Changemakers

Life for Nick & Giles English changed significantly one clear day in March 1995. Nick was practicing for an air display with their father Euan. But the 1942 WWII Harvard aircraft they were flying was involved in an accident. Giles, waiting to take off for the next sortie was told that his father had been killed. His brother had broken over 30 bones and probably wouldn't make it. Six months later, however, Nick was back in the air and being flown by Giles. But things would never be the same again. Life was too short to waste. The two brothers decided to pursue what they enjoyed most: a life crafting beautifully engineered mechanical devices. When they weren't flying old aircraft, Nick & Giles had spent most of their childhood making things in the workshop of their gifted father - an ex-RAF pilot with a PHD in Aeronautical Engineering. Models. Restored cars. They even helped him to build an aircraft they still fly to this day. Euan was also passionate about mechanical timepieces. He would often bring ho

In June 2014, Jason Little became only the fifth person since 1912 to serve as Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation's president and CEO. Since joining Baptist in 2002, Little has held a number of leadership positions, including administrator and CEO of three Baptist Memorial hospitals, vice president and head of metro-Memphis operations and executive vice president and chief operating officer. Little received his bachelor's degree in health administration from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and master's degrees in business administration and health care administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Little was an operations administrator for the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, before joining Baptist. A recipient of the Early Career Healthcare Executive Award from the American College of Healthcare Executives, Little serves on the boards of the Tennessee Hospital Association, Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce, Memphis Tomorrow, the New Memphis Institute and the Industry Counc

Dorothy Gunther Pugh is the CEO and Founding Artistic Director of Ballet Memphis, which she founded in 1986 with two dancers and a budget of $75,000. Today, the Company has 25 dancers, a budget of more than $4.4 million, and is opening a new multi-million dollar administrative and studio space in the heart of Memphis’ arts and theatre district in August of this year. Under Dorothy’s direction, Ballet Memphis has been lauded by the Ford Foundation, the Hearst Foundations, and the Mellon Foundation, among others. Dorothy has appeared on several national dance panels, including PBS NewsHour, the National Endowment for the Arts Dance Panel and the Glass Slipper Ceiling Symposium. A member of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, she has received the Women of Achievement Award for Initiative and the Gordon Holl Outstanding Arts Administrator’s Award, and is a recipient of a fellowship from the Center for Social Innovation at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. She

Ephie Ballard-Johnson was born in Memphis, TN. After graduating from Treadwell High School, she attended the University of Memphis where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in technical writing. She then worked as an educator in the Memphis City School System for a number of years before serving as the Administrative Director of Neighborhood Christian Centers, Inc., a nonprofit Christian organization that employs over 60 staff members and provides many programs and assistance for 50,000 neighbors in need annually. After ten years as Administrative Director, she seceded her mother and NCC founding director, JoeAnn Ballard, as President/CEO of theNeighborhood Christian Centers (NCC) in 2008. Since that time, Mrs. Johnson has spearheaded the creation of the Early Childhood Brain Development program- Operation Smart Child- in partnership with The Urban Childhood Institute, organized the First Ladies for Healthy Babies Network with the support of Tennessee First Lady Crissy Has

Dr. Justin Lawhead is the Dean of Students at The University of Memphis. A Pittsburgh native, Dr. Lawhead's twenty year higher education experience is across five institutions across the nation and is on a mission to create an integrity based class of young professionals who support innovate change in Memphis or their community of choice. Dr. Lawhead is also Director and visionary behind the expansion of the Leadership Education and Development Program (LEAD) program at University of Memphis that includes the creation of a four level cohort training series, professional mentoring initiatives, local leader lunch series, and hosting a campus version of LeaderShape. The LEAD Program engagement grew from 150 students to 1,000 students under Justin's leadership. You can learn more about Dr. Lawhead by following him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/justinlawhead

Sally Jones Heinz came to MIFA in 2007 as Vice President of Development. In February of 2011, she became executive director, only the sixth person to hold that position in MIFA’s 43-year history. In 2016, her title was changed to President & CEO. Sally’s roots are in Memphis—she grew up in Midtown, went to Evergreen Presbyterian Church, attended Snowden School, Central High, and Rhodes College (’81), and settled down with her husband Brad a few blocks from her childhood home. And service is in her genes. Her father, Jameson Jones, was dean of Rhodes College and president of Memphis College of Art; and her uncle, Dr. Paul Tudor Jones, was pastor of Idlewild Presbyterian Church and a founder of MIFA. She received an M.A. in American Studies from The University of Texas in Austin before returning to Memphis in 1983. Before coming to MIFA, Sally worked with Memphis Heritage, Robert F. Sharpe and Co., Rhodes College, and Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Learn more about Sally here: https://www.mifa.org/

