Tennessee Innocence Project
Board Chair
| Board Chair | Frank Loughlin |
|---|---|
| Company Affiliation | Alliance Bernstein |
| Term | December 2023 to December 2025 |
Board of Directors
Board Members| Name | Affiliation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Raffaella Braun | Triple Tigers Records | Voting |
| Liza Canale | Voting | |
| Mark Chalos | Voting | |
| Katherine Cigarran | Community Volunteer | Voting |
| Beverly Davenport | Community Volunteer | Voting |
| Stephanie Ditenhafer | Community Volunteer | Voting |
| Garry Ferraris | Law Office of Garry Ferraris | Voting |
| Joey Fuson | Freeman & Fuson | Voting |
| Andrea Hayduk | Voting | |
| Josie Holland | Holland Garcia PLLC | Voting |
| Ed Kendrick | Voting | |
| Frank Loughlin | AllianceBernstein | Voting |
| Faith Morris | National Civil Rights Museum | Voting |
| Yasmine Mukahal | HCA | Voting |
| Amy Richards | Community Volunteer | Voting |
| Michael Scholl | Voting | |
| Valerie Scott | Voting | |
| Bhavesh Shah | Voting | |
| Lane Shuler | Voting |
Governance
| Board Term Lengths | 3.00 years |
|---|---|
| Board Term Limits | Info Not Provided |
| Board Meeting Attendance % | 0 |
| Does the organization have written Board Selection Criteria? | No |
| Does the organization have a written Conflict of Interest Policy? | Yes |
| Percentage Making Monetary Contributions | 100% |
| Percentage of Board Members making In-Kind Contributions | 100% |
| Does the Board include Client Representation? | Yes |
| Number of Full Board Meetings Annually | 6 |
Standing Committees
| Board Governance |
| Case Review |
| Development / Fund Raising |
| Finance |
| PR & Education Committee |
Risk Management Provisions
| Commercial General Liability |
| Directors and Officers Policy |
| Disability Insurance |
| Life Insurance |
| Professional Liability |
| Workers Compensation and Employers' Liability |
CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments
| If I had to use one word to describe 2024 for the Tennessee Innocence Project, it would be people. People were the heart and soul of the successes we experienced in 2023. After five years of consistent growth, it has been exciting to feel the wheels of motion take flight - and it was all because of people. Shane, Joyce, Charlie, Claude, Wayne, and Artis. Collectively, these six exonerees spent 147 years in prison for crimes they did not commit. Now, their names have been cleared. In August 2021, TIP had its first exoneration in Nashville. Paul Shane Garrett was exonerated for a 2000 murder that he did not commit. In December 2021, TIP presented new scientific evidence in the case of Joyce Watkins and Charlie Dunn, who were convicted of a 1987 murder and sexual assault in Nashville. Charlie passed away while incarcerated in 2015. Joyce was released on parole that same year, after serving 27 years in prison. Charges were dismissed against Joyce and Charlie in January 2022. The following two years saw three more exonerations: in May 2022, Claude Garrett was exonerated after spending 30 years wrongfully imprisoned, and in April 2023, Wayne Burgess was exonerated after spending nearly 25 years behind bars. In January 2024, TIP attained its first Shelby County exoneration, and Artis Whitehead was cleared of all charges exactly 21 years to the date of his initial arrest. Our Staff. We cannot work these cases without people power, and over the last year, TIP expanded to add critical new staff positions. Adding a Director of Development and Development and Communications Associate has allowed TIP to better connect with donors and supporters to keep them apprised of our important work. Adding Senior Legal Counsel allowed TIP to expedite and tackle its caseload. Our dedicated staff has grown from one person to eleven people in our first five years, and you can truly see the difference in our capacity. Our Board. With the assistance and enthusiasm of a newly expanded Board of Directors, TIP assembled a long-term strategic plan in December 2021. TIP's newest Board members bring a diversity of experiences and voices that will help TIP reach more communities across Tennessee. The organization set long-term goals focusing on sustainable growth and financial impregnability, increasing legal representation, and expanding community engagement and education. Our Supporters. I said it last year, and I'll say it again - without our donors, none of this is possible. TIP supporters have showed up, allowing us to more than double our revenue since 2020. I struggle for the proper words to express what a privilege it is to work with all these incredible people. No word or phrase seems big enough to convey the full meaning. Our work is truly a team effort. As we move into 2024, I am filled with optimism, and I look forward to sharing more successes with you. With gratitude, Jessica Van Dyke |
