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The Board of Directors

The primary function of the board of Mercy is to understand, pursue, and attain the stated mission of the organization.  In particular, this means:

1. To be active in board and committee meetings
2. Assume oversight of and approve all organizational policies, by-laws, and procedures
3. Ensure the financial well-being of the organization
4. Approval of the budget
5. Assist in the design and implementation of the strategic plan
6. Provide a positive representation and interpretation of Mercy in the community

We are grateful for this tremendous team that serves us so well!

Emmitt Beall – Chairman

I was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia.  After high school, I attended Lee University, a small, private, liberal arts college in Cleveland, Tennessee.  I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting while earning minors in Political Science and Christian Studies.

Upon graduation from Lee University in 2000, I moved to Nashville, Tennessee where I joined Crosslin & Associates, a public accounting firm.  I spent over five years with Crosslin in their attest services division performing financial statement audits.  In late 2005, I joined PivotHealth (a physician practice management company) as Controller and became the Chief Financial Officer in 2009. PivotHealth was acquired by The Advisory Board Company in August 2011, and I currently serve in the role of Chief Financial Officer for Southwind, a division of the Advisory Board Company.

I am married to Heidi (married in 2000), and we have three daughters.  Lily, Josephine (Josie) and Sylvia.  We attend Forest Hills Baptist Church. My hobbies include sailing, woodworking, and lots of outdoor activities (hunting, softball, running, etc.).

Jerry Bowen – Vice Chairman

I grew up in Chattanooga. I gave my “heart and soul” to God at a young age and got serious    about loving and serving Jesus when I was 23 years old. We moved to Franklin in 1986 after taking a job as a pharmaceutical sales rep. Now I am working for myself managing Real Estate that my wife, Christie, and I own. I have been married to Christie for 32 years and have two children:  Nathan and Lauren.

I enjoy all things outdoors, motorcycles, boating, fly fishing and hiking are the activities I spend most of my recreational time on. I love to build things! I am and Elder at Christ Community Church and have been since 1991.

Lance Bridgesmith – Secretary

Spouse:  Juliet
Children: Tess, Meg & Mac
Hometown: Born in Pontiac, Michigan but grew up in Goodlettsville, TN
Employer: Attorney with Miller & Martin PLLC
Church Affiliation: Christ Community Church
Hobby: Fly-fishing
How did you get involved with Mercy: I became involved in Mercy after hearing so much about the organization since its founding and more recently as a fellow church member and friend of David Winningham’s.

Emily Tant

Name:  Emily Tant
Spouse:  Mickey
Children:  Michael, Margaret, William, Lauren
Employer:  Homemaker, Homeschool Teacher
Hometown: Live in Franklin, TN. Originally from Valley Mills, TX
Church Affiliation: Covenant Presbyterian Church
Hobby: Books, Exercise, children (is that a hobby-that’s what I always do!) Natural Foods/Medicine

I first came in touch with Mercy when the Dobberpuhl’s invited us to a Birthday Dinner about 5 or 6 years ago.  I loved what I learned about Mercy, wanted to support the ministry and take my kids there as well.  We still love it!

Jack Lance

Name: Jack Lance
Spouse: Kim
Children: Shelby,Tyler, Travis
Employer: CEO Madgravity, LLC
Hometown: Memphis
Church Affiliation: Christ Community Church, Franklin
Hobby: golf, horses
Currently heading up social media company that manages communication for church youth leaders and small colleges. I am active in pursuing God’s plan for me after being a 2008 Cancer survivor and realizing I have many unaccomplished goals. My family and I have a small horse farm in Franklin.
What you’d like engraved on your tombstone: That God had allowed me enough days on this earth to have blessed more people than I have ever been bless by….

Ramon Presson

Ramon Presson is the founder of LifeChange Counseling Services and the Marriage Center of Franklin. A clinically certified (AAMFT) marriage & family therapist since 1987, graduated from Wake Forest University and completed his Master’s in counseling at Florida State University. He is currently working toward the completion of his doctorate in Christian counseling. Presson is also an ordained minister and served as assistant pastor in churches in NC, SC, FL, and TN.  Ramon is a regular columnist for the Williamson Herald newspaper and is the author or co-author of eleven books. His counseling website is www.LifeChangeCS.org and his author’s website is www.ramonpresson.com.  Ramon and his wife, Dorrie have two teenage sons and live in Thompson Station.

Dedrick Moulton, MD

Current Positions
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Program Director, Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Specialty
Gastroenterology, Pediatric
Board Certifications
Pediatric Gastroenterology – American Board of Pediatrics
M.D.
University of South Carolina, Columbia SC, 1995
Residency
Pediatrics Residency- Richland Memorial Hospital, Columbia SC
Fellowship
Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship-Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Patient Care Emphasis
Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease
Eosinophilia Esophagitis
Gastro esophageal reflux

Mirella Neely

Mirella was born and raised in California and moved to Nashville to attend Vanderbilt University. After graduation she stayed in the area and worked as a web developer. She married Mark in 2003 and moved to Franklin where they both became involved at Christ Community Church. Mirella is now a full-time mom to their three children. She brings her children to Mercy and loves the care they receive. Mirella enjoys volunteering with a ministry to moms of young children, traveling, baking and making crafts with her kids.

