Karen Anderson-Isabel, Board Chair-Elect

Karen Anderson-Isabel became CEO of Dalmatian Creative Agency, Inc. (DCA, Inc.) in 1997. DCA, Inc. is one of the largest African American women owned promotional product company in the United States.

Mrs. Anderson-Isabel began her career at SunTrust Bank as a Financial Sales Consultant.  She later moved on to the Management Relief Team.

Mrs. Anderson-Isabel is currently a Northwest YMCA Board member as well as a Shopping Bag Board member of Bethlehem Centers of Nashville. She is a member of the TSU Alumni Association and NAACP.  She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha National Sorority Inc.

Alfred Degrafinreid II

Alfred was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to the late Alfred Degrafinreid, Sr., and Patricia Degrafinreid.  Alfred was the youngest of three children.  He was educated in the public schools of Memphis City Schools and graduated with Honors from Raleigh-Egypt High School.  He graduated as the only male in the top ten percent and was class president for the last three years of high school. 

Alfred entered Tennessee State University in 2002 and was a Presidential Scholarship recipient and maintained the full academic scholarship throughout his undergraduate career.  While in undergraduate school, Alfred majored in Speech Pathology.  He was a member of the University Honors Society, was elected onto the Student Government Association, and was a initiated into the Alpha Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. 

Dr. Frank Dobson, Jr.

Dr. Frank Dobson, Jr. is director of the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center at Vanderbilt and also Faculty Head of House of Gillette House in The Commons (first-year residential living and learning college).  Dobson, who also teaches at Fisk University, is an active writer and scholar, having just finished his second novel, Rendered Invisible.   His work has appeared in numerous journals and periodicals, and he has also written several plays which have been performed nationally.   Dobson is married to his wife, and best friend, Dee.

James Edward Dukes, Sr.

James Dukes is the third son of Richard and Emma Dukes along with  three brothers and three sisters. He has two sons James E. Dukes Jr. and Jeremias E. Elston.

 James received his formal education in Clarksville City Public School System where he graduated from Clarksville High School. He furthered his education at Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, where he received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Health and Physical Education. He continued his education with a Master of Science Degree concentrating in Administration and Supervision at APSU. During his time at APSU he was a member of the Student Tribunal and past Chief Justice of the Student Tribunal. He was also a winner of the prestigious Wilbur E. Daniel Award (first black Student at APSU).

Sidney C. Francisco

After graduating from Isaac Litton HS in Nashville, I attended Tennessee Polytechnic Institute in Cookeville, Tennessee (aka- TPI).  After a much enlightening college career, I received my BS in Accounting along with my commission in the United States Army.  I graduated on a Friday and reported for active duty on Monday at Fort Jackson, South Carolina with my good buddy Larry Bonine.  I stayed there for a couple of months waiting for my Basic Officers Course to begin at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  I was detailed to Artillery for two years since I had received a Regular Army Commission in the Adjutant General Corps and all Regular Army officers had to have two years in a combat arm.  Upon graduation from the Field Artillery Basic Officers Course in October of 1967, I received my first assignment to the Third Armored Division in Germany.  While at Fort Sill, I ran into our good friend  PFC Bob Beckett who was also there in Basic Training.  After 1 ½ years in the little town of Gelnhausen I was sent to Third Armored Division Headquarters in Frankfurt where I spent the rest of my time in Germany.

Shawn M. Johnson

As your Edward Jones Branch Team, we believe it’s important to invest our time to understand what you’re working toward before you invest your money. Working closely with you and your CPA, attorney and other professionals, we can help determine the most appropriate financial strategy for you and your family. We can also help with your retirement savings so you have more options when you retire, regardless of what you decide to do.

I began my Edward Jones career in 1997 as a Financial Advisor in Nashville. I became a limited partner with Edward Jones in 2011. In 2012, I received the Edward D. Jones Founders Acheivement Award. I attended Jacksonville State Univeristy and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Resource Management, and Minor in English. In addition, I received the AAMS Professional Designation in 2006. My wife Joenequa and I have two daughters. I am orginally from Detroit Michigan, and I have lived in Nashville since 1997. I am an active member of the community, serving as President of USATF TN Association. I am also the past President for NW Family YMCA.

Dr. Adrienne Battle Koger

Dr. Adrienne Battle Koger currently serves as the Executive Principal of Antioch High School in Antioch, TN. Antioch High School is the second largest high school in Metropolitan Nashville Public School System and serves approximately 2,000 students. Prior to Dr. Koger’s Executive Principal appointment she served as the Academic Principal and Principal of the Academy of Medical Science & Research at Glencliff High School. During her two year tenure she was nominated as Assistant Principal of the Year by her fellow administrators, teachers and business partners. She also has served as the Principal and Assistant Principal at East Academy, taught 6^th and 7^th grade at Dalewood Middle School, Athletic Coach, Athletic Director, Department Lead Teacher, Content Lead Teacher, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Educational Administration at Tennessee State University and the University of Phoenix.

Michelangelo McCallister, Sr.

