One of the mainstays of the Nashville Post magazine is our In Charge list. Each year, we highlight the people that make our city work. Be them newly minted or seasoned veterans, we have trimmed this year’s list to the best of the best.
Danielle Barnes — CEO/President, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee: Former state of Tennessee official took over for Agenia Clark in late 2023 to lead nearly 100-year-old institution that serves 39 Tennessee counties.
Bari Beasley — President and CEO, Heritage Foundation of Williamson County: Was named first CEO of 1967-established historic preservation agency in 2017. Entity produces PumpkinFest, Dickens of a Christmas and Main Street festivals and most recently began relocation and preservation of Lee-Buckner Rosenwald School.
Corinne Bergeron — CEO, Frist Foundation: Took the helm in 2022 of the organization investing in nonprofits founded by Tommy Frist in 1982. Offers grants to local nonprofits to use for operations, tech and general expenses.
Hal Cato — CEO, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee: Former Thistle Farms and Oasis Center CEO began leading 1991-founded organization focused on distributing funds to nonprofits in 2022.
Glenn Cranfield — President and CEO, Nashville Rescue Mission: Oversees SoBro-based Christian operation that can house up to 745 unhoused Nashvillians nightly. Nonprofit annually lands more than $20 million in public support and opened new women’s campus in early 2024.
Sam Davidson — CEO, Nashville Entrepreneur Center: Former CEO of Batch Gifts was appointed to lead role in 2023, replacing Jane Allen. Offers accelerator services for health care companies, diversity scholarships and other services for aspiring business owners.
Tina Doniger — Chief Executive Director, Community Resource Center: Took the helm in 2019 for organization that facilitates donations for more than 300 nonprofit agencies in nine Middle Tennessee counties, including hygiene products and disaster relief services.
Marsha Edwards — President and CEO, Martha O’Bryan Center: Longtime leader of anti-poverty organization oversaw center’s move into charter schools and, most recently, a child care center. Martha O’Bryan is located within James A. Cayce Place public housing complex.
Meagan Flippin — President and CEO, Center for Nonprofit Management: Former United Way of Rutherford and Cannon County lead moved to 1986-founded Nashville organization management agency in 2024, succeeding retired CEO Tari Huges.
Andrew Freeman — CEO, Safe Haven: Former YMCA executive director was named to top spot, replacing Jim Shulman in 2023 after joining organization in 2022. Nonprofit focuses on ending family homelessness.
Rachel Freeman — President, Sexual Assault Center: Began leading organization in 2018 after starting there in 2001. Agency provides free assistance to survivors of sexual assault, including rape kits and counseling.
Jenny Hannon — President, Friends of Warner Parks: Oversees nonprofit arm of parks system, dedicated to preservation and conservation of Percy and Edwin Warner Parks spanning more than 3,000 acres in Bellevue area.
Clifton Harris — President and CEO, Urban League of Middle Tennessee: Former Metro homeless commission exec took the helm in 2016 for nonprofit focused on economic empowerment for Black population including education, job training, housing, entrepreneurship and workforce development.
Tim Henderson — Executive Director, Humanities Tennessee: Tenured leader of organization that presents history and culture programs statewide, including Nashville’s Southern Festival of Books. Celebrated 50 years in 2023.
Danny Herron — President and CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville: Veteran leader of 1985-founded organization that builds affordable homes and manages social enterprise ReStore.
Nancy Keil — President and CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank: Leads 1978-founded organization fighting food insecurity in 46 Middle and West Tennessee counties. Agency served 38.9 million meals in 2023 through grocery rescue program, emergency food boxes, mobile pantries and afterschool meal program.
Tasha Kennard — CEO, Thistle Farms: In 2022 took the helm of organization founded by Episcopal priest and entrepreneur Becca Stevens. Nonprofit manages social enterprise and cafe business benefiting women in recovery.
Liz McLaurin — President and CEO, The Land Trust for Tennessee: Former actor took over in 2016 for conservation nonprofit founded in 1999. Oversees nonprofit that has permanently conserved more than 136,000 acres in the state through 455 projects.
Steve Murff — CEO, Dismas House: Former Educare executive took the helm at the nonprofit focused on the formerly incarcerated in early 2025, replacing Kay Kretsch. Dismas House celebrated 50 years of service in 2024.
Sharon Roberson — President and CEO, YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee: In 2016, began organization that offers programs for women and girls, including state’s largest domestic violence shelter, Dress for Success, housing and advocacy services.
C.J. Sentell — CEO, The Nashville Food Project: Vanderbilt Ph.D. with agriculture background replaced founder Tallu Schuyler in 2021. Organization gardens, cooks recovered and donated foods and shares meals with other nonprofits while growing farming opportunities in Nashville.
Martha Silva and Tara Lentz — Co-Executive Directors, Conexión Américas: Duo took lead in 2021 for nonprofit that focuses on serving Nashville’s Latino families through economic empowerment, home ownership and civic engagement, among other services.
John Tumminello — President, Centennial Park Conservancy: Longtime leader of organization oversees nonprofit dedicated to preservation of the Parthenon and Centennial Park, which recently ramped up art and music programming for the public.