COMMITTEE CHAIRS

CHAIR, CHI BOULÉ FOUNDATION

Dr. Turner Nashe is an entrepreneur, inventor, innovator, and recognized leader in building technology that facilitates the delivery of data and educational content to security-sensitive industries such as correctional facilities, hospitals, and school administrators. Dr. Nashe is based in Nashville, where he received his doctorate in Educational Administration and Supervision from Tennessee State University. Dr. Nashe also received a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from John Carroll University.

Dr. Nashe has built several businesses around proprietary digital delivery systems that provide relevant content to correctional facilities and hospitals. He has worked with firms in the private and public sectors as well as governmental entities. His work has attracted firms from Fortune 500 to medium-sized organizations and start-up technology firms. In addition, his inventions have created innovative solutions for emerging ecosystems that are revolutionizing traditional approaches to delivering educational content within secure facilities.

His thought leadership has helped organizations transition from the mental models of an ego system to the 21st-century ecosystem required to accelerate educational content that facilitates the behavioral transformation of human capital. In addition, his inventions represent innovative approaches to the use of digital technology as a means to accelerate human development and social performance. While technology is rapidly advancing, Dr. Nashe wants to ensure that it enables and optimizes human development to its fullest potential.

CHAIR, STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE & ASSISTANT GRAMMATEUS

Melvin Malone works for the law firm Butler|Snow, where he serves as the Firm’s Regulatory and Government Practice Group Leader and focuses on telecommunications, public utilities, governmental relations, commercial litigation, and administrative law. In addition, he led the Firm’s efforts on diversity and inclusivity from 2016 through 2020.

Melvin served as Deputy Counsel to the Governor and Chairman of the Tennessee Public Utility Commission, as well as engagements on a host of public policy matters; because of this, Melvin is often sought out by state leaders to provide insight, observations, and counsel on various legislative and regulatory initiatives. Melvin has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® and Mid-South Super Lawyers®.

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam appointed Melvin as a Special Justice on the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2014 to hear a case from which four Supreme Court justices recused themselves. In 2013, Governor Haslam appointed Melvin to the Board of Directors for the TPAC Management Corporation, and he was subsequently re-appointed by Governor Lee. The Nashville Post named Melvin in “Nashville’s Top 101 Lawyers” and “In Charge” for the legal industry.

Melvin is Chair Emeritus for 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee, Inc. and Tennessee State University’s Foundation Board of Trustees. He also currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Memorial Foundation.

CHAIR, SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE

Patrick H. Johnson is a nationally recognized healthcare executive and influential business leader who is charting a new course in healthcare innovation and strategic community investments.

Patrick’s visionary leadership is at the nexus of several prominent regional and national projects. As a member of the Mayor’s Metro Nashville Coronavirus Task Force, Patrick was integral in developing the city’s COVID-19 response strategy. His guidance and counsel on the task force led to one of the country’s earliest operational plans for mass public testing. Patrick further directed the task force’s establishment of COVID-19 community assessment centers in severely impacted communities. He expanded his involvement in business continuity and recovery strategies by launching ReCOVer-Health, LLC, an innovative COVID-19 business risk management solution.

He co-founded the company with a veteran technology developer and entrepreneur to help businesses safely reopen and remain operational during the pandemic. With Patrick’s astute leadership, the company has rapidly expanded into multiple markets and industries.

Patrick served as a senior vice president at Meharry Medical College, where he raised over $122 million for the institution and was responsible for institutional advancement, government affairs, external affairs, strategic partnerships, marketing, and communications.

His strategic initiatives have bolstered Meharry’s national and global partnerships. Patrick’s skill as a power broker was recently instrumental in negotiating a historic $100 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies for four historically Black medical colleges, with $34 million designated for Meharry. Patrick is a tenacious advocate for historically disadvantaged populations and has directly engaged the White House and the Congressional Black Caucus to address health disparities plaguing communities of color. As COVID-19 took a disproportionate toll on Black communities, Patrick secured Meharry’s president to testify before the House Ways and Means Committee and served as an advisor in regular meetings with the White House to strategize optimizing Meharry’s network to mitigate the spread. He also spearheaded the formation of the Consortium of Black Medical Schools aimed at reducing health disparities in the African American community through collaboration with the White House, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Patrick previously served gubernatorial appointments in Maryland and on advisory boards for various businesses and organizations. He is a Fisk University and Belmont University graduate and served in the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment.

CHAIR, MEMBERSHIP COUNCIL

Keith Belton has twenty years of business and non-profit management experience. After obtaining his MBA in Marketing from Indiana University, he worked twelve years in brand marketing management roles at Kraft Foods, LP Building Products, and Sara Lee. Keith led consumer segmentation research, new product launches, and online and traditional advertising campaigns for Kraft Brand Salad Dressing, LP Siding, Hanes, and Hanes Her Way.

In 2007 Keith moved from the business to the non-profit sector, helping non-profit and educational institutions secure the funding necessary to fulfill missions. Keith is the Director of Marketing and Development for an educational & social justice institution.

As a consultant, Keith uses his diverse experience to work with clients on strategy, long-range planning, and problem-solving that drive organizational improvements and bottom-line financial results. Keith has provided insights to small businesses and helped non-profit groups address key marketing, strategy, and fundraising needs.

Keith lives in Nashville with his wife and two daughters. As a proud UNC Chapel Hill alum, he can be heard yelling “Go Heels!” at various Carolina sporting events.

