14 minute read
Class Notes
Kevin Byard ('15)
Byard (’15), a current NFL star and former Blue Raider gridiron great, is the Tennessee Titans’ Walter Payton Man of the Year and one of 32 finalists for the league award. Presented annually to honor a player's volunteer and charity work along with success on the field, the overall NFL award will be announced during Super Bowl week in February.
Byard earned the NFL Players Association’s Community MVP award for September after hosting back-to-school events to over 100 disadvantaged families in the Nashville area. He helped pack and distribute more than 300 distance-learning kits that included backpacks, school supplies, hygiene items, sporting goods, and gift cards.
In 2019, the Pro Bowl safety launched the Byard Family Legacy Fund to provide families and individuals in the community a better tomorrow. Last July, Byard also was named the official spokesperson for the United Way of Greater Nashville. His first order of business was to participate in the organization's virtual Stuff the Bus school supply drive.
In addition, Byard assisted teammates last March in helping clean up the greater Nashville area after a tornado ripped through the area. On the field, he has led the NFL with 17 interceptions from 2017 through 2019.
1960s
Charles Reese III (’62),
Jackson, was accepted into the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution in February.
Hal Hardin
Hardin (’66) was selected as the Nashville Business Journal’s 2020 Best of the Bar Lifetime Achievement honoree. Hardin has spent his life working to see that justice is carried out, whether that was as a U.S. attorney, as a Circuit Court judge, or in his private practice.
Hardin was previously elected president of the National Association of Former United States Attorneys, an association established in 1979 to promote, defend, and further the integrity and preservation of the litigating authority and independence of the U.S. Attorney’s office as one of the principal instrumentalities through which the U.S. president carries out his constitutional obligation that laws be faithfully executed.
In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Hardin to serve as U.S. attorney for middle Tennessee. During his tenure, Hardin learned that Gov. Ray Blanton was preparing to grant pardons to persons suspected of buying their way out of prison. His efforts led to the removal of Blanton and the inauguration of Lamar Alexander. previously retiring from the University of North Georgia as associate vice president of international programs in 2017, Wilson had most recently worked in Atlanta as an international education consultant.
David Cady (’68),
Rocky Face, Georgia, was named a finalist for the Georgia Author of the Year Award by the Georgia Writers Association for his book Religion of Fear: The True Story of the Church of God of the Union Assembly (University of Tennessee Press). Cady also was recently honored at the 31st Annual Southern Festival of Books in Nashville.
1970s
Larry Markus (’70),
Lawrenceburg, who created an original musical based on American history that has been performed multiple times over the past decade, transformed its narrative into his debut picture book, United States History in Rhyme—A Child’s First History Book: A Must Read for All Americans. A fun, easy-to-read introduction to U.S. history, this book proudly displays our country’s distinctive moments.
1980s
John Wilson (’81),
Decatur, Georgia, returned to MTSU in March as an international student recruiter in the International Enrollment and Services division. After
David G. Jolley (’82),
Knoxville, was appointed as U.S. marshal for the Eastern District in Tennessee by President Donald J. Trump in 2018. Jolley is the first person to serve as U.S. marshal for two different Tennessee districts since the creation of the state’s three federal judicial districts in 1838. He previously held the position of U.S. marshal for Tennessee’s Western District after his appointment by President George W. Bush.
Alan Frazier
Frazier ('82), who spent many of his 37 years in law enforcement as a tactical flight officer and pilot, is now a senior fellow at Georgetown University. He is presently assigned to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, where he is part of a team that is developing standard test methods for small unmanned aircraft systems. Frazier most recently had worked as an assistant and associate professor at the University of North Dakota for 11 years.
Allen Etheridge (’87),
Sierra Vista, Arizona, was named superintendent of Shiloh National Military Park, which includes the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center as well as other National Park Service properties in the area.
Susan Gulley (’87),
Watertown, was hired as director of cultural and heritage tourism by the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.
Karey Witty (’87),
Franklin, joined Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe as an operating partner in the firm’s health care group. Most recently, Karey was the chief operating officer at Envision Healthcare.
1990s
Richard Hickey (’90),
Brentwood, was promoted to assistant chief of police for the Brentwood Police Department. A 28-year veteran of the department, he previously served as a patrol officer, detective, Criminal Investigations Division (CID) lieutenant, CID captain, patrol captain, and technical support services (administrative) captain.
Matt Crews
Crews (’91), once a record-setting Blue Raider kicker, is the driving force behind the inaugural Music City Grand Prix IndyCar race scheduled for this August on the streets of downtown Nashville and around Nissan Stadium.
A businessman with career ties to the racing industry, Crews is the founder and CEO behind the venture that is bringing a three-day international festival of speed and sound, food, and music, to be staged on a temporary 2.1-mile grand prix circuit. Crews, a Lawrenceburg native, said the Aug. 6–8 grand prix and music festival “with star power and incredible names” will place Nashville, “a city I’m extremely proud to call home, on a true international stage with a marquee event. . . . Nashville is a huge IndyCar market. It is an amazing event city.”
