Our Team

2023 DIRECTORS

Ava Allen

Ava Allen:
Director of Partnerships

Ava was born and raised in the heart of Nashville and by day works at Anecdote Architectural Experiences as an Interior Designer. (Read More)
Shanese Brown

Shanese Brown:
Co-Director of Programming

Shanese, a Nashville native, has always gravitated towards utilizing her creativity in various forms of art, design, and outreach. (Read More)
Veronica Foster

Veronica Foster:
Director of Communications

Veronica Foster is the Director of Communications for Nashville Design Week. Alongside the Brand Partner, she manages the ethos of NDW through external communication strategy. (Read More)
Katie Laughinghouse

Katie Laughinghouse:
Director of Operations

Katie grew up on the Jersey Shore and enjoys every Jersey stereotype thrown her way. Prior to moving to Nashville she lived, studied, and worked in Boston, MA. (Read More)
Stephanie Richardson

Stephanie Richardson:
Co-Director of Programming

Meet Stephanie Richardson, MBA, a veteran of the U.S Air Force, and a founding board member of the Nashville African American Wind Symphony. (Read More)
Ron Yearwood

Ron Yearwood:
Director of Strategy

Ron Yearwood is an Urban Designer and certified Planner with Barge Design Solutions in Nashville, TN. He has a strong interest in creating and envisioning more livable, better connected, and sustainable cities. (Read More)

2023 BRAND PARTNER

REX RUNYEON:
2023 BRAND PARTNER

Rex Runyeon Design Office is a strategic design and art direction studio based in Nashville, TN known for creating striking visual identity, packaging, illustration, and signage for clients who value design as a point of differentiation. As a native Nashvillian, Rex is proud to represent his city as Nashville Design Week’s Brand Partner for the second year in a row.

@rexrunyeon
rexrunyeon.com

Rex Runyeon

2023 VOLUNTEERS

Communications Team

Veronica Foster:
Director of Communications

Ahna Abuvala:
Brand Manager

Joana Vargas:
Content Coordinator

Simon Carr:
Web Developer / Manager

Daniel Meigs:
Photography

Kenny Stanley:
Web Specialist

Jonathan Wynn:
Storytelling Coordinator

Jayla Jackson :
Storytelling Coordinator

Strategy Team

Ron Yearwood:
Director of Strategy

Brennan Boose:
Strategic Coordinator

Nate Hutcheson:
Strategic Coordinator

Anna Petronella:
Strategic Coordinator

Emily Sherrod:
Strategic Coordinator

Andrea Valladares:
Strategic Coordinator

Operations Team

Katie Laughinghouse:
Director of Operations

Sierra Jensen:
People Manager

Haley Beckham-Shetty:
Event Specialist

Amanda Dease:
Event Specialist

Sameera Breese:
Volunteer Coordinator

Alexis McDowell:
Volunteer Coordinator

Nia Smith:
Volunteer Coordinator

Partnerships Team

Ava Allen:
Director of Partnerships

Alexandra Rowland:
Partnerships Manager

James Carroll:
Community Art Project Manager

Tiffanie Clegg:
Partnerships Coordinator

Kayla Thomas:
Partnerships Coordinator

Morgan Wisted:
Partnerships Coordinator

Joe Mayes:
Community Art Project Coordinator

Joseph Patrick:
Community Art Project Coordinator

Liza Rodriguez Madrid:
Community Art Project Coordinator

Programming Team

Shanese Brown:
Co-Director of Programming

Stephanie Richardson:
Co-Director of Programming

Andy Thompson:
Program Manager

Ryan Burnett:
Program Manager

Emmanuel LeGrair:
Programming Advisor

Reese Bailey:
Program Coordinator

Lindsay Chadwell:
Program Coordinator

Isabella Davis:
Program Coordinator

Katie Hawk:
Program Coordinator

Genma Holmes:
Program Coordinator

Kayla Kercher:
Program Coordinator

Anne-Marie Kildron:
Program Coordinator

Janine Martin:
Program Coordinator

Chelsea Rand:
Program Coordinator

Kalen Russell:
Program Coordinator

Halie Saldana:
Program Coordinator

Zach Saunders:
Program Coordinator

Grace Shoffner:
Program Coordinator

Nia Smith:
Program Coordinator

Quintin Watkins:
Program Coordinator

Dave Meaney:
Day-of Volunteer

Content Curators

Liza Rodriguez Madrid
Hunter Claire Rogers
Jayme Rose Jacobson
Mila Mitova
Kamilah Sanders
Kelly Diehl
Cymone Wilder

Maria Meyer
Tifinie Capehart
Reggie Wayne
LeXander Bryant
Andy Cho
Jasmin Williams

2023 BOARD

Julia Sweitzer:
Board Chair

Julia Sweitzer is a co-founder of Nashville Design Week and serves as Board Chair for the organization. (Read More)

Lindsay DeCarlo:
Co-Founder / Board Member

Lindsay DeCarlo currently serves as Vice President of Brand and Programming at AJ Capital Partners, where she leads brand strategy for emerging real estate investment platforms. (Read More)

Fuller Hanan:
Co-Founder / Board Member

Fuller is a Co-Founder, former Director, and current Board Member of Nashville Design Week. (Read More)

Elliott Roche:
Board Member

As the son of a serial entrepreneur father and an organizational guru mother, Elliott has been engaged in building and systematizing the world around him for most of his life. (Read More)

Kate O'Neil:
Board Member

It all started on the first day of a summer drawing course. Kate was completely shocked when the instructor wheeled in a TV and had the class watch the OutKast video “Hey Ya!” (Read More)

Katie Smalley:
Legal Counsel / Board Member

A Nashville native and avid supporter of the arts, Katherine (Katie) Smalley has been an active member of the NDW board of directors since 2021. (Read More)