Tennessee Innocence Project
Board Chair
| Board Chair | Brad MacLean |
|---|---|
| Company Affiliation | Retired |
| Term | December 2021 to December 2023 |
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 |
| Brad MacLean | Voting | |
| Faith Morris | National Civil Rights Museum | Voting |
| Yasmine Mukahal | HCA | Voting |
| Dr. Rosevelt Noble | Vanderbilt University | Voting |
| Amy Richards | Community Volunteer | Voting |
| Amy Savoie | Voting | |
| Lane Shuler | Voting |
Advisory Board Members
| Name | Affiliation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Dale Allen | Adams & Reese | |
| Jamie Amos | ||
| Anneliese Barron | barron & co. | |
| Marc Caudel | Global Investigative Services | |
| Jamie Cheek | Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy Inc. | |
| Anne Davis | ||
| Professor Susan Kay | Vanderbilt University | |
| Dean William Koch | Nashville School of Law | |
| Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell | ||
| Amy Mohan | Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison, PLC | |
| Buford H. "Buddy" Ortale | ||
| Judge Kevin Sharp | Sanford Heisler Sharp | |
| Susannah Shumate | ||
| Grace Skertich | FedEx | |
| Mark Stephens | The Law Office of Mark E. Stephens | |
| Jason Strong | ||
| Professor Penny White | UT College of Law | |
| Paul Young | Downtown Memphis Commission |
Youth Board Members
| Name | Affiliation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rachel Berg | Polsinelli | NonVoting |
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 2021 for the Tennessee Innocence Project, it would be people. People were the heart and soul of the successes we experienced in 2021. After two years of consistent growth, it was exciting to feel the wheels of motion take flight - and it was all because of people. Shane, Joyce, and Charlie. In August 2021, the Tennessee Innocence Project had its first exoneration in Nashville. Paul Shane Garrett was exonerated for a 2000 murder that he did not commit. With pro bono partner Ritchie, Dillard, Johnson & Stovall, TIP finally cleared Shane's name. 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. TIP proved that the medical testimony given at trial about the timing of injury was scientifically inaccurate, excluding Joyce and Charlie as the perpetrators of the crime. Charges were dismissed against Joyce and Charlie in January 2022. You can read more about their cases on our website. Our Staff. We cannot work these cases without people power, and in 2021, TIP expanded to add critical new staff positions. Adding a Director of Development 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 six people in our first three 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 showed up in 2021, allowing us to more than double revenue from 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 2022, I am filled with optimism, and I look forward to sharing more successes with you. With gratitude, Jessica Van Dyke |
