Our Staff
John Bazzanella
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
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.
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. 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
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
Dorian Hines serves as the Middle Tennessee Regional Director 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
West Tennessee Regional Manager
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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
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.
Board of Directors
Sonji Branch
Board Chair
Metamorphosis Training &
Development LLC, Memphis
Mark Jordan
Immediate Past Chair
MIFA, Memphis
Teresa Cheeks-Wilson
Vice-Chair
Community Volunteer, Memphis
Amanda McCollum
Secretary
Adams Keegan, Memphis
Kim James
Young Leaders Council, Nashville
Sarah Long
Community Volunteer, Knoxville
Richard Kennedy
Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, Nashville
Forrest Alton
1000 Feathers, Memphis
Arnetta Macklin
MIFA, Memphis
Kelly Walberg
Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Nashville
Community Action Councils
West Tennessee
Andrea Baird, Thrive Impact Solutions
Dr. Keena Friday, The Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee
Kate Haywood, Daily Design Group
Patricia Melton, Community Volunteer
Juanita Ortiz, Consilience Group
Greg Spillyards, Commercial Advisors
Lisa Tillman, RIFA
Tracey Zerwig Ford, Hutchison School
Middle Tennessee
Meredith Benton, Communities in Schools of Tennessee Heather Chalos, Alignment Nashville Kaitlin Dastugue, Civic Design Center Sarah Dittman, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Tennessee Christy Dolinich, Creative Compassion, Inc.
Geree Jackson, Nashville Symphony
Josh Ireland, Jefferson Bridge Capital Karen Lampert, City of Murfreesboro
Phillip Many, St. Luke’s Community House Patricia Powell, National Autism Peer Support Kim Randell, Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury Jacob Roberts, Bryan Symphony Orchestra Association Megan Schwalm, Tennessee Caregiver Coalition Candace Surface, Day 7
Meena Swaminathan, PENCIL
Samantha Wigand, Crossroads Campus
Tosha Price, Ascend Federal Credit Union
Jessica Limbird, Confluence Consulting
East Tennessee
Rachel Bailey, Family Crisis Center of WDCC, Inc.
Torrie Boggs, Real Good Kitchen
Becca Brado, Persevere
Claudia Caballero, Centro Hispano de East Tennessee
Mark Cruise, STRONG ACC Katie Earheart-Brown, Community Volunteer
Abby Garrison, United Way of Greater Chattanooga Lisa Higginbotham, MSSW, Director of Field Based Services, University of Tennessee
Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS)
Trudy Hughes, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Vicki McKaig, CASA for Kids Kingsport Aaron Price, Emory Valley Center
Anthony Prince, Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Amman Thomas, JPMorgan Chase Phil Trammell, Nonprofit Resource Center
Wendy Wand, Friends of Literacy