Dr. Paulette Coleman heads the affordable housing task force for NOAH (Nashville Organized for Action and Hope), a grassroots organization that led the push for inclusionary zoning measures at the Metro Council. An expert on urban planning, she earned degrees at Fordham and MIT. SHe is a retired General Officer of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and has served as an officer of the board for the Tennessee Arts Commission.
Dr. Coleman is listed as member of the transit inclusiveness task force convened by the Mayor's office last November of 2017, to help Nashville’s decision-makers ensure that planned high-capacity transit corridors are safe, affordable and inclusive for everyone.
Dr. Paulette Coleman holds a bachelor's degree from Fordham University; and doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass.
Dr. Coleman is listed as member of the transit inclusiveness task force convened by the Mayor's office last November of 2017, to help Nashville’s decision-makers ensure that planned high-capacity transit corridors are safe, affordable and inclusive for everyone.
Dr. Paulette Coleman holds a bachelor's degree from Fordham University; and doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass.
Carolyn McHaney Waller is President of the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce . A member of the chamber since 2009, Mrs. Waller’s prior responsibility as a board member and Development Committee Chair was to develop and implement a strategic plan to revitalize the organization.
Waller is currently an Affiliate Broker and Accredited Buyer Representative with Zeitlin and Company Realtors, Nashville’s premier real estate company. Even in the present economic environment, she continues to be a top achiever in the residential real estate market. Prior to joining Zeitlin, she worked for 25 years in the commercial insurance industry as a Marketing and Underwriting Specialist for Aetna Casualty and Surety, CNA Commercial, Harleysville Mutual, and Trinity Universal. She received the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in sales growth and territorial management.
Carolyn is actively committed to philanthropic work in the community and serves on various boards including the Advisory Board of W. O. Smith School of Music Foundation and the Advisory Board of Christian Community Services, Inc. Additionally, Waller has volunteered as a Team Leader with the Nashville Habitat for Humanity.
Waller holds a BS degree from Union University in Jackson, TN where she earned an athletic scholarship and played for the Championship Lady Bulldog basketball team. On a personal note, she is married to her husband of 25 years, Joel Waller. They have two daughters, Lauren and Alexis. The Wallers reside in Nashville and consider it their home.
Waller is currently an Affiliate Broker and Accredited Buyer Representative with Zeitlin and Company Realtors, Nashville’s premier real estate company. Even in the present economic environment, she continues to be a top achiever in the residential real estate market. Prior to joining Zeitlin, she worked for 25 years in the commercial insurance industry as a Marketing and Underwriting Specialist for Aetna Casualty and Surety, CNA Commercial, Harleysville Mutual, and Trinity Universal. She received the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in sales growth and territorial management.
Carolyn is actively committed to philanthropic work in the community and serves on various boards including the Advisory Board of W. O. Smith School of Music Foundation and the Advisory Board of Christian Community Services, Inc. Additionally, Waller has volunteered as a Team Leader with the Nashville Habitat for Humanity.
Waller holds a BS degree from Union University in Jackson, TN where she earned an athletic scholarship and played for the Championship Lady Bulldog basketball team. On a personal note, she is married to her husband of 25 years, Joel Waller. They have two daughters, Lauren and Alexis. The Wallers reside in Nashville and consider it their home.
Isaac Y. Addae is an Assistant Professor of Business Administration in the College of Business at Tennessee State University. From a research perspective, Isaac focuses on traditional and social entrepreneurs and their use of social networks in the process of opportunity recognition. His dissertation, “Illuminating the social entrepreneurship process: A social networks and stakeholder perspective,” examines the role of individual and network characteristics in the formation and growth of social ventures.
Isaac has published his work in multiple research outlets, and has presented his research at numerous academic conferences such as the Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference. While his teaching efforts are primarily concentrated in strategic management and entrepreneurship, he has also taught courses in leadership and international business.