In another MTSU twist, Crews and a group featuring businessman / entrepreneur / ex-IndyCar racer Roger Penske welcomed the partnership of the University’s acclaimed Concrete Industry Management program, faculty, and students. Their unique expertise will help “create environmentally conscious concrete mixes while not sacrificing durability and strength for the race barriers and pit lane,” Professor Heather Brown said.
Crews, who earned a bachelor’s in Management and Marketing, wants to build a stronger relationship with MTSU. The grand prix partnership definitely sets those wheels in motion.
His career had kept Crews on the road 36 weeks a year. This job keeps him home far more. Daughter Alex is a freshman standout for Ensworth High School’s state tournament golf team, while Ryan is a University of Tennessee senior after playing football for John Carroll University.
At MTSU, Crews' future wife, Jenny Herring, competed in tennis and was roommates with Bunny Donnelly (’90), daughter of Crews’ head coach, James “Boots” Donnelly (’65, ’67).
Against rival Tennessee Tech in 1990, Crews kicked five field goals to set school records (that he still shares) for field goals made and points scored in a game. Older brother Trab took the All-Ohio Valley Conference kicker to a NASCAR race the next day in Atlanta, and Crews became hooked on racing.
Crews’ aspirations after graduating included giving the NFL and World Football League “a shot”—it didn’t work out, but he befriended former University of Memphis kicker Joey Allison, a member of the legendary racing family—and “figuring out a way to get paid at what you want to do.”
Looks like he figured it out.
Eric Maynard (’91),
Lebanon, joined LBMC Technology Solutions LLC as a field network engineer, where he will provide IT solutions to managed services clients. He formerly worked as an IT administrator for MidCumberland Community Action Agency.
Chris Kelly (’92),
Murfreesboro, is now Nashville market president for the Argent Trust Co. In this capacity, he serves as the senior leader of trust, estate, and retirement services administration in middle Tennessee.
Dustin Miller (’93),
Chapel Hill, was promoted to lieutenant of the patrol division for the Brentwood Police Department. Miller, a 23-year veteran of the police force, has worked most of his career in patrol and most recently as a detective in the Criminal Investigations Division. A certified instructor, he also has taught the field training program for the department.
April Norris (’93),
Winchester, was named deputy director of schools for Tullahoma. Norris, whose 26 years as an educator include several years serving in Tullahoma schools, began her tenure in the city’s school system as a special education teacher.
Leslie Sharp
Sharp (’93) was named dean of the Georgia Tech Library after previously serving as the institution's associate vice provost for graduate education and faculty development. She has more than 25 years of administrative experience in both academic and history-related organizations.
Her tenure at Georgia Tech since 2006 includes service as the assistant dean for academic affairs and outreach for the College of Design and, most recently, in a dual role as associate vice provost and interim chief executive officer for the library.
Chris Guy (’94),
Elizabethton, was appointed vice president and commercial lender for First Bank & Trust in Johnson City.
Quincey Jones (’95, ’97, ’05),
Powder Springs, Georgia, a veteran health care and higher education leader, was named vice provost for health affairs at Lipscomb University. Jones oversees Lipscomb’s health science programs, providing vision for the institution’s growth in these areas and engaging more collaboratively with health care entities in the community.
Gregory Lunsford (’97),
Harrisonburg, Virginia, was appointed town manager for Elktown, Virginia.
Jacqueline Holmes Springfield (’97),
New York City, is an actor working in film, television, theater, and voiceover, as well as a director and an educator. Acting credits include First Wives Club (BET+), The Good Cop (Netflix), and several episodes of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC). She also currently serves as voice and speech instructor at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy’s New York campus. Her other teaching credits include New York Film Academy, Brooklyn College, the Wildwind Performance Festival at Texas Tech University, Montclair State University, and the University at Albany.
Linda Baker (’98),
Manchester, was appointed as director of Coffee County Probation. She joined the probation office 11 years ago and most recently was the deputy director.
Michelle Thomas (’98),
Murfreesboro, was named chief development director for TN Voices, a mental health support services nonprofit.
2000s
Margaret “Lou” Scott Paschall (’00),
Murfreesboro, a school social worker in Rutherford County for 16 years, was hired as the first school social worker in Manchester City Schools.
Eddie Alford Jr. (’01),
Mount Juliet, was named the first diversity and inclusion officer for Pinnacle Financial Partners. In that role, Alford has joined the bank holding company’s leadership team.
Heather Stafford (’01),
Lebanon, is the new chief nursing officer for Tri-Star Summit Medical Center. She started her health care career at the hospital 16 years ago as a nurse technician in the emergency department. As her career advanced, Stafford graduated from HCA’s emergency department leadership development and executive development programs. She has served in a variety of leadership roles, including director of emergency and cardiac services and associate chief nursing officer at TriStar Skyline Medical Center.
William “Nicholas” Bratcher (’02),
joined Floor Focus magazine as sales manager. His previous sales experience includes positions with Shaw Industries and Engineered Floors.
Jamica Hines (’03),
Antioch, was appointed as associate dean and director of the Southeast Campus for Nashville State Community College.
