ChangeMakers

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

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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.

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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 programs in Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies at CBU. Dr. Smarrelli is an active member of the Memphis community focusing on economic development and social services including involvement with Memphis schools, member of the Transition Planning Commission, TLE Advisory Board, economic development groups, and serving on the boards of St. Mary’s University of MN, the East Memphis Rotary, Catholic Charities, the Gulf South Conference, the Salvation Army, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association. Dr. Smarrelli is a member of numerous local, regional and national university associations. John and his wife, Eloise, have three adult children and four grandchildren. The Smarrellis attend Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

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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 Memphis, Youth Villages, Boy Scouts, PeopleFirst Partnership, Council of the Insurance Agents & Brokers, Insurors of Tennessee Large Agency Committee, Mayor Wharton’s Strategic Planning Committee and Mayor Wharton’s Finance Committee. He has also served as chairman of Youth Villages, scoutmaster of Troop 55, chairman of the Greenwich Group, chairman of the Insurors of Memphis, chairman of the Memphis/Shelby County Insurance Advisory Committee, chairman of the Greater Memphis Insurance Council, board member of the Business Emergency Preparedness Council, board member of the Brooks Museum, board member of Assurex Global, and as the Memphis co-chair for Governor Haslam’s Inauguration.

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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.

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 ladder of success in the technology industry when on a trip home to Nigeria, his passion and compassion collided and became a vision of Samaritan’s Feet.

Determined to make a difference, both in his homeland and around the world, Manny and his wife, Tracie began Samaritan’s Feet in 2003. Through Samaritan’s Feet, Manny has the opportunity to continue the legacy of love and hope he received when he was given his first pair of shoes and make a difference in the lives of millions.

Learn more→ https://www.samaritansfeet.org/

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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 girls: Sydney, Kendall, and Ella and are members of Fellowship Memphis Church.

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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

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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 Zinn Spirit of 1776 award for distinguished citizenship, recipient of the Carnival Memphis’ King’s award for outstanding achievement in Business and Industry, and the National Football Foundation and College Hall of fame Memphis chapter’s award winner for The distinguished American for Contribution to Amateur Athletics. In 2013, he was inducted into the prestigious Society of Entrepreneurs as a result of his success in business and community service.

Today, Bill still operates as the President and CEO of Classic American Hardwoods. He speaks at a variety of events from the Para Olympics in Colorado Springs, with Nike, PepsiCo, FedEx, and other nationally recognized companies, to churches, schools, and hospitals. His first book, Against the Grain, was published by Weinstein Books in May 2014, and can be purchased here→ http://www.coachbillcourtney.com/

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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.

Memphis Flyer named Sarah as one of the 20 Under 30 and in 2014 Sarah was honored as one of the 50 Under 40 Social Entrepreneurs in the US by American Express.

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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 member, Stacy plays an active role in the Memphis business community. As a result, she has received many honors over the years, including 2013 Memphis Business Journal’s Super Woman in Business and, most recently, 2015 Memphis Business Journal’s Small Business of the Year. She participates as an activate mentor to young business women in the Memphis Business Journal’s Bizwomen Mentoring Monday series through several events annually.

Stacy sits on the board of directors for the Chickasaw Council of Boy Scouts of America and serves as a commissioner for Memphis City Beautiful. Furthermore, she and her Stratos team give back together by providing in-kind janitorial services to many of Memphis’ nonprofit organizations and events, such as Memphis Charitable Foundation’s Blues Ball and Jingle Bell Ball; MIFA’s annual Feed the Soul event; and Downtown Memphis’ RiverArtsFest.

The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

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