With regard to community impact, Isaac is very active in efforts to influence economic development across Nashville’s urban population. He is the creator of the Conscious Conversation community discussion series, an effort that focuses on galvanizing local citizens around common issues.
Isaac is a co-founder of The Hub for Urban Entrepreneurship, a Nashville-based social enterprise responsible for supporting minority business owners through initiatives such as Black Entrepreneurship Week. He is also the founder of the 260 Change Fund, a giving circle that will drive collective philanthropy in Nashville’s urban communities.
From a global perspective, Isaac has been involved in developing schools within rural villages in the West African nation of Ghana through Save the Villages, a nonprofit organization he founded. Isaac is currently a Management Ph.D. candidate in the School of Business and Management at Morgan State University (Baltimore, MD). He completed a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and an M.S. in Systems Engineering at Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN).
Prior to his academic career, Isaac spent several years working as an engineer in various Fortune 500 corporations across the automotive, defense and information technology industries. Isaac maintains active involvement in various local, regional and national organizations, including The Equity Alliance, the Social Enterprise Alliance, and Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc. As a self-described change agent and social engineer, Isaac is very focused on utilizing his full potential to advance communities of color around the world. He aims to achieve this goal by innovatively integrating his academic and community-based efforts.
In his leisure time, Isaac enjoys spending time with his son, running, road cycling, listening to music, connecting people, and dreaming about how to make the world a better place.
Isaac has published his work in multiple research outlets, and has presented his research at numerous academic conferences such as the Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference. While his teaching efforts are primarily concentrated in strategic management and entrepreneurship, he has also taught courses in leadership and international business.
With regard to community impact, Isaac is very active in efforts to influence economic development across Nashville’s urban population. He is the creator of the Conscious Conversation community discussion series, an effort that focuses on galvanizing local citizens around common issues.
Isaac is a co-founder of The Hub for Urban Entrepreneurship, a Nashville-based social enterprise responsible for supporting minority business owners through initiatives such as Black Entrepreneurship Week. He is also the founder of the 260 Change Fund, a giving circle that will drive collective philanthropy in Nashville’s urban communities.
From a global perspective, Isaac has been involved in developing schools within rural villages in the West African nation of Ghana through Save the Villages, a nonprofit organization he founded. Isaac is currently a Management Ph.D. candidate in the School of Business and Management at Morgan State University (Baltimore, MD). He completed a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and an M.S. in Systems Engineering at Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN).
Prior to his academic career, Isaac spent several years working as an engineer in various Fortune 500 corporations across the automotive, defense and information technology industries. Isaac maintains active involvement in various local, regional and national organizations, including The Equity Alliance, the Social Enterprise Alliance, and Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc. As a self-described change agent and social engineer, Isaac is very focused on utilizing his full potential to advance communities of color around the world. He aims to achieve this goal by innovatively integrating his academic and community-based efforts.
In his leisure time, Isaac enjoys spending time with his son, running, road cycling, listening to music, connecting people, and dreaming about how to make the world a better place.
Erin Hafkenschiel serves as the Mayor’s Transportation and Sustainability Director. She previously worked for California Environmental Associates, a sustainability-consulting firm in San Francisco.
Her past experience also includes philanthropic work for the Bay Area Council and the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, where she helped manage a $22 million portfolio of environmental grants. Hafkenschiel was also a 2008 U.S. Fulbright Scholar to China, where she studied sustainable urban planning and transportation.
In 2014, Gov. Jerry Brown appointed her to the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission. Hafkenschiel holds a Master’s in Public Policy & Urban Planning from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy of Industrialized Societies from the University of California at Berkeley.
Her past experience also includes philanthropic work for the Bay Area Council and the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, where she helped manage a $22 million portfolio of environmental grants. Hafkenschiel was also a 2008 U.S. Fulbright Scholar to China, where she studied sustainable urban planning and transportation.
