The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, the 58-year-old nonprofit committed to preserving Williamson County’s architectural, geographic, and cultural heritage, has elected seven new board members. In addition to the new appointments, William C. Scales Jr., an attorney with GRSM Law specializing in business, commercial and real estate litigation, who has served on the board since 2020, will serve as the organization’s Chairman of the Board.
The new additions to the board are:
- Hunter Jones, management consultant with Ernst & Young
- Larry Keele, Advisory Partner, Oaktree Capital Management
- Lee Locke Kennedy, Owner of Leiper’s Fork Distillery
- Jennifer Parker, Owner of Parker Haven Interiors
- Perry Schonfeld, Principal and COO – LBA Realty | LBA Logistics
- Jeffrey Welk, CEO & Owner of Jevo
- Dr. Susan West, Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President for Administration at Belmont University
“We are thrilled to welcome these esteemed community leaders to our Board and know they will serve this community well. We’re especially pleased to welcome William as Chairman during perhaps the most important time in our history, as we embark on initiatives and endeavors that will strengthen the Williamson County story and community for generations to come,” said Bari Beasley, president and CEO of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County. “Each board member brings a unique and valuable skill set to our organization, and we look forward to their guidance and expertise. Last year was a year of tremendous growth for The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, and we look forward to accomplishing much more in 2025 and beyond.”
Scales takes over as Board Chair from David Garrett, who served in the role for eight years and oversaw some of the Foundation’s most transformative efforts, including the acquisition of Franklin Grove, preservation of the Lee-Buckner Rosenwald School, and the creation of the Moore-Morris History & Culture Center of Williamson County.
“On behalf of our volunteers, donors and staff, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to David Garrett for his leadership and unwavering dedication during his term as Board Chair,” Beasley said. “David’s vision, guidance and generosity have been instrumental in advancing our mission and securing our future. His strategic thinking and commitment to our values have helped shape the Foundation into what it is today. As he transitions off the board, we are profoundly thankful for his service and the enduring impact of his contributions. David’s legacy will continue to inspire us all as we move forward.”
We also extend our sincere gratitude to former Board members Jeff Ledbetter, Ellen Smith, and Braden Dahl, in addition to David Garrett, for their invaluable service and dedication to the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County.
The Board of Directors plays a pivotal role in directing the strategic growth of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County which includes its core preservation work, Preserve Williamson, which drives vital advocacy, education, and preservation initiatives, as well as its four Divisions: The Franklin Theatre, which contributes almost $5 million annually to the local economy; the Downtown Franklin Association, which supports the 200 business owners who make shopping in Franklin magical along with free community events such as Main Street Festival, Pumpkinfest and Dickens of a Christmas, which contribute $10 million annually to the local economy; The Moore-Morris History and Culture Center, the county’s only immersive center for history and education; and Franklin Grove Estates & Gardens, an educational and cultural amenity which is currently under construction.
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The background of new board members and chair are as follows:
William C. Scales Jr. (Board Chair)
William C. Scales Jr. is an associate at GSRM Law. William is a pragmatic problem solver who ushers companies and individuals through business, commercial, and real estate litigation. His legal experience includes bench and jury trials and arbitration; state appeals; and multi-party litigation. He has served as counsel of record for corporate, governmental, and insurance clients. His current representations concern breach of contract claims, real property disputes, government zoning and code compliance, and business torts.
Before entering the civil practice of law, William served in the U.S. Army, first as an officer in a Patriot Missile battery and then as his battalion’s S-2 Security Officer. Prior to joining GSRM Law, William practiced at statewide Tennessee firm Lewis Thomason in Nashville, and at Whitfield & Eddy Law in Des Moines, Iowa.
Hunter Jones
Hunter Jones is a management consultant with Ernst & Young with years of experience supporting companies at the intersection of corporate strategy and business transformation. He has a keen focus on understanding how nuances within the dynamic agriculture ecosystem and its adjacent industries impact organizational operations. His expertise lies in helping organizations navigate complex challenges, drive sustainable growth, and achieve long-term success.
Outside of his professional career, Hunter supports several organizations at the local, regional, and national levels, including recently completing two terms as Chair of the Next Gen Advisory Board for the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, multiple advisory boards at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee, and Scouting America.
Larry Keele
Prior to launching Oaktree, Larry managed Trust Company of the West’s convertible securities portfolios in Los Angeles from 1986 to 1995.
