CPC Announces New Board Emerita, Board, and Advisory Council Members
During the Centennial Park Conservancy June board meeting, time was dedicated to welcoming new board and advisory council members, while honoring others for their dedication to Centennial Park. We simply could not do the work of continuing to vitalize the Parthenon and Centennial Park without concerned citizens who give their time and talents to advance our nonprofit organization for the betterment of the community through the gift that is Centennial Park.
BOARD EMERITA
Centennial Park Conservancy (CPC) established the Board Emerita/Emeritus role as a special designation to past Board Members with distinguished service that the organization wishes to honor. Hope Stringer and Nancy Peterson Hearn have recently received this designation.
Hope Stringer served on as a Board Member for 24 years, where she helped introduce the Park’s Master Plan, Musicians Corner, and Gala. She also served as CPC’s Board Chair, Honorary Gala Chair, and on the Capital Campaign Committee. She and her late husband Howard were advocates and generous supporters of Centennial Park for decades.
Nancy Peterson Hearn served as a Board Member for 6 years. She was an Honorary Gala Chair, served on the Capital Campaign Committee, and continues to serve on CPC’s Development Committee. Nancy continually engages individuals to join her in generously supporting Nashville’s central park.
"Hope and Nancy are two remarkable women who have given so much of themselves to further our organization’s mission and revitalize the Park to benefit current and future generations," said John Tumminello, President of Centennial Park Conservancy. "They are each truly deserving of this special distinction, and we remain grateful for their tireless dedication to Centennial Park.”
BOARD MEMBERS
Centennial Park Conservancy is pleased to announce the addition of nine new members to its Board of Directors: Dr. Sumita Chakraborti-Ghosh, Reuben Coopwood, Frances Corzine, Conor Duggan, Christopher Haigler, Ruthie Keene, Lisa Monteggia, and Josephine VanDevender.
"We are delighted to welcome such a strong group of new board members, each of whom bring vast and diverse experience and talent to the team," said John Tumminello, President of Centennial Park Conservancy. "Their collective expertise will be instrumental in the continuing growth of Centennial Park Conservancy and its commitment to revitalize the Park and provide meaningful and inclusive programming for our community.”
CPC extends great appreciation and gratitude to the new board members for their commitment to serve and contribute to the mission of revitalizing historic structures, preserving natural and recreational green space, and sustaining the gem that is Centennial Park for future generations.
Dr. Sumita Chakraborti-Ghosh serves as the professor of Curriculum Instruction/Special Education and as a coordinator of the doctoral program in the Department of Teaching and Learning in Tennessee State University’s College of Education. She also serves as an executive director of Soumit’s World Foundation, a private nonprofit dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of underprivileged children and young adults for better academic, musical, artistic, and economic opportunities all over the world. Sumita is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker, researcher, advisor, and professor in gifted education, special education curriculum development, and more.
Reuben Coopwood is the vice president in the Music Industry Group and Private Client Services at First Horizon. With over a decade of experience in the banking industry, Reuben specializes in providing tailored advice to affluent and high-net-worth families in Nashville, as well as to businesses and individuals in the music industry. Reuben graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a concentration in business administration. He is involved either as a board member or volunteer with the Economic Club of Nashville, Nashville Children’s Theatre, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Frances “Frannie” Corzine is an admissions analyst at Vanderbilt University and an active community volunteer. She serves as a Board Member and Civic Improvement Committee Zone Representative for the Garden Club of Nashville, and previously held the position of President. Frannie also has been actively involved at University School of Nashville. Frannie received a Bachelor of Art in English Language and Literature/Letters at UNC Chapel Hill, as well as a Masters of Architecture from Yale University.
Connor Duggan serves as an executive director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Nashville. Connor began his career working with the business and tort litigation team at Jones Day in Atlanta, followed by a position at the Clemson University Foundation, where he assisted in managing the university's endowment and philanthropic gifts. Connor was a founding board member of The Educators’ Cooperative and previously served on the board of the Next Steps program at Vanderbilt University and the Planned Giving Council of Middle Tennessee.
Christopher Haigler is a senior trust officer at Southeastern Trust Company, based in their new Nashville office. Previously, Christopher served as a fiduciary relationship specialist and philanthropic trust officer at Wells Fargo and as a trust administrative officer at US Bank. Christopher is a graduate of Campbell University where he also obtained his MBA. He has actively served as an assistant volunteer fire chief, treasurer, and director for the Pilot Knob Volunteer Fire Department, and he is a recipient of the Winston-Salem Under 40 Leadership Award. =
Ruthie Keene serves as the CFO of Beaman Ventures in Brentwood. Prior to this, she served as the CFO and vice president of Beaman Automotive Group in Nashville for 38 years. Ruthie has also served on the boards of Beaman Automotive Group, Gateway Church, National Dealer Solutions, and LDR. She attended Volunteer State Community College where she studied retail and commerce. Ruthie has two wonderful children, three dogs, and three grand-dogs. She loves art, decorating, and entertaining. Always smiling, Ruthie lives by the words of Martha Washington: “I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or happiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition.”
Dr. Lisa Monteggia is the Barlow Family director of the Vanderbilt Brain Institute and Professor of Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University. Her research interest focuses on the molecular and cellular basis of neural plasticity as it pertains to psychiatric disorders. Lisa is currently an associate editor for neuropsychopharmacology and a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Neuroscience, Journal of Biological Chemistry, and Biological Psychiatry. She also serves on several national advisory and review boards. Lisa has received several awards including a Distinguished Investigator Award from NARSAD and the National Alliance for Autism Research, the Daniel X. Freedman Award for outstanding basic research achievement from NARSAD, the Daniel H. Efron Research Award for outstanding basic research contributions from the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and the Rising Star Basic Research Award from International Mental Health Research Organization (IMHRO).
Josephine VanDevender is a nurse at the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, wife, mother, and dedicated member of her Nashville community. She is currently on the board of directors at OZ Arts Nashville and serves as a board member of her family nonprofit, The Cartinhour- Woods Foundation. She has chaired multiple events including the Tennessee Kidney Foundation Gala, The Next Door’s annual breakfast and lunch fundraiser, the Conservancy Gala, Conversations at OZ, and the Mad Hatter for the Sexual Assault Center. Josephine has also done work with other nonprofits both locally and internationally including Room at the Inn, Operation Smile, Partners in Health, and DB Peru.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Additionally, CPC welcomes seven individuals as Advisory Council members who will serve as advocates for the organization and provide expertise and connections to help support the organization's mission. New Advisory Council members for 2023 include: Melinda Buntin, David Ewing, Howard Gentry, Erin Hughes, Demetria Kalodimos, Ben Page, and Dee Patel.