In 2014, Gov. Jerry Brown appointed her to the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission. Hafkenschiel holds a Master’s in Public Policy & Urban Planning from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy of Industrialized Societies from the University of California at Berkeley.
Opinion Engagement Editor David Plazas writes editorials and columns, leads community engagement and serves on The Tennessean Editorial Board. His charge is to serve one of The Tennessean’s lead voices and also to connect and engage with voices across Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
David spent 15 years with The News-Press in Fort Myers, Florida, as an award-winning reporter, Spanish-language weekly editor, opinion editor, and digital editor. He has master’s degrees in journalism and business administration.
A Chicago native, Plazas loves fitness, the outdoors, music, food and wine. He and his spouse Darren live in Salemtown with their two Chihuahuas.
David spent 15 years with The News-Press in Fort Myers, Florida, as an award-winning reporter, Spanish-language weekly editor, opinion editor, and digital editor. He has master’s degrees in journalism and business administration.
A Chicago native, Plazas loves fitness, the outdoors, music, food and wine. He and his spouse Darren live in Salemtown with their two Chihuahuas.
A member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Mario received the Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law, and his LL.M.from The London School of Economics and Political Science. He received a Scholarship and Diploma from Hague Academy of International Law and earned a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Mario is former Chairman of the Nashville Bar Immigration Committee and served as past chairman of the Hispanic Achievers Program of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. He is a member of Leadership Nashville, Class of 1995-1996. Mario is AILA Advocacy Director for the Mid-South serving on the Grassroots Campaigns / Immigration Works Committee and on the US-Mexico Plus/Essential Workers Committee and the Hispanic Interest Committee.
Mario Ramos received the NAHCC 2008 Hispanic Entrepreneur Achievement Award and was elected to the NAHCC board of directors in the 2011 and 2017 elections. He is now serving his second non-consecutive term as Chairman of the board.
Mario is former Chairman of the Nashville Bar Immigration Committee and served as past chairman of the Hispanic Achievers Program of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. He is a member of Leadership Nashville, Class of 1995-1996. Mario is AILA Advocacy Director for the Mid-South serving on the Grassroots Campaigns / Immigration Works Committee and on the US-Mexico Plus/Essential Workers Committee and the Hispanic Interest Committee.
Mario Ramos received the NAHCC 2008 Hispanic Entrepreneur Achievement Award and was elected to the NAHCC board of directors in the 2011 and 2017 elections. He is now serving his second non-consecutive term as Chairman of the board.
Ellyn joined First Citizens Bank in August as the Area Executive charged with growing the Nashville market for the bank.
First Citizens Bank is the largest family controlled bank in the US, established in 1898 with offices in 22-states and over $32B in assets. Her team of experienced bankers help clients achieve business growth by providing financial advice and guidance.
Ellyn has an MBA from the University of Chicago and over 20 years experience in financial services building teams and business partnerships. She is a member of the Nashville chapters of WCRE, NAWBO and most recently the NAHCC.
Ellyn is excited to be a part of Nashville as it continues to flourish.”
First Citizens Bank is the largest family controlled bank in the US, established in 1898 with offices in 22-states and over $32B in assets. Her team of experienced bankers help clients achieve business growth by providing financial advice and guidance.
Ellyn has an MBA from the University of Chicago and over 20 years experience in financial services building teams and business partnerships. She is a member of the Nashville chapters of WCRE, NAWBO and most recently the NAHCC.
Ellyn is excited to be a part of Nashville as it continues to flourish.”