Michelangelo McCallister, Sr., is the Contract Administrator in the Office of the University Counsel at Tennessee State University (TSU). As the Contract Administrator, he is responsible for providing contract review and administrative support under the direction of the University Counsel, Laurence Pendleton. His responsibilities include reviewing agreements for conformity to applicable laws, regulations, policies and rules. He also confers with various departmental representatives on contractual issues and participates in contract related training sessions with the University Counsel.

Lynet M Payne

 As President, CEO of Mahogany Event Planning, a small business with a passion for creating enjoyable and exciting events; by executing innovative themes, providing excellent customer service and a "stress free" client experience. Client profiles include: corporate, non-profit and organizing small social occasions for individuals from both the private and entertainment communities.

Past positions include over twenty years of: Event Management, Team Leadership, sales and customer service experience. All of which have developed into a strong sense of attention to detail, customer satisfaction and proven results as it relates to managing and balancing an effective operating budget.

Derek Quarles

Derek Quarles is a native of Nashville, Tennessee.  His interests are vast inclusive of cleaning, working out, and spending time with his greatest treasure his family and friends.  Derek joined Bank of America in August 2007 and currently is Assistant Vice President/Assistant Manager at the Priest Lake banking center. Derek’s current role is an extension of his passion: people and process. To him, there is immeasurable joy and purpose in helping his customers and the Priest Lake community realizes their financial goals and dreams.  Derek holds a Bachelors’ degree in Business Administration from Tennessee State University, class of 1999.  Derek is married to Tonya Quarles, his life partner and the wonderful mother of his two beautiful children: daughter, Kennedi, and son, Derek Jr. The family has currently made La Vergne, Tennessee  their home.

Derek governs his life from the guiding principle, “It is more blessed to give than to receive!”

Lelan Statom

Lelan A. Statom is an Emmy Award winning meteorologist who has been helping Mid-Southerners start their day for more than 15 years. Since 1999, he has been part of the station's #1 rated morning newscast, NewsChannel 5 This Morning. Lelan joined the NewsChannel 5 Network in 1993 as weather anchor for the weekend morning and evening newscasts.

In September 2006, he was named co-host of Talk of the Town, the station's long running & top-rated talk show.

Dr. Michelle D. Steele

Dr. Michelle Steele is a Customer Service Supervisor for the Property Standards Division of the Department of Codes & Building Safety.

She came to Metro in September of 1999, when Bill Purcell was first elected Mayor. Michelle served as a neighborhood liaison in the office answering daily calls for constituent services. She moved up the ranks quickly, first becoming the Training Coordinator for the very successful Neighborhood Training Institute, Grants Coordinator for the Community Enhancement Grant Program, Program Coordinator for all programs implemented in the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods and finally Director of the Office of Neighborhoods.

Everett Stein

Everett Stein is an executive with the Tractor Supply Company located in Brentwood, TN. Stein and works in the Loss Prevention Department where he directs internal and external investigations within his area of responsibility, which consist of one hundred and thirty store locations.    Stein has been awarded many professional certifications within his field of expertise, including being one of a few that hold the nationally recognized Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI), designation in the state of Tennessee.  

Stein received his early education in the Metro Nashville Public School system, and is a graduate of McGavock Comprehensive High School.  Stein later attended Tennessee State University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in Counseling and Leadership Development from Logos Christian College located in Jacksonville, FL.  In 2008, Stein was selected to participate in a company sponsored one year executive leadership program in conjunction with Belmont University in Nashville, TN.  Stein was chosen to participate in the program from a field of one hundred and sixty four executives that applied for admission.  

Pamela Mishaw Thomas

Pamela Mishaw Thomas is a native Nashvillian. Pam is a graduate of Hillsboro High School. She received her BA Degree from Travecca Nazarene University and her MBA from American Intercontinental University. Other educational efforts include Institute Career Advancement Program at Nashville State Technical Institute, the Operations Professional Development Program of Piedmont Natural Gas University and Leadership Middle Tennessee.

Pam currently works for Piedmont Natural Gas as a Residential Energy Specialist. She is a member and past chair of the Board of Directors for the Northwest YMCA, member and past chair of J.U.M.P. board (Jefferson Street United Merchant Partners), member of Leadership Middle Tennessee Alumni Association, member and past Chair of the Nashville Chamber – North Council and past board member of Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee.

Allyson L. Young, Board Chair

Allyson L. Young, M.Ed., Allyson L. Young, M.Ed., is CEO of YMG, a Nashville-based executive coaching and performance consulting firm specializing in Culture Development, Leadership, Performance and Customer Service.

She is responsible for all aspects of client development, service delivery, and business strategy. Since founding the company in 2004, she has championed YMG’s commitment to an impeccable record of client results for several companies including, BMI, CAT Financial, Hunt Brothers Pizza, Loews Hotel, MARS, Belmont University and Tractor Supply Company.


Prior to forming YMG in 2004, Ms. Young served as COO of Bethlehem Centers of Nashville, a multi-million dollar social service agency, Career Development Manager for INROADS/Nashville, Inc., the nation’s leading corporate diversity pipeline, and Market Assessment Officer, in
Community Investment for Bank of America, the nation’s largest bank.