Gary Everton

Gary Everton - Principal of EOA Architects and a long time resident of Nashville. He has contributed to the restoration of historic Nashville buildings, the construction of the new Tennessee State Museum and multiple buildings at both Belmont and Vanderbilt. He has played a major role in Leadership Nashville and has helped grow and nurture the next generation of great architects in Nashville. 

Gary’s extensive experience and command of the issues associated with a large range of projects enables him to not only draw upon lessons learned from one project type to another but also for him to be open to every project being treated as a unique design opportunity.

Gary is a quick thinker, high energy type of leader, life of the party with a wry sense of humor. He can also be referred to as "The Entertainer". He enjoys being with people, funny stories, golf, thought provoking challenges, traveling and experiencing new exciting places. He loves free hand sketching, Laugh USA, and he always has a song playing in his head.

Meg Harris

Meg Harris, SVP, Head of Strategic Initiatives at AllianceBernstein 

Meg is currently the Head of Strategic Initiatives at AB, a role that focuses mainly on the people- and community-related initiatives required to make a successful home for AB’s global HQ in Nashville TN. She currently leads the talent acquisition team for AB and manages a number of projects within the firm related to Human Capital and philanthropy/community relationships.

Most of Meg’s career was spent at UBS in London, NY, and then Nashville as a Global HR Business Partner supporting a variety of business areas and finally overseeing the HR business partner team providing support to global hub locations in China, India, Poland and Nashville. Meg also worked as an English as a Second Language teacher in Prague, Czech Republic, and worked for a research firm in Washington DC just out of college.

Meg is an active participant on the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville Board as well as the Center for Non-Profit Management Board. She co-chaired the Education Report Card Committee in Nashville in 2017 and is actively engaged in numerous forums related to public education, literacy and inclusion.

Meg has 3 children (Sophie, 9, Connor, 6 and Maddy, 3) and earned a Bachelors’ degree in Communications from Wake Forest University and a Masters in HR Management & Organizational Analysis from Kings College in London. 

Ronald Roberts

Ronald Roberts, Managing Partner at DVL Seigenthaler, Inc.  

Ronald Roberts leads the agency’s day-to-day operations as well as oversee staff assignments and manage several client accounts.  He serves as DVL Seigenthaler’s crisis communications practice leader and is certified in crisis communications management by the Institute for Crisis Management.  He directs the agency’s quick response teams during extensive crisis management situations.  He also specializes in media training, message development, corporate communications, media relations and strategic planning.

Prior to joining DVL Seigenthaler, Roberts was an assistant director of public relations at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), later moving to the Mass Communications faculty.  He also worked as assistant producer at The Nashville Network (TNN) prior to his tenure at MTSU.

Roberts currently serves on several boards including:  Rotary Club of Nashville (President), Nashville Sports Council (Immediate Past Chair), United Way of Metropolitan Nashville, Nashville Predators Foundation and 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee (former Board Chair). 

B.S. in Mass Communication, Middle Tennessee State University

M.A. in Education, Middle Tennessee State University

Tari Hughes

Tari Hughes became CEO of the Center for Nonprofit Management in December 2016. Hughes was president of the Nashville Public Library Foundation for 12 years raising more than $41 million to enhance the Nashville Public Library, developing the Nashville Public Library Literary Award Gala into a premier philanthropic event, leading the creative team for Nashville’s International Puppet Festival and spearheading Write the Next Chapter: a campaign for the Nashville Public Library Foundation. Before joining NPLF, Hughes spent nearly 5 years as vice president of development for the Tennessee Performing Arts Center where she was responsible for raising approximately $2.5 million annually for TPAC Education and Tennessee Repertory Theatre. Hughes worked at Vanderbilt University in several alumni and development capacities, most notably with the Owen Graduate School of Management and the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies. Early career experience included work with Ingram Book Company and ComWorld International. On a national level, Hughes took a leadership role through Urban Libraries Council in organizing annual conferences for Library Foundation executives to share best practices and learn from one another. She was often a featured speaker and panelist for groups interested in private funding for public library endeavors. Hughes is an active member of the Nashville Downtown Rotary Club and is a Leadership Nashville alumna. She served on the boards of CNM, Tennesseans for the Arts, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School Association. Hughes volunteers for organizations such as Miriam’s Promise, Room in the Inn and Book’em.