Leadership Team
Bart McFadden
President & CEO
Experience: Club member, Club Director (Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Spartanburg), Senior Service Director (Walt Disney World Boys & Girls Club), Area Director (Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida), Senior Unit Director (Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada), Executive Director (Boys & Girls Clubs of West Georgia)
Why Boys & Girls Clubs?: Boys & Girls Clubs leverage researched best practices and equip committed, caring staff to implement them with kids in a relationship based way to ensure every kid has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Melissa Birkholz
Chief Financial Officer
Experience: 25 years of career progression at Scripps Networks Interactive/Discovery, Inc. – most recently VP, Global Content Accounting
Why Boys & Girls Clubs?: Although I am not on the front lines with our kids on a daily basis, I have a strong passion for the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley and am blessed with the opportunity to provide administrative support to such an amazing team of professionals throughout the organization. Every day I am challenged, both personally and professionally, to look for ways to serve and support the mission, even if it’s just a warm smile and a “hello” to kids and their caregivers as I enter and leave the building. I am honored to be part of this team!
Markus Jackson
Chief Operating Officer
Experience: Education Director, Program Director, Club Director, Area Director, and Director Organizational Development (Boys & Girls Clubs of America)
Why Boys & Girls Clubs?: Boys & Girls Clubs is the vessel that allows me to strategically impact the lives of kids that need it the most by providing caring adults, coupled with programs and services that pave the way for a bright future.
Joy Wilson
Chief Human Resources Officer
Experience: Over 20 years of experience in the Leadership, Human Resources, and Talent Development profession at ORNL Federal Credit Union as a Chief Officer and Director of Learning, Engagement, and Development for Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Why Boys & Girls Clubs?: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley has an intentional and purposeful presence in our communities. Our organization reaches out to children and their families through the critical tenets of love, development, support, caring, and showing up consistently. Our communities are stronger when we recognize every child deserves a better tomorrow and Boys & Girls Clubs practice this every day through caring leaders and programs.
Naomi Asher
Chief Development Officer
Experience: 16 years of nonprofit executive management, serving as the Executive Director of CASA of the Tennessee Heartland and as the Executive Director of the United Way serving Anderson, Campbell, Morgan, and Scott Counties
Why Boys & Girls Clubs?: I have seen the incredible work of the Clubs from several perspectives. At CASA I saw the continuity and support Clubs provided to foster kids. At United Way, I saw lives changed and the data to support the huge impact being made. As a foster mom, I see the love Club professionals pour into my kids, the safety they provide, and the incredible patience and grace they extend to kids living with extreme trauma and hurt. I am thrilled to be part of the BGCTNV family changing lives and making a brighter future, one kid at a time!
Operations Team
Hannah Harned
Regional Services Director
Experience: Youth Development Associate, Youth Services Coordinator, and Program Director
Why Boys & Girls Clubs?: I have so much belief in our future and value working within a community of beloved people that share that same stance. Working for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley has given me the opportunity to make a difference and be part of creating a lasting impact on our communities’ children.
Matt Parnell
Vice President, Operations
Experience: Club Fit Director, Program Director, and Club Director
Why Boys & Girls Clubs?: Knowing that we have an opportunity to make a difference every day that we come to work is why I believe in the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley.
Samantha Revell
Regional Services Director
Experience: More than 18 years in Early Childhood Education classrooms and management with the last 5 years being a Head Start Area Manager in Middle Tennessee.
Why Boys & Girls Club?: I love that Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley focuses on giving members safe and fun learning environments, as well as opportunities with amazing programs within our Clubs and our communities.
Kira Jones
Regional Services Director
Experience: Volunteer, Teen Director, Facility Director, Assistant Executive Director, and Executive Director
Why Boys & Girls Clubs?: After moving to Knoxville and volunteering at the Caswell Boys & Girls Club, I fell in love with this organization and the mission. I know that each day I put my all into what I love doing, and hope to provide a positive impact in a Club member’s life. I had many positive role models growing up, so just being able to have the same affect in someone’s life is inspiring.
Program Services Team
Kierra Jones
Vice President of Program Services
Experience: Education Director, Club Director, and Director of Community Schools
Why Boys & Girls Clubs?: Growing up I always wanted to be a teacher, but found it difficult to decide what grade level and subject I wanted to teach. I was eager to work with youth of all ages and teach them a variety of skills and subjects. During my final year of college, I began working for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley and realized it was the perfect fit! It allowed me to serve youth, of all ages, in a way that brought me joy and purpose. Working for the Club always reminds me of the saying, “When you do what you love, it hardly feels like work.”
Dr. Polly Johnson
Director of Education & Workforce Development
Experience: Youth Development Associate, 21st Century Learning Grant Tutor, and Director of Academic Outcomes
Why Boys & Girls Clubs?: I’m passionate about ensuring that all young people have opportunities and experiences in support of their college and career goals of the future.