Carol Berz | Chairwoman, City Councilwoman
Focusing on solution-based, collaborative problem-solving, in both the public and private sectors, Carol Berz has been a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Listed General Civil and Family mediator and trainer for more than 25 years.
Dr. Berz is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Private Dispute Resolution Services, LLC, a mediation services and training organization headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She also serves as a Councilwoman for the City of Chattanooga, where she currently chairs the Budget and Finance Committee.
Through public/private partnerships, Dr. Berz has overseen the renaissance of commerce, economic development and connectivity in a diverse business environment that includes health care, construction, government, employment and finance.
Dr. Berz does extensive practice and teaching in both the public and private sector in the areas of mediation, law and ethics, and employment and labor/management issues relative to the costs of corporate conflict. She also is recognized as an authority in Family Mediation, with expertise in the special circumstance of domestic and workplace violence.
Formerly the Director of Forensic Services for Joseph W. Johnson Mental Health Center, and subsequently its Executive Director, Dr. Berz also has served as a visiting professor at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, teaching social policy, law and ethics. She is a Board Certified Diplomat in Clinical Social Work, with extensive post-doctoral training in mediation, law and conflict management system design.
Dr. Berz served as the Chair of the Curriculum and Continuing Education Committee of the Mediation Association of Tennessee before becoming its President. She also chaired the Mediation component of the Hamilton County Courts’ Pilot Project relative to Tennessee’s Parenting Plan law. She spent eleven years as a commissioner with the Chattanooga Human Rights/Human Relations Commission, dealing with employment and civil rights matters, becoming the first Chairwoman of that body.
Dr. Berz is a graduate of Leadership America in Washington, D.C., and former President of the Board of Directors of the Moccasin Bend Girl Scout Council. A member of the Tennessee Advisory Commission to the US Civil Rights Commission, she served on the Governor’s Task Force on Church Burnings. Dr. Berz also chaired the Tennessee Economic Council on Women and spearheaded its Economic Impact Committee.
Dr. Berz is former Chair of the Board of Managers of the Hamilton Family YMCA and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Chattanooga Metro YMCA, where she served on the Human Resources Committee. She is the 2004 recipient of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce Athena Award. Dr. Berz was honored by the City of Chattanooga for her unique contributions toward advancing equality of opportunity among its citizens. She currently chairs the Mayor’s Council for Women and the Advisory Board to the Family Justice Center.
Professional memberships include the Association for Conflict Resolution, the ADR Section of the American Bar Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the Academy for Professional Family Mediators and the Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators.
Dr. Berz holds a PhD in Social Policy from the University of Tennessee, a JD from the Nashville School of Law, a MA in Administration from the University of Tennessee, and a BA in Human Services Management from the University of Tennessee, with additional studies at Emory University, Bryn Mawr College, the Drucker Institute, and Harvard University. In addition, she is an IFTA certified Personal Trainer, an AEA advanced trainer, and a YMCA certified instructor and trainer in aquatic sports training.
Elizabeth Appling | Erlanger Health
Elizabeth Appling is Chief Diversity Officer for Erlanger Health System where she has been employed for over 20 years. Previously, she held the position of Employee Relations Representative at Erlanger.
A 2019 graduate of Leadership Chattanooga, Elizabeth is President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga Chapter, Inc. She also serves on the Institute for Diversity in Health Management, National Association of Health Services Executives, Tennessee Hospital Association, Equity and Diversity Council, Bessie Smith Cultural Center, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated, Pi Omega Chapter.
Elizabeth’s awards and honors include UT College of Medicine Chattanooga 2015 Excellence in Equity Care Award; one of Becker’s Hospital Review 2016 “15 chief diversity officers to know at hospitals and health systems throughout the United States”, the NAACP Ruby Hurley 2017 Corporate Sponsor of the Year Award and the Outstanding Service Award from the Prince Hall Shriners.
Krissa Barclay | Hamilton County Schools Foundation
Krissa Barclay is the Executive Director of the Hamilton County Schools Foundation. She is from Winchester, TN, and is married to Marc Barclay, and has three children. She graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Nashville School of Law.
She is a member of the following organizations: Denim and Diamonds event committee benefiting the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, Any Given Child Membership with the Holmberg Arts Leadership Institute, Skyuka Hall Pack Pride Treasurer, Chattanooga Theatre Centre board member, and a member of the Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute and Mayor’s Council for Women.
