Entrepreneurial alumna featured on Today Show

Raven Hernandez (’16) is on a mission to make a positive impact on the world one car ride at a time.

In fall 2020, Hernandez launched Earth Rides, a ride-share company that is unique in that it uses all-electric vehicles. The Nashville-based enterprise has grown rapidly in the past two years, expanding into the Austin, Texas, and Scottsdale, Arizona, markets.

This past fall, the successful Antioch, Tennesseenative was featured locally in a Nashville Lifestyles magazine “Women in Business” feature, and nationally on the Today show during Hispanic Heritage Month. Her company has been mentioned in national publications such as Forbes and Marie Claire.

After Hernandez graduated from Lipscomb at age 20 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, she pursued her dream of going to law school. When she enrolled in Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, air quality problems in the area began to have a negative impact on her health.

After a season in the law profession, Hernandez’s husband, Peter Smith, encouraged her to pursue something that she was passionate about, and the idea for Earth Rides began to develop from Hernandez’s passion for health and her experience with the impact the environment can have on it.

In 2021, Earth Rides moved more than 180,000 passengers, offsetting 230 million grams of carbon. Hernandez’s company now has 70 drivers. The company’s six-person leadership team is 50 percent female or people of color. Forty percent of Earth Ride’s drivers are women.

“Lipscomb prepared me in so ways, from little stuff like how to write professional emails, to the big stuff, such as on-camera practice, how to read dense text, how to form my own opinion and the importance of creating space to sit in stillness with spirit,” she said.

Read more about Raven and see her Today show appearance at lipscomb.edu/hernandez.

Class Notes

At lipscomb.edu/classnotes you can post an update, share a photo, especially if it is your reunion year.

For Bisons who have joined Golden Circle—that’s 50+ years since graduation—every year is a reunion year.

Submitted Bison Notes are edited for length, clarity, cultural sensitivity or for any reason at the discretion of the editors of Lipscomb Now. Images that do not meet the quality standards necessary for printing cannot be included.

1966 Judy Burleson (BA) of Brownsburg, Ind., is a retired teacher from Valparaiso, Indiana.

1971 John Burton (BS) of Brentwood, Tenn., is senior vice president of commercial banking lending for Lineage Bank.

William Crump (BA) of Madison, Tenn., published Encyclopedia of Easter Celebrations Worldwide in 2021.

1972 Pat Bethel (BA) was named the 2022 Alumna of the Year by Lipscomb University. Bethel serves on the regional leadership council of the Lupus Foundation of America Southeast Region, as Tennessee peer leader on the Deep South Health Equity Lupus Education Project.

1976 Thomas H. Marcrom (BS) of Manchester, Tenn., received the 2021 Bowl of Hygeia Award for outstanding community service by the Tennessee Pharmacists Association.

Kevin Rachel (BA) of Nashville published his second book A Surprising Savior: How Jesus Defied the World’s Expectations in early 2022.

1977 Steve Flatt (BA), CEO of National Healthcare Corporation and Lipscomb University president from 1997 to 2005, has been inducted into the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association Hall of Fame.

1979

Mark McGee (BS, MA ’17), of Shelbyville, Tenn., was inducted to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame in July 2022.

1980 Lori L. Barr, M.D. (BA) of Austin, Texas, has been named division Director of the Panhandle Division of Radiology Associates of Florida, a subsidiary of Radiology Partners Inc.

1983 Guy Fogle (BA) of Kettering, Ohio, is the new program director for Preble Shawnee Hoopsters Youth Basketball.

1985 Troy Haley (BA) of Nashville was appointed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to serve as administrator of the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation within the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, effective Sept. 1.

1988 Gregory Anderson (BA, MA ’03) of Bryan, Texas, has been named president of Midland Christian School and began the new role on Nov. 1.

Angela Coltharp Sadler (BS) of Gallatin, Tenn., is a program supervisor for post release services with Bethany Christian Services.

1989 Peggy Brandon (BS) of Chattanooga, Tenn., is a supervisor with HHM Certified Public Accountants.

1991 Kent Gallaher (BS) of Antioch, Tenn., began his new role as provost at Lubbock Christian University on July 1.

James Parker (BA) of Sedona, Ariz., is the group medical officer and senior vice president of SCP-Health.

1993 Brady Hayden (BS) of Alexandria, Va., is principal accounting officer and vice president of finance and accounting for Cyren Ltd.

1995 Karen Baskin (BA) of Mount Juliet, Tenn., is a claim manager for Davies Claims Solutions.

Jim Black (BA, MA ’01, MDiv ’06) of Fayetteville, Tennessee, is the regional director at Eastern European Mission. The organization publishes, prints and distributes Bibles and Bible-based materials in Eastern Europe and beyond at no charge.

Bison Wins

The John Templeton Foundation, the premier funder of work in religion and science as well as of research in virtues and character formation, has awarded a grant for Tokens Media to expand its programming and content and to develop a strategic marketing campaign. Tokens was founded in 2008 by Lee Camp (BS ’89), professor of theology and ethics. The media company produces a philosophical and theological variety show hosted throughout the Nashville area, along with a podcast and online shows. Tokens plans to expand syndication of the show nationally in 2023.

Read more about Lee at lipscomb.edu/johntempleton.

TODAY’S