within our community. Terrence, would you talk about the structure of the Center, who's involved, and the Center’s hopes for the future. REED: The Center for Excellence in Decisionmaking is truly a grass roots organization that started in 2018. It stemmed from the MBA Bench Bar conference in St. Louis. So, we are still a fairly new 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since we do not have an executive director, all our initiatives are accomplished through our board. We have 21 very esteemed board members. One of the reasons I'm so privileged to work with the Center is because of these very progressive forward-thinking leaders within our community.
We volunteer to put on workshops, training sessions, educational programs and other initiatives. We are able to accomplish what we do through very generous benefactors, law firms, companies like International Paper and FedEx, and personal donations and sponsorships. Our most recent sponsors are State Farm, Baker Donelson and Ogletree Deakins. We work in partnership with the Memphis Bar Association and other wonderful partners with whom we collaborate, in order to turn these initiatives into reality. Most of which are free because of our very generous donors. We have had some exciting programs: Jeffrey Robinson, who is with the ACLU, presented in February
Center for Excellence in Decision-making Board of Directors President Terrence Reed, FedEx Express Managing Director Vice President Bryce Ashby, Donati Law Firm Treasurer Dean Katherine Schaffzin, University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Secretary Doris Randle Holt, Western District of Tennessee Federal Public Defender • Judge Bernice Donald, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit • Judge Thomas Parker, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee • Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins, Shelby County Chancery Court • Judge Gina Higgins, Shelby County Circuit Court • Phyllis Aluko, Shelby Country Chief Public Defender • Matthew Barron, International Paper Associate General Counsel • Greg Duckett, Baptist Memorial Health Care Senior Vice President/Chief Legal Officer • Professor Demetria Frank, University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law/Director of Diversity & Inclusion
• Desi Franklin, First Horizon Senior Vice President • Mark Glover, Baker Donelson Office Managing Shareholder • Marlinee Iverson, Shelby County Attorney • Ray Lepone, Shelby County Deputy District Attorney General • Caren Nicol, Evans Petree, PC • Earle Schwarz, Law Office of Earle J. Schwarz • Jennifer Sink, City of Memphis Chief Legal Officer • Kenneth Walker, Shelby County Schools General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer • Monica Wharton, Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare Executive Vice President/Chief Administrative Officer
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