CHAIR, SOCIAL

John R. Manson is Special Counsel at his firm’s Nashville office. He previously served as the Presiding Night Court Magistrate for Nashville-Davidson County. A Nashville native, John earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from Morehouse College in Atlanta and his Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law.

He has additional judicial experience, serving as Special Master and law clerk for Eighth Circuit Court for eight years and Special Probate Master for Seventh Circuit Court for three years, both in Davidson County, TN.

Mr. Manson is a former faculty member of the National Judicial Institute on domestic violence, a past member of the Harry Phillips American Inn of Court, and a past president of the Napier-Looby Bar Association, the Nashville affiliate chapter of the National Bar Association.

In addition to his legal pursuits, Mr. Manson is an accomplished musician and occasionally performs at various venues around Nashville. He is a past President of the Nashville Symphony Chorus, and is a member of the Cathedral Choir at Christ Church Cathedral Episcopal Church.

CHAIR, HISTORY

Jamaal B. Sheats, MFA, began his career as an artist. He is currently the Associate Provost of Art & Culture, Director, and Curator of Galleries at Fisk University.

Since joining the Galleries in 2015, Jamaal has curated over twenty exhibitions, expanded and nurtured partnerships, and implemented innovative programs to foster access to and engagement with the collections. In addition, as an art advocate, Jamaal is committed to the training and development of diverse art leaders and has led the effort to secure funding to establish the Fisk Museum leadership initiative to diversify the field.

As an artist, Jamaal has maintained a solid and consistent domestic and international exhibition record; and received commissions to create works for entities such as the National Museum of African American Music, Nashville Music City Center, and the 2019 Havana Biennial. He has also been featured in Museums, galleries, and private collections across the US and abroad.

Mr. Sheats is a Trustee of the Frist Art Museum and Chairman of the Maddox Fund. He is also a former Association of Academic Museum and Galleries Board Member.

Jamaal received an MFA from Tufts University and BS in Art from Fisk University. He is a proud graduate of Leadership Nashville and a Center for Curatorial Leadership Fellow.

CO-CHAIR, HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Dr. Walter Clair received undergraduate, medical, and public health training at Harvard University. His postgraduate training included a medical residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology fellowships at Duke. He served as the Executive Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer of the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute from 2015-2021 and is currently a Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where he continues to practice clinical cardiac electrophysiology.

Dr. Clair has received several community service awards and distinctions over the years. He has chaired the Social Action Committee of Chi Boule and has served in several leadership roles with the 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee. In 2012 he received the Levi Watkins Faculty Award for Commitment to Diversity at Vanderbilt School of Medicine. In addition, Dr. Clair was a member of the Board of Overseers of Harvard University from 2009-2016. In 2021 he was awarded the Harvard Medal.

In 2009 he joined the Education Committee of the Heart Rhythm Society, and the following year he became co-chair of its Patient and Caregivers sub-committee and served in that role until 2014. In 2013 he was a national medical spokesperson for the Heart Rhythm Society’s “Arrest the Risk” campaign to increase awareness of sudden death risk factors among minority patients. Dr. Clair served on the board of the Nashville chapter of the American Heart Association (President 2018-19). In addition, he serves on several medical journal editorial boards and the boards of St Marks School (Southboro, MA), and the University School of Nashville Horizons Program.

CO-CHAIR, HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Dr. S.L. Lampkin, IV is a primary care doctor at Meharry Medical Group. He is experienced in adult and children’s care, women’s health services, maternity care, diabetes, hypertension management, dementia treatment, and geriatric medicine. He specializes in family medicine and sees patients in the Meharry Clinic.

Dr. Lampkin earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College and completed his residency in Family Medicine at the University of Tennessee in Memphis.

Dr. Lampkin ran a successful private medical practice in Nashville for many years. In 2019, he merged his practice into Meharry Medical Group.

When he is not treating patients, Dr. Lampkin enjoys reading, listening to music, and outdoor activities such as fishing, gardening, and hiking. He and his wife, LaChanta H. Lampkin, HR Director with Mars Inc., are members of Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church in Nashville. He also holds memberships in organizations such as the Sigma Pi Phi fraternity and the American Medical Association.

DATA MANAGER

Lawrence is the Director of Project Delivery for the Health and Social Services Business Domain for the State of Tennessee's Department of Finance and Administration. He provides enterprise-level expertise and leadership to support the successful delivery of the high-priority projects of the domain agencies (Departments of Health, Human Services, Children Services, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, and Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities). Lawrence previously worked as the Project Management Office Director for the NC Department of Commerce, where he was responsible for several modernization projects. Before that, Lawrence spent 22 years in the telecommunications industry in Systems Engineering, Program Management, Supply Chain Management, and New Product Introduction.

In 2012, he was elected to the Board for Orange County Schools in North Carolina and served as Vice Chair until his departure in November 2015. In 1988 Lawrence earned his Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology from DeVry Institute of Technology, and in 1996 he earned a Master's Degree in Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management. Lawrence has been certified as Project Management Professional (PMP) since 2001.

Lawrence is a tnAchieves Mentor. Previously he has served on many boards and advisory councils. He was former Chair of Boys & Girls Clubs of Eastern Piedmont Board of Governors, former Board Chair of Boys & Girls Clubs of Chapel Hill, former Chair of the Alliance of Black Lucent Employees (Greensboro), and former Advisory Council Member of Organizing Against Racism. He has also won several awards, including the NC Association of Workforce Professionals President's Award, Tennessee Information Technology Professional Association's Collaboration Award, Government Technology's 2022 Top 25 Doers, and the Dreamers and Drivers Award.