Jenni Berz | Private Dispute Resolution Services, LLC
Jenni Berz is the Director of Services for Private Dispute Resolution Services, LLC, where she leads the Community Parenting Plan Initiative and directs the corporation’s education program, Prior to her current role, she served the Moccasin Bend Girl Scout Council, first as a Membership Manager, developing programs in outlying counties and later, as Director of Training, managing the volunteer training programs.
Jenni is a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga, a past-president of the North Chattanooga Council of the Chamber of Commerce and is a former board member of the Pet Placement Center. As a founding member of the Southeast Development District Advisory Council to the TN Economic Council on Women, Jenni worked to empower women to identify barriers to their best lives. Other leadership roles include former co-chair of the Mayor’s Council for Women Leadership Committee, co-chair of the Health Committee’s Fitness Workgroup and the MCW Policy Conference Steering Committee.
She is the Assistant Race Director for Magic Sports USA, where she contributes to the production of triathlon and running events across the Southeast, including a women’s only triathlon in Nashville, an event that symbolizes a day of empowerment, endurance, and personal triumphs, culminating in front of Nashville’s women’s suffrage monument.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Jenni is an avid runner and dedicates her time to volunteering with the Chattanooga Track Club, showcasing her commitment to both personal wellness and community engagement.
Jo Coke
Jo’s long career in the concrete industry led to her election as the first woman president of the American Concrete Institute, the organization producing codes and standards for concrete in this country and many others.
Retiring in Chattanooga in 2000, she became involved in cultural and nonprofit organizations. Jo has served as board member and president of the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Chattanooga History Center, and the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Guild. Currently she serves on the executive committee and board of the CSO; is AARP East Tennessee Team co-leader; and volunteers with the League of Women Voters.
Jo was a Chattanooga Woman of Distinction in 2008, and later an UnBought and UnBosed awardee.
Rosite Delgado | University of Tennessee Chattanooga
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Michelle Howard | Partnership for Families, Children & Adults
Michelle is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in diversity studies and more recently, she received a post graduate certificate in Trauma from UTK Department of Social Work. Her passion lies in victim services, where she currently serves as Hope Initiative Program Manager at Partnership for Families, Children and Adults. In this role, Michelle provides support services to parents and children who have experienced trauma due to violence, builds relationships with community partners, conducts training sessions for individuals and organizations, and manages a support team of 40+ volunteers who are dedicated in providing positive experiences for our youth. She also serves as chair of the state-wide Tennessee Commission on Children & Youth Parent Engagement Advisory Board and co-chair of the Mayor’s Council for Women’s Health Committee.
Jocelyn Loza | Girls Inc. of Chattanooga
Jocelyn Loza is a seasoned professional with two decades of experience in marketing, public relations, and fundraising. As the Chief Development Officer at Girls Inc. of Chattanooga, Jocelyn leverages her exceptional ability to build and nurture relationships which have been instrumental in advancing the organization’s mission.
Beyond her professional achievements, she is a passionate advocate for her women and girls, dedicating her time and resources. Through her work and personal efforts, Jocelyn continuously strives to create positive change and inspire others to do the same.
Regina McDevitt, M.Ed | Family Justice Center
Regina McDevitt is Executive Director for the Chattanooga Hamilton County Family Justice Center under the Office of Community Health for the City of Chattanooga. She has 26 years experience working in victim services, public speaking, program development, nonprofit management, community collaboration, trauma informed organization development, strategic planning, and leadership development. She holds a BA in Psychology and M.Ed. in Guidance/Counseling and is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Institute (Alliance for Strong Families and Communities and the University of Michigan). She was a recipient of the 2011 National Visionary Award (National Sexual Violence Resource Center) and various awards for advocacy efforts. She recently accepted the 2022 Alexander Hamilton Award from Legal Aid of East Tennessee for the FJC.
Regina has trained community leaders, educational institutions, social service agencies, communities of faith, health care providers, first responders, and military service personnel locally, nationally, and internationally. She serves on various state and local boards and was recently appointed to the Parkridge Health System Board of Trustees.
Beverly McKeldin | AfLAC
Beverly is an independent Benefits Advisor at the American Family Life Assurance Company (AFLAC), where she coordinates employee supplemental products for businesses across the states of Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina. Beverly worked for more than 20 years for the City of Chattanooga Human Services Department, first implementing the Foster Grandparent program, and later promoted to the Early Childhood Education Manager. She has served as state and local President of the Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare, and Southeast Council on Children and Youth.
Beverly is a member of several organizations and boards including Historian of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga Chapter, Inc., and the NCBW National Economic Empowerment Committee. She is presently co-chair of the Mayor’s Council for Women Empowerment Committee, Girls Incorporated Advance Committee and Ambassador for the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, and past board member of Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare. She is a previous honoree of the UnBought and UnBossed and SECCY Community Service awards. Beverly graduated from Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare/Public Relations.