James Eric Word (’03),
Hermitage, commissioned through MTSU’s ROTC program in 2003, was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the United States Army. Jess Eddy (’05), Gallatin, was hired as vice president of accounting for Tennessee Bank & Trust. He formerly served as assistant controller at First Bank.
Richard Farmer (’05),
Nashville, joined the Penetron Sales Team as regional sales representative for the Midwest and Southern region. The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs, and floor preparation systems.
B.J. Kerstiens (’06),
Murfreesboro, was promoted to regional vice president of the Quadex Lining System division for the Vortex Companies, an industry-leading trenchless infrastructure solutions provider.
Holly Eslick (’07, ’11),
Decherd, was named principal of North Middle School in Franklin County.
Terrance Eubanks (’08, ’10),
Nashville, was promoted to coordinator of student success initiatives in the Department of Student Success at Tennessee State University. In this position, he will manage major initiatives such as 15 to Finish, Freshman Block Scheduling, and Degree-in-Three.
April Harrington (’08),
Old Hickory, who opened her own firm of EXIT Real Estate Experts in January 2002, has been appointed as chair of the Community Involvement Committee for the Eastern Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors. Harrington also has been awarded the Diamond Production Award from her local association and ranked fifth in the Southwest region in production amongst her peers at EXIT Corp. International.
Jason Leiss (’09),
Nashville, was promoted to associate business manager at Nashville-based business and financial management firm FBMM. He joined FBMM in 2010 and was elevated to account executive in 2012. Leiss gained account manager status in 2015 and became senior account manager in 2018.
Dana Sanders (’09),
Spring Hill, an 11-year veteran of Pinnacle Financial Partners, received a promotion to chief audit executive and a part of the bank holding company’s senior leadership team.
2010s
Matt Clyde (’11),
Crossville, was promoted to global account director for Rengo Design Corp. and now leads an international team of designers, project coordinators, and account managers from the U.S., Canada, and China.
Tim Fallon (’11),
Milton, was appointed vice president of manufacturing at the Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant in Mississippi. He had spent 15 years at the Nissan Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant, serving in various roles of increasing responsibility, including senior manager and director of body assembly, director of paint and plastics, and director of trim and chassis assembly.
Fadia Patterson
Patterson (’12) launched her career in broadcasting after winning a college Emmy for a student-run broadcast. She’s now a television reporter in New York and just won an Associated Press award and the prestigious Medaille College’s Award for Excellence in journalism.
After spending time reporting in Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee, Patterson joined the Spectrum News Buffalo team in January 2018 and, every evening since, has been delivering the latest news to communities across the area. As an active member of the National Association of Black Journalists and National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Patterson has served on the national and local level to mentor young journalists of color.
When she isn’t at the news desk, you can find her volunteering with various charities across the Buffalo area. “Fadia was selected . . . because of her focus on community, ethics, and commitment to western New York,” said Lou Pozantides, Medaille College associate professor and awards founder.
David “Hatton” Marbury V (’11),
Florence, Alabama, is a project manager with B.H. Craig Construction Co. Recent projects include the $34 million Florence Middle School and renovations and additions to the area YMCA.
Paul Wydra (’11),
Murfreesboro, was appointed to the Grand Council of Sigma Pi Fraternity for the remainder of the 2020–22 biennium. He currently serves as the Province Archon for the Sun Belt Province and is the faculty advisor for Sigma Pi, Theta-Omega Chapter at MTSU.
Elizabeth Brahan (’13),
Nashville, was hired as director of publishing for Sprockets Music Publishing, a sister company to Copperline Music Group. In her new role, she will continue to build the company’s catalog by enhancing its innovative approach to placing music for fill and television as well as traditional music outlets. Prior to Sprockets, Brahan worked at Big Yellow Dog Music.
Amanda Schaffer (’13),
Verona, Pennsylvania, is the new executive director of the Sewickley Valley Historical Society.
Jessica Shotwell and Samuel “Sam” Remedios
Recent MTSU graduates Shotwell (’17) and Remedios (’19) are among 2,000 U.S. students named as winners of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program Award.
NSF Fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend of $34,000. They also receive a $12,000 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees paid to the institution where they will conduct their research, opportunities for international research and professional development, and the freedom to conduct their own research at any accredited U.S. institutions.
A Memphis native, Shotwell, 24, graduated from MTSU with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and minors in African American Studies, Political and Civic Engagement, and Spanish.
Remedios, 29, of Nolensville, earned his bachelor’s in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics. He is a native of San Jose, California, and attended high school in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
James Thomas Andrew “Andy” Bible (’18),
Chuckey, accepted a position with the Army Band Program. After completing basic training, he will attend the Army School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and continue his music career with one of the Army’s regional bands.
Tonya Lewis (’18),
Chattanooga, was promoted to director of human resources at Heatec Inc.
Samantha Bicknell (’19),
Nashville, joined PLA Media as a social media coordinator. Her previous professional experience included positions at Sony Music Global, Red Light Management, and the Country Music Association.
