LEADERSHIP
NATIONAL CHAIRS
India Arie
National Chair
India.Arie is a singer-songwriter, actress, musician, and record producer who went from “singing under a tree in the park” to the Grammy Awards stage in five years, earning seven nominations for her 2001 double-platinum debut Acoustic Soul featuring her first hit single “Video.” That was followed in 2002 by the platinum-selling…
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Keb' Mo
National Chair
It all took off for Keb’ Mo’ in 1994 with the self-titled release under his newly coined “Keb’ Mo’” moniker, and he proved once and for all that he was a musical force to be reckoned with. Album after album, 11 in total, garnered him 3 Grammy awards and a producer/engineer/artist Grammy Certificate for his track…
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Darius Rucker
National Chair
Darius Rucker first attained multi-platinum status as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Hootie & the Blowfish. The band has released five studio albums with him as a member, and charted six top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Rucker co-wrote the majority of the band’s songs with the other three members…
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CeCe Winans
National Chair
CeCe Winans is a multi-talented singer, who has won numerous awards, including ten GRAMMY® Awards and seven Stellar Awards. She has sold twelve million records worldwide. CeCe is also the best-selling female gospel artist of all time. Her collection of Top Ten R&B radio hits include “Count On Me,” her duet with…
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MUSEUM STAFF
H. Beecher Hicks, III
President & CEO
H. Beecher Hicks III’s professional experiences have included work in both the private, public and non-profit sectors where he has focused on building enterprises as a consultant, banker, investor and operating executive. Henry is now the president and CEO of the National Museum of African American Music…
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Dr. John Fleming
Museum Director-In-Residence
John Fleming was born in Morganton, North Carolina. He graduated from Berea College, Berea, Kentucky, in 1966. He attended the University of Kentucky and the University of Malawi before graduating from Howard University with a Ph.D. in American History in 1974. He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi…
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Tuwisha D. Rogers-Simpson
Vice President of Brand and Partnerships
Tuwisha D. Rogers-Simpson is first and foremost a creative problem solver. The former Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for Urban One, she is responsible for over 15MM of media revenue and partnership management with iconic brands such as Walmart, AT&T and Prudential. Tuwisha has been recognized by…
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Danny Hiltenbrand
Vice President of Operations
Danny Hiltenbrand is a tourism professional with over 35 years’ experience and an extensive portfolio in the historic home, museum, theme park and attractions industry. For 24 years, Danny served as Vice President of Merchandise for Elvis Presley’s Graceland …
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Dr. Dina Bennett
Curatorial Director
Dr. Dina M. Bennett is the Curatorial Director for the National Museum of African American Music, and an ethnomusicologist who specializes in African American music and culture. Dr. Bennett has previously served as the Associate Director of the Mulvane Art Museum at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas;
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Vince PremDas
Director of Development
Vince PremDas joined NMAAM in early 2019 as the Director of Development. He is responsible for the museum’s capital campaign, annual fundraising and membership efforts. Prior to NMAAM, Vince served as the associate vice president for Institutional advancement at Fisk University…
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Tamar Smithers
Director of Education and Public Programs
Tamar Smithers is a professional actress, singer, arts administrator and educator. She has over 10 years of experience in the arts administration and higher education field. As Director of Education and Public Programs for NMAAM she is instrumental in creating culturally specific programs and curriculum for all ages. In this role…
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Kenyatta Andrews
Director of Finance
Kenyatta Andrews joined the NMAAM team in January 2020 as Director of Finance and Administration. He is an accounting and finance professional with 20 years of relevant industry experience…
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Dionne Lucas
Director of Retail Marketing and Sales
A graduate of Clark Atlanta University’s Mass Media Arts department, Dionne Lucas started her professional career with The Coca Cola Company, working in marketing at the company’s headquarters in Atlanta, GA…
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Donald R. Hardin, Jr.
Project Manager of NMAAM Construction
Donald R. Hardin, Jr. was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Currently and for more than 20 years, Don co-owns and manages DON HARDIN GROUP, a construction management firm based in Nashville and serving Fortune 500 clientele across the country as well as serving community-based organizations…
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Dr. Marquita Reed
Collections Manager
Dr. Marquita Reed holds a Ph.D in public history at Middle Tennessee State University. Additionally, Marquita received her B.A. in History from Florida State University and an M.A. in Public History from Florida International University. Working with numerous historical, organizing such as MTSU Center for Historic Preservation…
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Dr. Steven Lewis
Curator
Dr. Steven Lewis is a curator at the National Museum of African American Music. He has presented his research at national and international conferences and has worked with historical organizations including the Thomas Jefferson Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution. He holds a B.A. in jazz studies from Florida State …
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Kara Duke
Development Manager
Kara Duke is a native of Nashville, TN and serves as Assistant Director of Development at NMAAM. Kara is responsible for managing the annual fund, membership program and a portfolio of donors. She has an expansive career in higher education, sales and marketing.
Kara joins us from Fisk University where she successfully…
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Kathryn Ryce
Controller
Kathryn Ryce joined the Finance Department of the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), as Controller in April 2019. She is responsible for the management of day-to-day accounting activities, production of financial reports, as well as the development of internal control policies and procedures…
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Brandon Reid
Education & Development Manager
Brandon Reid is the Education & Development Manager at NMAAM, working primarily to accomplish the museum’s programmatic initiatives and solicit funds. A native of Detroit, MI, he is a graduate of Tennessee State University…
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Cara Lippman
Executive Assistant to the CEO
Cara Lippman began her administrative career working in her home state of Massachusetts for her father, a real estate attorney, while she completed her degree in English Education at Boston University. After an initial start as an English teacher and theatre director, Cara returned to the administrative field working in diverse…
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Kimberly Thomas
Development Administrative Assistant
Kimberly is native of Chattanooga, Tennessee. She is a marketing professional with 12 years of experience in the non-profit industry. Her expertise ranges from creative/brand management to business development.