Melody Shekari | Women's Fund of Greater Chattanooga
Kimberly Strong | Mayor's Office Liason
Kimberly Strong serves as the Constituent Services Manager for the Office of Mayor Tim Kelly. She is also the Mayor’s Office Liaison for the Mayor’s Council for Women supporting all committees and Councilwoman Carol Berz. Prior to her appointment with the Kelly Administration, she served 30 years with the City’s Department of Public Works and she remains active with the American Public Works Association serving as President Elect of the Tennessee Chapter. She has received award recognition for her community service efforts. Her most recent awards include the Roger Clark Award for Excellence in Public Works, twice awarded the W. Larry Eddins Award for Excellence within the Chapter, twice awarded Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year, received the Mayor’s Award of Excellent two times,Herocrat and an UnBought and UnBossed Girls Inc. Honoree, She is an Accreditation Program Evaluator Team Leader and served two terms as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Chairperson on the National level with the American Public Works Association. She is a certified speaker and has spoken throughout the United States and Canada on the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Rachel Dooley | City of Chattanooga
Rachel Dooley is a Digital Experience Engineer for the City of Chattanooga and has a passion for creating delightful online experiences. She transitioned into web development after a decade in customer service and higher education, driven by a passion for coding sparked during a career break. Rachel constantly builds her skills by learning new technologies and enjoys working on projects that bring digital products to life. Beyond coding, she designs custom garments and enjoys playing superheroes with her son.
Eve Nite | Erlanger Health
Eve graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and her 20 years of professional experience include direct service care as an in-home crisis counselor, clinical liaison with criminal justice systems, program creator and developer, outpatient and inpatient services regional director, non-profit founder, certified mental health trainer and advocate for consumers of mental health services. Eve is appointed by the Governor to the State Advisory Council on Suicide Prevention, committee co-chair of the Mayor’s Council on Women’s Health, Secretary of the PAIMI State Advisory Council for Disability Rights TN, and Founder and President of CIT Connect, a 501(c)3 non-profit. Eve currently works as Senior Business Development Manager for Erlanger bringing the region’s hospital systems together to streamline patient access for those most in need of help.
Stefanie Crowe
Carol Berz | Chairwoman, City Councilwoman
Focusing on solution-based, collaborative problem-solving, in both the public and private sectors, Carol Berz has been a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Listed General Civil and Family mediator and trainer for more than 25 years.
Dr. Berz is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Private Dispute Resolution Services, LLC, a mediation services and training organization headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She also serves as a Councilwoman for the City of Chattanooga, where she currently chairs the Budget and Finance Committee.
Through public/private partnerships, Dr. Berz has overseen the renaissance of commerce, economic development and connectivity in a diverse business environment that includes health care, construction, government, employment and finance.
Dr. Berz does extensive practice and teaching in both the public and private sector in the areas of mediation, law and ethics, and employment and labor/management issues relative to the costs of corporate conflict. She also is recognized as an authority in Family Mediation, with expertise in the special circumstance of domestic and workplace violence.
Formerly the Director of Forensic Services for Joseph W. Johnson Mental Health Center, and subsequently its Executive Director, Dr. Berz also has served as a visiting professor at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, teaching social policy, law and ethics. She is a Board Certified Diplomat in Clinical Social Work, with extensive post-doctoral training in mediation, law and conflict management system design.
Dr. Berz served as the Chair of the Curriculum and Continuing Education Committee of the Mediation Association of Tennessee before becoming its President. She also chaired the Mediation component of the Hamilton County Courts’ Pilot Project relative to Tennessee’s Parenting Plan law. She spent eleven years as a commissioner with the Chattanooga Human Rights/Human Relations Commission, dealing with employment and civil rights matters, becoming the first Chairwoman of that body.
Dr. Berz is a graduate of Leadership America in Washington, D.C., and former President of the Board of Directors of the Moccasin Bend Girl Scout Council. A member of the Tennessee Advisory Commission to the US Civil Rights Commission, she served on the Governor’s Task Force on Church Burnings. Dr. Berz also chaired the Tennessee Economic Council on Women and spearheaded its Economic Impact Committee.
Dr. Berz is former Chair of the Board of Managers of the Hamilton Family YMCA and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Chattanooga Metro YMCA, where she served on the Human Resources Committee. She is the 2004 recipient of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce Athena Award. Dr. Berz was honored by the City of Chattanooga for her unique contributions toward advancing equality of opportunity among its citizens. She currently chairs the Mayor’s Council for Women and the Advisory Board to the Family Justice Center.