Dr. Hope Campbell is Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice joining the Belmont faculty in August 2010. She completed her undergraduate training at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica where she majored in Chemistry and minored in Biochemistry and Zoology. In 1993 she was awarded the Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Maryland, in Baltimore Maryland. She completed an ASHP accredited residency training in Pharmaceutical Care at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. For the next 17 years Dr Campbell remained at Vanderbilt serving as a Clinical Research Pharmacist. She served as the coordinator of the Investigational Drug Service, clinical pharmacist for the Infectious Disease-HIV service and administrator for pharmacy continuing education. As an Adjunct Professor of the University of Tennessee she served a preceptor for University of Tennessee School of Pharmacy, third and fourth year students. In addition she served as preceptor for residents in the Pharmacy Practice Residency program at Vanderbilt. Dr Campbell’s practice focus is Internal Medicine, with an interest in HIV pharmacotherapy.
As Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Dr. Campbell teaches courses related to clinical science and practice, such as Pathophysiology and Therapeutics and Health Assessment. Dr. Campbell is currently working to establish an Internal Medicine practice site at Metro General Hospital, where she will be rounding with the Internal Medicine service. Her practice site will serve as an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience site for student pharmacists in their fourth year of the pharmacy curriculum.
As Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Dr. Campbell teaches courses related to clinical science and practice, such as Pathophysiology and Therapeutics and Health Assessment. Dr. Campbell is currently working to establish an Internal Medicine practice site at Metro General Hospital, where she will be rounding with the Internal Medicine service. Her practice site will serve as an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience site for student pharmacists in their fourth year of the pharmacy curriculum.
Tracy Vitela’s career has been prominent in the financial industry in Nashville. Tracy’s commitment and passion to serving her community is exemplary as she holds herself to excellence. She is an accomplished leader, who builds successful teams that are devoted to their dreams and helping others succeed. She’s partnered and volunteered with several organizations like Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival, CrossPoint, Rebuild Together, Second Harvest Food Bank, United Way, Conexion America’s, and NAHCC. She is a proud Latina, dedicated to the progress of all, and will work-hard to help anyone achieve their goal. She is a dedicated single mom of two.
Tracy was born and raised in El Paso, TX where her parents owned their own business; while she learned to drive in the roots of Juarez, Chihuahua. She has a deep love for her culture and has great excitement to bring awareness to the important of health and wellness. Tracy has a degree in Business Administration and Management from El Paso Community College District.
Tracy was born and raised in El Paso, TX where her parents owned their own business; while she learned to drive in the roots of Juarez, Chihuahua. She has a deep love for her culture and has great excitement to bring awareness to the important of health and wellness. Tracy has a degree in Business Administration and Management from El Paso Community College District.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bedne studied architecture at the University of Buenos Aires, graduating in 1983. He moved to the United States in the 1990s as part of the Columbus (Ohio) Area International Program, a "training program that exchanges professionals from one country to another to develop and exchange ideas." He later became a citizen, taking his oath at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville.
One of Fabian's first opportunities in the U.S. was to plan and execute the revitalization of an inner city neighborhood in Columbus. He created a plan for the area with neighborhood input and was responsible for the implementation of most aspects of the project, such as planning the purchase of all the properties as a way to maximize the revitalization impact, salvaging the historic stock of the area, training unskilled local labor, and fighting "crack houses" by rehabilitating and renting the homes to the established neighbors and strengthening of the local economy.
Fabian began working in Nashville at Hart Freeland Roberts in 1997 designing schools, offices and other buildings in Nashville and around the country. His most significant projects were the Nashville Fire Headquarters and the Howard Office Building in Nashville. He is a founding partner of Organicus Design LLC, a architectural office that engages in the design of remodeling, new construction and landscaping with emphasis in functionality, adaptability and sustainability.
He was a member of and is active in Leadership Nashville. He was a Citizens Panel member of the Community Report Card, Metro Nashville Public Schools, from 2004 to 2006. He was on the Leadership Council of Communities Putting Prevention to Work and was a Commissioner with the Davidson County Board of Zoning Appeals. His non-profit board service includes Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity, the Housing Fund, Oasis, and Historic Nashville. He is the Vice Chair of the Planning Committee and was the Vice Chair of the Minority Caucus of the Metro Council. He was recently appointed to the National League of Cities’ At Large Board of Hispanic Elected Local Officials.