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Ellie Smith
Administrative Assistant
Ellie Smith holds a B.A in history and religious studies from Albright College. She is currently finishing her Masters’ of Theological Studies with a Jewish Studies Certificate at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Her area of study is 19th and 20th century religious history.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
LaDonna Boyd
Board of Directors
LaDonna Boyd is a native of Nashville, TN. Her family has had deep roots in the city for the past five generations, leaving a significant impact on the economic development and cultural history of Nashville. …
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Dr. T.B. Boyd, III
Legacy Trustee Member
Dr. T. B. Boyd III is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. As a1965 graduate of Pearl High School, he began hismatriculation through Tennessee State University, graduating in 1969 with a B.S. degree in Business. Dr. Boyd is a 1980 recipient of the D.D. degree and a 1983 recipient of the Doctor of Letters.
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Dr. Robert Fisher
Board of Directors
Dr. Robert (Bob) Fisher serves as President of Belmont University, a position he has held since April 2000. During his tenure the University’s enrollment has more than doubled to 7,400+ students while the campus itself has expanded significantly with the addition of more than $500 million in renovations and campus…
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Jeff Harleston
Board of Directors
Jeff Harleston is General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs for Universal Music Group worldwide. Harleston is a key member of the senior executive team and responsible for overseeing all business transactions, contracts, and litigation related to UMG’s operations…
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Harvey E. Hoskins
Legacy Treasurer
Harvey E. Hoskins, CPA worked a decade for the IRS, where he advanced to Assistant Audit Division Chief, before he co-founded Hoskins & Company, the oldest minority owned and operated accounting firm in Nashville. Harvey has over 36 years of experience in governmental and public accounting…
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Connie Kinnard
Board of Directors
Connie W. Kinnard is Vice President of Multicultural Tourism & Development for the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. Ms. Kinnard leads the department’s efforts to promote the multicultural neighborhoods, attractions and events in Miami. She also supports convention/travel sales initiatives in securing business.
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Stacey Garrett Koju
Vice-Chairman
Stacey Garrett Koju is a founding member of Bone McAllester Norton PLLC and chair of the firm’s Board of Directors. She concentrates her law practice in the areas of higher education, corporate transactions, healthcare and government affairs.
Stacey represents several institutions of higher education…
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Kevin Lavender
Board Chair
Kevin Lavender is executive vice president and head of Commercial Banking for Fifth Third Bancorp. He is responsible for overseeing the Company’s vertically integrated commercial sales teams, Capital Markets, Specialty Lending and Treasury Management businesses. He also is a member of the Enterprise Committee.
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Jerry Maynard
Board of Directors
Jerry Maynard has more than a decade of experience in public policy and government relations. He shown a proven ability to strategically and creatively reach diverse communities and build broad support for policies, initiatives, and development. An experienced strategist, he offers the clients of the…
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Sherri Neal
Board of Directors
Sherri Neal is Vice President, Cultural Development and Inclusion for Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), where she is responsible for leading the company’s diversity, inclusion and cultural competence initiative which bolsters HCA’s award winning employee and patient culture…
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Dr. Lucius T. Outlaw
Legacy Ex-Officio Board Member
Lucius Turner Outlaw (Jr.), the author of On Race and Philosophy (Routledge 1996) and Critical Social Theory in the Interest of Black Folks (Roman and Littlefield 2005) and other writings, is Professor of Philosophy, African American and Diaspora Studies, and of Human and Organizational Development (Peabody College) at Vanderbilt University, having joined the faculty in July of 2000.
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Dene Oliver
National Advisory Board Chair
Dene Oliver recently joined forces with Brookfield Properties as their Chief Vision Officer, following a 40-year career as the leader and founder of OliverMcMillan a successful, AIA award-winning national mixed-use development firm. At Brookfield Properties, Dene will work with teams to create one-of-a kind, award winning…
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Ben R. Rechter
Legacy Board of Directors
Ben R. Rechter has been part of NMAAM project since before its inception and currently serves on the board of directors. His vision, experience and drive have been invaluable to the development of this project.
Born in Bloomington, Indiana, he and his family moved to…
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Dasha Smith
Board of Directors
Dasha Smith is the Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer for the National Football League (NFL). In this role, Dasha is a member of the executive leadership team and responsible for all human resources activities across the League including talent and diversity strategies, workplace culture, compensation and recognition programs, leadership development,..
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Butch Spyridon
Legacy Board of Directors
Butch Spyridon has served as president and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (CVC) since 1991. Under his leadership, Nashville has evolved into a year-round destination for meetings and leisure visitors and has grown to become the city’s second largest industry with annual visitor spending exceeding $5.5 billion…
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Marie Sueing
Board of Directors
Marie Sueing is the Vice President of Multicultural Community Relations for the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation (NCVC). In this role, her efforts include increasing convention and tourism sales for the city and enhancing community relations and perception by promoting Nashville’s diverse offerings through product development and events.
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Phil Thornton
Board of Directors
After graduating in 2003 from Norfolk University, Phil Thornton started his first company, Bright Star Entertainment, an artist management/consultant firm where he represented artists such as 112 and Lil’ Mo. In 2007, he partnered with Marcus Spence and Paul Coy Allen to form the successful Ten2One Entertainment, a multimedia, television production, and artist management conglomerate.
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Dyana Williams
Board of Directors
Dyana Williams is a revered award-winning entertainment powerhouse and music activist. Whether showcasing her talents in broadcasting, print journalism, television producing and reporting, inspiring others through community activism and lecturing…
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NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD
Chair
Dene Oliver
Members
