NASHVILLE, TN, February 2018- Project Transformation Tennessee announces the selection of five new members of its Board of Directors to serve three-year terms starting in 2018. Joining the Board of Directors are Mr. Silas Deane, the Rev. Lisa Martin, Dr. Dorothy Murphy, the Rev. Dr. Kennard Murray, and Ms. Kathi Whalen.
“We are very pleased to welcome Silas, Lisa, Dorothy, Ken, and Kathi to our board,” says Project Transformation Executive Director Courtney Aldrich. “Their experience and leadership will be assets to us as we seek to deepen our impact on young lives throughout Tennessee. We are grateful to have them at the table.”
Silas Deane serves as President and CEO of VendEngine. Prior to this, he served as Chairman and CEO of local public relations firm DEANE | SMITH. Previously, he served as press secretary and legislative advisor to U.S. Rep. Bob Clement, and managed political operations for former Sen. Al Gore, Jr. Deane holds an MGBA from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Economics from the University of Kentucky.
The Rev. Lisa Martin is an ordained deacon of the United Methodist Church, currently serving as Associate Pastor of Connectional Ministries and Outreach at Madison Street United Methodist Church in Clarksville. She is originally from Clarksville and holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Austin Peay State University. Lisa serves as the Chair of Project Transformation’s Clarksville Advisory Council.
Dr. Dorothy Murphy has served as chair of Project Transformation’s Stones River Advisory Council for the last three years. She has successfully led fundraising efforts in Murfreesboro since that time. Murphy retired from the VA Hospital where she served for many years in internal medicine. She received her medical degree from University of Alabama.
The Rev. Dr. Kennard Murray currently serves as the superintendent of the Red River District of the United Methodist Church. Prior to serving on the Episcopal Cabinet, Murray served as senior pastor at Clark Memorial United Methodist Church in Nashville. He holds degrees from Garrett Evangelical, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee State University. He is a certified pastoral counselor. He has served in many capacities within the Tennessee Annual Conference, including Board of Trustees for Martin Methodist College. Prior to beginning full-time ministry, Murray was employed with the State of Tennessee for 30 years. He retired as the Director of Health Care Facilities for the Department of Health.
Kathi Whalen is Vice President, Ethics and Compliance at HCA, where she oversees and coordinates the work of the Program Development and Compliance Program Assessment teams. Prior to joining HCA in 1998, Whalen served as Associate Counsel to President Clinton with responsibility for the White House’s ethics program. Whalen received her B.A. from College of Wooster (Wooster, Ohio) and her J.D. from Vanderbilt. She has served on various nonprofit boards, including Goodwill of Middle Tennessee and Thistle Farms.
Project Transformation’s mission is to engage young adults in purposeful leadership and ministry, support children in holistic development, and connect churches with communities.
