500 companies, minority business owners, and civic leaders across the Delta region. Among her signature achievements is LeadingUp — a cohort-based program for emerging nonprofit leaders developed in partnership with Tennessee Nonprofit Network and the Hyde Family Foundation, recognized as a Top 10 Leadership Development Program by HR.com.
Bev holds a Ph.D. in Management from the University of Memphis and carries multiple professional certifications in leadership assessment, behavioral analysis, and organizational effectiveness.
Teresa Cheeks Wilson
Executive Assistant and Board Liaison
Teresa Cheeks Wilson is a retired Community Development Advisor with seventeen years of distinguished experience in advancing community and economic development.
While serving at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Memphis Branch, Ms. Wilson played a pivotal role in outreach initiatives addressing issues and opportunities for low-to-moderate income populations.
Additionally, Ms. Wilson founded Standing on the Shoulders of God (SOTSOG) Outreach Ministry, an organization committed to spiritual growth, discipleship, and mentorship for women.
Board of Directors
Richard Kennedy
Board Chair
Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, Nashville
Sonji Branch
Immediate Past Chair
Metamorphosis Training &
Development LLC, Memphis
Amanda McCollum
Vice-Chair
Adams Keegan, Memphis
Sarah Long
Secretary
Community Volunteer, Knoxville
Forrest Alton
Treasurer
1000 Feathers Consulting, Memphis
Christy Dolinich
Creative Compassion, Crossville
Abby Garrison
United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Chattanooga
Joshua Ireland
Jefferson Bridge Capital, Nashville
Kim James
Rotary Club of Nashville, Nashville
Kristen Dinger
Community Volunteer, Nashville
Arnetta Macklin
MIFA, Memphis
Phillip Many
St. Luke’s Community House, Nashville
LaKevia Perry
Tennessee Valley Authority, Nashville
Aaron Price
Emory Valley Center, Oak Ridge
Tosha Price
Ascend Federal Credit Union, Nashville
Kelly Walberg
Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Nashville
Community Action Councils
West Tennessee
Andrea Baird, Thrive Impact Solutions
Neki Catron, Sylvamo
Tracey Zerwig Ford, Voices of the South
Elise Higdon, Overton Park Conservancy
Shayla Kolheim, Google
Baylee Less, Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab
Carolyn McCormick, United Way of the Mid-South
Aida Nozick, Temple Israel
Janie Paraham, Memphis Museum of Science & History
Cori Smith, Sweet Cheeks Diaper Ministry
Leighanne Soden, West Cancer Foundation
Lisa Tillman, RIFA
Ann Marie Wallace Peoples, Baptist Memorial Health Care
Jazmin Withers, Slingshot Memphis
Middle Tennessee
Meredith Benton, Communities in Schools of Tennessee
Mattie Callahan, Tennessee Charitable Care Network
Heather Chalos, Alignment Nashville
Kaitlin Dastugue, Civic Design Center
Julieanna Huddle, CASA Nashville
Lawrence Johnson, First Horizon Bank
Karen Lampert, City of Murfreesboro
Jessica Limbird, Confluence Consulting
Areis Lurry, UTK College of Social Work, Nashville Campus
Patricia Powell, National Autism Peer Support
Kim Randell, Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury
Jacob Roberts, Bryan Symphony Orchestra Association
Megan Schwalm, Tennessee Caregiver Coalition
Jim Snell, Volunteer Tennessee
Wendy Jill Spence, Tennessee CASA Association
Candace Surface, Day 7
Meena Swaminathan, PENCIL
East Tennessee
Rachel Bailey, Family Crisis Center of WDCC, Inc.
Torrie Boggs, Real Good Kitchen
Becca Brado, HomeSource East Tennessee
Stephanie Burrage, Aslan Foundation
Meghan Creecy, United Way of Greater Chattanooga
Kelsie Crittendon, Sunshine Services
Adam Dickson, City of Johnson City
Nathaniel Farnor, East Tennessee State University
Amy Gilliland, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Ada Hernandez-Bell, United Way of Anderson, Campbell, Morgan and Scott Counties
Dana Pair Hernandez, United Way of Greater Knoxville
Lisa Higginbotham, University of Tennessee Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS)
Trudy Hughes, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Sarah Jurinsky, United Way of Blount County
Maria Matney, Centro Hispano De East Tennessee
Anthony Prince, Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Erin Rosolina, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
Amman Thomas, JPMorgan Chase
Phil Trammell, Nonprofit Resource Center