Mauricio Calvo serves as the Executive Director of Latino Memphis but his story begins in the bustling Mexico City, Mexico where he grew up among the 25 million residents who also call Mexico City home. Mauricio came to America as an exchange student and destiny led him to Memphis at Christian Brothers University where he also met his wife and now has four children. Mauricio is working to provide more resources and opportunities for Latino families across the Mid-South. Learn more about Latino Memphis and his story here: https://www.latinomemphis.org/hola

Dr. Isaac Rodriguez is the SweetBio CEO and Chief Science Officer responsible for the overall vision of the company as well as the lab and clinical research, publication, regulatory and product development segments of the business. Kayla Rodriguez Graff earned her MBA in 2014 from Hult International in San Francisco, CA and New York City, NY. Her forward thinking business mindset is unique and her overall knowledge of business development, marketing, operations, organizational effectiveness, and front-­end web development in Fortune 40 experience made her a fit for the COO role. She responsible for operational efficiency, manufacturing, Quality and logistics. They are both siblings and Co-Founders of SweetBio: www.sweetbio.com

Ned Canty is the General Director at Opera Memphis and has over 20 years of experience as an opera stage director. As a freelance artist for 20 years, Canty directed operas at dozens of companies in the US, Italy, Israel, China and Canada. The New York Times described his work as having "a startling combination of sensitivity and panache.” Follow him on Twitter here→ @poilaparola

There are few people who can match the drive and enthusiasm for social and community organizing that Cynthia Daniels has. A native of Atlanta, GA, Cynthia moved to Memphis in 2009 and embraced everything the city had to offer. As a community advocate in 2013, she created Memphis Black Restaurant Week to bring awareness around 8 minority owned eateries in the city. The week grossed $85,000 in sales and from that Cynthia decided it was time to launch her Event Planning & Consulting business, Cynthia Daniels & Co. Under her company name, Top 40 Under 40 Urban Elite Professionals Awards Gala took place in November 2016 to celebrate young talent in Memphis.

Dr. John Smarrelli Jr. is the 22nd President of Christian Brothers University and its first permanent lay president. Over the past 25 years, he has served in senior administrative positions at Loyola University in Chicago, IL and Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY. A biochemist by training, Dr. Smarrelli has retained his faculty status in his discipline while holding administrative positions. He earned his doctorate and master's degrees from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and has conducted postdoctoral work in biology at the University of Virginia. Over the years in his role as professor of biology, Dr. Smarrelli has received numerous awards for teaching, has published articles in scientific journals, obtained funding for his research on gene structure from the National Science Foundation, and authored textbooks as well as multiple College Board publications regarding the Advanced Placement Program. Since arriving in Memphis in 2009, Dr. Smarrelli has begun progr

Johnny Pitts was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1973, graduated high school from Memphis University School in 1976 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1980 with an insurance major from the University of Tennessee, where he also ran track and cross-country. Johnny was employed with Safeco Insurance Company and CIGNA Insurance Company before moving to Lipscomb & Pitts in 1981. He worked as a commercial insurance producer as he focused on the production of new business sales and the retention of existing insurance clients. Early in his career, Johnny earned his Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation. Currently, Johnny is Co-CEO of Lipscomb & PItts Insurance, LLC and founder of cityCURRENT. A community philanthropist and founder of cityCURRENT, formerly known as Lipscomb & Pitts Breakfast Club, Johnny Pitts has a heart for service which is exemplified not only at work but his service on various boards including: Chair of Innovate M

Over 30 years ago, on a hot summer afternoon in Lagos, Nigeria, a missionary from Wisconsin approached a young African boy and invited him to enter a contest where the prize was a pair of shoes. For this young boy, like so many others in Africa, the chance to own just one pair of shoes was beyond his wildest dreams that day. That boy’s name was Emmanuel Ohonme. Emmanuel “Manny” Ohonme won the contest on that hot summer day and earned his first ever pair of shoes. But, even more important than the pair of shoes, were the words of hope shared by this “Good Samaritan”. The missionary gave not only the gift of shoes to the young boy, but the gift of encouragement about believing in your dreams, reaching for the sky, and never giving up. That gift of hope propelled the young boy to work hard at developing his talents, skills, and confidence. As a young man, he turned those lessons into success, earning a full basketball scholarship to a college in America.Earning his Bachelors and Masters, Manny was climbing the l