Professional memberships include the Association for Conflict Resolution, the ADR Section of the American Bar Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the Academy for Professional Family Mediators and the Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators.
Dr. Berz holds a PhD in Social Policy from the University of Tennessee, a JD from the Nashville School of Law, a MA in Administration from the University of Tennessee, and a BA in Human Services Management from the University of Tennessee, with additional studies at Emory University, Bryn Mawr College, the Drucker Institute, and Harvard University. In addition, she is an IFTA certified Personal Trainer, an AEA advanced trainer, and a YMCA certified instructor and trainer in aquatic sports training.
Elizabeth Appling | Erlanger Health
Elizabeth Appling is Chief Diversity Officer for Erlanger Health System where she has been employed for over 20 years. Previously, she held the position of Employee Relations Representative at Erlanger.
A 2019 graduate of Leadership Chattanooga, Elizabeth is President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga Chapter, Inc. She also serves on the Institute for Diversity in Health Management, National Association of Health Services Executives, Tennessee Hospital Association, Equity and Diversity Council, Bessie Smith Cultural Center, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated, Pi Omega Chapter.
Elizabeth’s awards and honors include UT College of Medicine Chattanooga 2015 Excellence in Equity Care Award; one of Becker’s Hospital Review 2016 “15 chief diversity officers to know at hospitals and health systems throughout the United States”, the NAACP Ruby Hurley 2017 Corporate Sponsor of the Year Award and the Outstanding Service Award from the Prince Hall Shriners.
Krissa Barclay | Hamilton County Schools Foundation
Krissa Barclay is the Executive Director of the Hamilton County Schools Foundation. She is from Winchester, TN, and is married to Marc Barclay, and has three children. She graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Nashville School of Law.
She is a member of the following organizations: Denim and Diamonds event committee benefiting the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, Any Given Child Membership with the Holmberg Arts Leadership Institute, Skyuka Hall Pack Pride Treasurer, Chattanooga Theatre Centre board member, and a member of the Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute and Mayor’s Council for Women.
Jenni Berz | Private Dispute Resolution Services, LLC
Jenni Berz is the Director of Services for Private Dispute Resolution Services, LLC, where she leads the Community Parenting Plan Initiative and directs the corporation’s education program, Prior to her current role, she served the Moccasin Bend Girl Scout Council, first as a Membership Manager, developing programs in outlying counties and later, as Director of Training, managing the volunteer training programs.
Jenni is a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga, a past-president of the North Chattanooga Council of the Chamber of Commerce and is a former board member of the Pet Placement Center. As a founding member of the Southeast Development District Advisory Council to the TN Economic Council on Women, Jenni worked to empower women to identify barriers to their best lives. Other leadership roles include former co-chair of the Mayor’s Council for Women Leadership Committee, co-chair of the Health Committee’s Fitness Workgroup and the MCW Policy Conference Steering Committee.
She is the Assistant Race Director for Magic Sports USA, where she contributes to the production of triathlon and running events across the Southeast, including a women’s only triathlon in Nashville, an event that symbolizes a day of empowerment, endurance, and personal triumphs, culminating in front of Nashville’s women’s suffrage monument.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Jenni is an avid runner and dedicates her time to volunteering with the Chattanooga Track Club, showcasing her commitment to both personal wellness and community engagement.
Regina McDevitt, M.Ed | Family Justice Center
Regina McDevitt is Executive Director for the Chattanooga Hamilton County Family Justice Center under the Office of Community Health for the City of Chattanooga. She has 26 years experience working in victim services, public speaking, program development, nonprofit management, community collaboration, trauma informed organization development, strategic planning, and leadership development. She holds a BA in Psychology and M.Ed. in Guidance/Counseling and is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Institute (Alliance for Strong Families and Communities and the University of Michigan). She was a recipient of the 2011 National Visionary Award (National Sexual Violence Resource Center) and various awards for advocacy efforts. She recently accepted the 2022 Alexander Hamilton Award from Legal Aid of East Tennessee for the FJC.
Regina has trained community leaders, educational institutions, social service agencies, communities of faith, health care providers, first responders, and military service personnel locally, nationally, and internationally. She serves on various state and local boards and was recently appointed to the Parkridge Health System Board of Trustees.