Larry holds a B.B.A. degree in finance from Tennessee Tech University and an M.B.A. in finance from the University of South Carolina. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst. While he was in Los Angeles, Larry served on the board of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
Lee Locke Kennedy
Lee Locke Kennedy has been a Tennessee resident for 34 years, but his family’s roots in Williamson County go back to 1805. Lee graduated from Nashville’s Montgomery Bell Academy in 1995, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Auburn University.
Passionately committed to the history and success of the community, Lee and his family have lived in Williamson County since 2002. Since 2016, Lee and his family have successfully owned and operated Leiper’s Fork Distillery, resurrecting the heritage of small-batch whiskey production that has been prevalent in Tennessee and Williamson County since its earliest founding. Lee is a Williamson County Planning Commissioner as well as a Board Member for the Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Jennifer Parker
Jennifer Parker is an Arkansas native, but has made her home in Franklin for more than 25 years. She began her career in the music industry in Nashville at Midtown Recording Studios, then moved into artist management and representation, working with artists including Blackhawk, Deana Carter, The Lynns and Chris Knight. She spent seven years as vice president and general manager at the legendary Sound Kitchen Recording Studios in Franklin, where she worked with such artists as Dolly Parton, Diamond Rio, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Third Day, Vince Gill, Aerosmith, ZZ Top and many others.
Jennifer went on to become a global sales executive for TBA Global Events and Entertainment for five years before opening her own firm, Parker Communications, in 2006, where she executed artist tour sponsorships, brand collaborations and large-scale branded event strategy and management.
After taking time off following the birth of her daughter, Jennifer opened Parker Haven Interiors in 2017, where she enjoys working with clients to create beautiful spaces in their homes. Born and raised in Little Rock, Jennifer is a graduate of Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas.
Perry Schonfeld
Perry Schonfeld, Principal and Chief Operating Officer for LBA, has more than 40 years of experience in the financial and commercial real estate industries. Since joining LBA in 1997, he has evolved into overseeing the overall operations of the company and currently serves on LBA’s Investment Committee.
Prior to joining LBA, Perry was an Associate Director for Cushman & Wakefield of California, Inc., handling both asset and property management services for the Southern California region. Perry has been a member of BOMA Orange County since 1997 and is a past president of the Orange County chapter. He served on the BOMA International Executive Committee from 2007-2011, and as Chair of the BOMA International Nominating Committee from 2014-2015, and is currently a BOMA Fellow and a member of the National Advisory Council. He also is a Committee Member of the Real Estate Roundtable, an Advisory Board Member of the Boys & Girls Club of Capistrano Valley and the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission.
Perry holds an M.B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a B.S. degree in Accounting from State University of New York at Buffalo, and is a Certified Public Accountant. Perry and his wife, Janis, now live in Franklin and are excited to contribute to the Heritage Foundation’s efforts of saving the places and stories that matter.
Jeffrey Welk
Jeffrey Welk grew up in a family with deep roots in real estate, music, and hospitality. He is a member of the Welk Group Inc. board of directors, which has experience in many different transactions, including a company sale of $470 million to Marriott. Welk Group Inc. currently has roughly $100 million of real estate under management. Jeffrey has personally transacted more than $80 million in real estate deals and has been a landlord for 10+ years. He specializes in value-added real estate and creative tenant structuring.
In the Nashville area, Jeffrey has purchased vacant buildings and structured deals with tenants including Metro Nashville, DraftKings, PBR, Mel’s Drive Inn Diner, and more. In 2016, he and a business partner founded Property Cash In and House Cash In. This was a virtual real estate platform that connected fast-moving investors with distressed properties. In 2020, he also purchased a gelatin shot company out of bankruptcy, and is currently in the process of relaunching the product with a revamped sales model. Today, he serves as CEO of the gelatin shot company and runs several entities that invest in value-added real estate projects around the Nashville area. Jeffrey and his family are proud to call Franklin home.
Dr. Susan H. West
Dr. Susan H. West currently serves as Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President for Administration at Belmont University. During her 35 years at Belmont she has worked in a range of departments, including admissions, special academic programs and the university college.
Susan is a member of the Peer Learning Network of Belmont University. She was a member of the 2006 class of Leadership Middle Tennessee and the 2014-15 class of Leadership Nashville. Currently she serves on the boards of St. Thomas Health and the Middle Tennessee State University Friends of the College of Liberal Arts.
Susan received her Doctor of Education degree from Vanderbilt University Peabody College of Education and Human Development. She is a graduate of the Harvard Institute for Educational Management.
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To view a full list of our board and staff, click HERE.