Reggie graduated from Hughes High School (1993), and then received his B.S. degree in Finance in 1997 from Arkansas State University. After graduation, Reggie took a position with First Tennessee Bank as Senior Client Representative from 1998 until 2004. Since that time, Reggie has been greatly involved in outreach ministry, which is how he first learned about STREETS. Prior to coming on staff with STREETS, Reggie worked for Young Life for six years where he most recently served as an Area Director. In 2010, Reggie joined the STREETS staff because it gave him the opportunity to achieve his mission: to honor God, expand His Kingdom, and enhance this city. In his free time, Reggie likes to spend time with his family, play tennis, and keep up with the Dallas Cowboys. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., was a recipient of the Dean Deyo award as a New Memphis Institute Fellow, and has a Certificate in Financial Planning from Christian Brothers University. Reggie and his wife Kim have three beautiful

Jenny Koltnow is the Director of Communications and Community Relations and Customer Satisfaction for AutoZone, headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. She manages everything from internal stakeholder engagement, to government relations, to corporate social responsibility. An avid runner and midwest girl, her passion for doing good and making a difference is why we're happy to interview her on this episode of ChangeMakers. Follow Jenny here→ @jennykoltnow

William B. Courtney (Bill), a native Memphian, founded Classic American Hardwoods, Inc. in 2001. Today, it employs 120 people with a 45 acre manufacturing facility and domestic sales offices in Memphis, TN and international sales offices in Shanghai, China and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. In 2007, Classic American Hardwoods, Inc. won the Memphis Business Journal’s Small Business of the Year Award based on its growth and commitment to community service. In 2003, Bill began volunteering at Memphis’ inner city Manassas High School in an effort to turn its underperforming football team around. In 2003, the team had 19 players with a dismal 4-95, 10-year record. In the 2008 & 2009 seasons, the team’s record improved to 18-2, with 75 players. The story inspired a Hollywood film—Undefeated—which won the 2012 Academy Award for Best Feature Length Documentary. In 2011, Bill was inducted into Bridge Builders for leadership in diversity, community, and justice. He was the 2012 recipient of the Liberty Bowl’s Harry Zin

Dr. Sarah Petschonek is founder and CEO of Volunteer Odyssey. She founded Volunteer Odyssey based on two landmark projects. In 2012, Sarah began Mission Memphis: 30 consecutive days volunteering with 30 non-profits, chronicled on her blog, Confessions of a Volunteer. Afterwards, she launched Volunteer Bound – a cross-country volunteer tour researching volunteerism in 9 US cities spanning from Portland, Oregon to Jacksonville, Florida. Volunteer Odyssey has grown to include 40+ non-profit partners, the most comprehensive Calendar of Volunteer Opportunities in Memphis and the country’s first virtual volunteer fair called Volio. Dr. Petschonek earned her PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology, an MS and an MBA from the University of Memphis. Her academic research and work experienced focused on employee satisfaction, employee well-being, organizational culture. In the past she has worked for the US Navy and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Dr. Petschonek also consults with local non-profits on how to

Believing in the importance of the “two Cs” – culture and communication – Stacy has developed a strong internal culture at ServiceMaster by Stratos through open communication channels based on core values like integrity, accountability and respect. She strives to achieve a firm balance between being a headstrong CEO and a true friend to her employees, and she continues to lead Stratos to new heights, through continued growth and the introduction of technological advancements throughout the organization, while servicing venues in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. Since 2008, Stacy has served on the ServiceMaster Clean Regional Council, as well as a Southeastern Conference Council Representative on the ServiceMaster Clean National Franchise Council, eventually serving as vice chairman and chairman. After taking majority ownership in the company, Stacy applied for and received the Women’s Business Enterprise Certification from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. A Lipscomb Pitts Breakfast Club me

Daphne Large is President and CEO of the Memphis based Data Facts, which provides trusted information to make sound hiring, lending and other business decisions. In 1989, at age 27, she founded Data Facts. A native Memphian and Briarcrest grad, Daphne's driven mindset has awarded her CEO of the Year, a member of the Society of Entrepreneurs, and countless other Top Workplaces awards for her company. Daphne is passionate about serving her community and others and as you'll hear in this podcast, that is why we are so excited to share this episode with you. Learn more about Daphne Large here: http://info.datafacts.com/daphne-large

Reverend Marlon Foster is the founder and executive director of Knowledge Quest, a Memphis nonprofit that equips youth to maximize their potential through intellectual and character development. Responding to youth gun violence that caused the death of his childhood best friend, Pierre Ramond Henderson, Marlon struggled for three years after obtaining his undergraduate degree in a relentless effort to make his vision a reality, establishing the organization in 1998. As a native South Memphian, Marlon reflects on his roots, what shaped his faith, and working, living, and investing in his community.