Fabian Bedne is a member of the Nashville Metro Council in Tennessee, representing District 31. He was elected to the council in 2011. Hes serves as Associate Director of the Hispanic Family Foundation.
Bedne is married to Mary-Linden Salter. They have two children; Olivia attends Nashville School of the Arts, and Gabriel graduated from Martin Luther King Magnet School. The family attends Congregation Micah.
One of Fabian's first opportunities in the U.S. was to plan and execute the revitalization of an inner city neighborhood in Columbus. He created a plan for the area with neighborhood input and was responsible for the implementation of most aspects of the project, such as planning the purchase of all the properties as a way to maximize the revitalization impact, salvaging the historic stock of the area, training unskilled local labor, and fighting "crack houses" by rehabilitating and renting the homes to the established neighbors and strengthening of the local economy.
Fabian began working in Nashville at Hart Freeland Roberts in 1997 designing schools, offices and other buildings in Nashville and around the country. His most significant projects were the Nashville Fire Headquarters and the Howard Office Building in Nashville. He is a founding partner of Organicus Design LLC, a architectural office that engages in the design of remodeling, new construction and landscaping with emphasis in functionality, adaptability and sustainability.
He was a member of and is active in Leadership Nashville. He was a Citizens Panel member of the Community Report Card, Metro Nashville Public Schools, from 2004 to 2006. He was on the Leadership Council of Communities Putting Prevention to Work and was a Commissioner with the Davidson County Board of Zoning Appeals. His non-profit board service includes Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity, the Housing Fund, Oasis, and Historic Nashville. He is the Vice Chair of the Planning Committee and was the Vice Chair of the Minority Caucus of the Metro Council. He was recently appointed to the National League of Cities’ At Large Board of Hispanic Elected Local Officials.
Fabian Bedne is a member of the Nashville Metro Council in Tennessee, representing District 31. He was elected to the council in 2011. Hes serves as Associate Director of the Hispanic Family Foundation.
Bedne is married to Mary-Linden Salter. They have two children; Olivia attends Nashville School of the Arts, and Gabriel graduated from Martin Luther King Magnet School. The family attends Congregation Micah.
Welcome Remarks
David Briley is a native Nashvillian. His early education included Glendale Elementary School, Lipscomb Middle School, and Montgomery Bell Academy. He earned a Bachelor's degree from Georgetown University. After college, he lived in Latin America, where he volunteered as a teacher and became fluent in Spanish. He completed his Juris Doctorate at Golden Gate University in San Francisco and received honors for administrative and environmental law, practicing as an attorney prior to becoming Mayor.
Briley was elected to serve as an At-Large Metro Council Member for Davidson County from 1999 to 2007. He was the Vice-Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and held seats on the Personnel, Public Information, Human Relations and Housing Committee, the Traffic and Parking Committee and the Greenways Committee. He was past Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Solid Waste and the Water Rate Oversight Committee.
David Briley is the eighth mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. He was elected Vice Mayor on September 10, 2015, and was sworn in as Mayor on March 6, 2018.
Briley is married to Jodie Bell, who is also a member of the Bar, practicing criminal defense law. They have one son, Sam. Mayor Briley is the grandson of Beverly Briley, the first mayor of Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.
Briley was elected to serve as an At-Large Metro Council Member for Davidson County from 1999 to 2007. He was the Vice-Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and held seats on the Personnel, Public Information, Human Relations and Housing Committee, the Traffic and Parking Committee and the Greenways Committee. He was past Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Solid Waste and the Water Rate Oversight Committee.
David Briley is the eighth mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. He was elected Vice Mayor on September 10, 2015, and was sworn in as Mayor on March 6, 2018.
Briley is married to Jodie Bell, who is also a member of the Bar, practicing criminal defense law. They have one son, Sam. Mayor Briley is the grandson of Beverly Briley, the first mayor of Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.