Beverly McKeldin | AfLAC
Beverly is an independent Benefits Advisor at the American Family Life Assurance Company (AFLAC), where she coordinates employee supplemental products for businesses across the states of Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina. Beverly worked for more than 20 years for the City of Chattanooga Human Services Department, first implementing the Foster Grandparent program, and later promoted to the Early Childhood Education Manager. She has served as state and local President of the Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare, and Southeast Council on Children and Youth.
Beverly is a member of several organizations and boards including Historian of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga Chapter, Inc., and the NCBW National Economic Empowerment Committee. She is presently co-chair of the Mayor’s Council for Women Empowerment Committee, Girls Incorporated Advance Committee and Ambassador for the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, and past board member of Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare. She is a previous honoree of the UnBought and UnBossed and SECCY Community Service awards. Beverly graduated from Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare/Public Relations.
Kimberly Strong | Mayor's Office Liason
Kimberly Strong serves as the Constituent Services Manager for the Office of Mayor Tim Kelly. She is also the Mayor’s Office Liaison for the Mayor’s Council for Women supporting all committees and Councilwoman Carol Berz. Prior to her appointment with the Kelly Administration, she served 30 years with the City’s Department of Public Works and she remains active with the American Public Works Association serving as President Elect of the Tennessee Chapter. She has received award recognition for her community service efforts. Her most recent awards include the Roger Clark Award for Excellence in Public Works, twice awarded the W. Larry Eddins Award for Excellence within the Chapter, twice awarded Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year, received the Mayor’s Award of Excellent two times,Herocrat and an UnBought and UnBossed Girls Inc. Honoree, She is an Accreditation Program Evaluator Team Leader and served two terms as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Chairperson on the National level with the American Public Works Association. She is a certified speaker and has spoken throughout the United States and Canada on the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Jo Coke
Jo’s long career in the concrete industry led to her election as the first woman president of the American Concrete Institute, the organization producing codes and standards for concrete in this country and many others.
Retiring in Chattanooga in 2000, she became involved in cultural and nonprofit organizations. Jo has served as board member and president of the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Chattanooga History Center, and the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Guild. Currently she serves on the executive committee and board of the CSO; is AARP East Tennessee Team co-leader; and volunteers with the League of Women Voters.
Jo was a Chattanooga Woman of Distinction in 2008, and later an UnBought and UnBosed awardee.
Rachel Dooley | City of Chattanooga
Rachel Dooley is a Digital Experience Engineer for the City of Chattanooga and is passionate about creating delightful online experiences. She transitioned into web development after a decade in customer service and higher education, driven by a passion for coding that sparked during a career break to raise her son. Rachel constantly builds her skills by learning new technologies and enjoys working on projects that bring digital products to life. Beyond coding, she designs custom garments and enjoys playing superheroes with her son.
Eve Nite | Erlanger Health
Eve graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and her 20 years of professional experience include direct service care as an in-home crisis counselor, clinical liaison with criminal justice systems, program creator and developer, outpatient and inpatient services regional director, non-profit founder, certified mental health trainer and advocate for consumers of mental health services. Eve is appointed by the Governor to the State Advisory Council on Suicide Prevention, committee co-chair of the Mayor’s Council on Women’s Health, Secretary of the PAIMI State Advisory Council for Disability Rights TN, and Founder and President of CIT Connect, a 501(c)3 non-profit. Eve currently works as Senior Business Development Manager for Erlanger bringing the region’s hospital systems together to streamline patient access for those most in need of help.
Jocelyn Loza
Jocelyn Loza is a seasoned professional with two decades of experience in marketing, public relations, and fundraising. As the Chief Development Officer at Girls Inc. of Chattanooga, Jocelyn leverages her exceptional ability to build and nurture relationships which have been instrumental in advancing the organization’s mission.
Beyond her professional achievements, she is a passionate advocate for her women and girls, dedicating her time and resources. Through her work and personal efforts, Jocelyn continuously strives to create positive change and inspire others to do the same.
Melody Shekari
Michelle Howard | Hope Initiative Program Manager
Michelle is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in diversity studies and more recently, she received a post graduate certificate in Trauma from UTK Department of Social Work. Her passion lies in victim services, where she currently serves as Hope Initiative Program Manager at Partnership for Families, Children and Adults. In this role, Michelle provides support services to parents and children who have experienced trauma due to violence, builds relationships with community partners, conducts training sessions for individuals and organizations, and manages a support team of 40+ volunteers who are dedicated in providing positive experiences for our youth. She also serves as chair of the state-wide Tennessee Commission on Children & Youth Parent Engagement Advisory Board and co-chair of the Mayor’s Council for Women’s Health Committee.