Scott Thompson

Scott has been involved with financial services since 1992 and, prior to joining Merrill Lynch in 2007, he spent 12 years with an asset management firm. He has extensive experience in developing customized wealth management, retirement planning and tax-sensitive strategies for affluent families, corporate executives, business owners and foundations. Scott provides clients with access to Merrill Lynch’s vast network of specialists to offer a wide range of financial services. And, as part of the Merrill Lynch PIA program, he has the flexibility to move quickly to make thoughtful changes to a client’s portfolio, if the client chooses to give him that discretionary option.

Scott’s dedication to the well-being of individuals extends to his service outside of the office: he is a volunteer worker for Habitat for Humanity, and serves on the Ambassador’s Circle of Centerstone, considered to be the nation’s largest provider of community-based behavioral health care. He has a B.S. in Finance from the University of Tennessee, in Knoxville. He and his wife, Paige, live in Brentwood, TN, with their two children, Collier and Carlie.

Ginny Dant

A Franklin native, graduated from Franklin High School & University of Tennessee, Knoxville (B.S. Biology), Tennessee Tech University (M.B.A.).   Plans to pursue a Doctorate in Public Health.  Past work experience in healthcare business with HCA, HealthTrust Purchasing Group & Mercy Health Services.  After 6 years with Mercy, Ginny has recently made the decision to stay at home with her children.

She currently resides in Leipers Fork with her family ~ husband Wally & 6 children. The 3 youngest boys are patients at Mercy.  Ginny attends Journey Church in downtown Franklin & in her spare time enjoys running, gardening, photography, reading & travel.

Veronica Pulley

Veronica Pulley is an SBA Loan Specialist, Small Business Consultant and an entrepreneur.  As a former Business Development Officer for U S Bank for ten years, and currently, as the owner of Office Options Small Business Development Services for the past two years, she has helped to start and build hundreds of successful small businesses throughout Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas.  In 2008, Ms. Pulley was named SBA “Lender of the Year” for the state of the Tennessee by the United States Small Business Association.

 Ms. Pulley attended Lipscomb and Belmont Universities, majoring in business administration and accounting. Ms. Pulley was born in Richmond, Virginia and is married to Audwin Pulley, her husband of 35 years.  They have a daughter, Gillian, who is majoring in psychology at Lipscomb University and a son, Todd, who recently finished three tours of duty in Iraq.  Her hobbies include singing and performing; playing and coaching women’s soccer; jogging, and tennis.

Jeff Wilson

 A native of Detroit, Michigan, Jeff Wilson has made the Nashville/Brentwood area his home for the last 8 years.  After graduating from Tennessee State University with a B.S. in Political Science, Jeff started his career with AT&T and completed a 14 year span with them in 2008 after holding various Sales and Management assignments ranging from Global Business Sales to Advertising & Marketing. Currently, Jeff is the Managing Director for Image One Marketing & Consulting in which he provides strategic insight to his clients in the areas of online marketing and managing their online reputations.

In his free time, Jeff enjoys spending time with his children (Jada 13 and Myles 11) and supporting their various sports and musical activities. He is also an avid golfer, softball and chess player as well. A strong believer in community service, Jeff serves as an Usher and member of the marketing team for his church, Mount Zion Baptist in Antioch.  He is also a member of the Board of Directors for “The” Brentwood Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity

Luis Sura

Name: Luis Sura
Spouse: Ana Laura Sura
Children: Aaron and Ingrid
Employer: I am the pastor of Iglesia de las Americas in Franklin, TN and have been there for four years
I graduated in 2005 with a bachelor degree (BA) in theology from the Baptist University of the Americas San Antonio.

Deanna Bell – Ex Officio

Deanna Bell serves as Mercy’s Chief Medical Officer. She has a special interest in children with chronic illness’ and pediatric emergency medicine.

A native Nashvillian, Dr. Bell received her BS at Belmont University, MD at East Tennessee State University and completing her residency at Vanderbilt University.

She and her husband enjoy water sports, gardening and travel. They attend Forrest Hills Baptist Church.

David Winningham – Ex Officio

David became the CEO of Mercy Health Services in January of 2008. He and his wife of 43 years, Diane, live in Franklin.  David attended Battle Ground Academy and graduated from the University of Memphis.  They have three children and eight grandchildren all living in the area.  David is an Elder Emeritus at Christ Community Church in Franklin.

 Before returning to Tennessee in late 2004 and starting the Macedonia Group Consulting firm, David and Diane lived in urban Philadelphia, PA for 8 years.  David served as Executive Director of Esperanza Health Center and was named “one of the Top Ten Non-Profit leaders in the Delaware Valley” by The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2003. David’s primary hobby is golf.

On my tombstone: Saved… But often lost.

Advisory Board of Directors

Recognizing that we don’t have all the answers, we’ve developed an Advisory Board.   This group of friends of Mercy play a very important role.

Vision Statement: To make Mercy Children’s Clinic visible in all spheres of the communities in which it serves.

Mission Statement: Advocating for Mercy Children’s Clinic through

• Networking MCC with personal contacts
• Events
• Personal involvement
• Being a resource for ideas and expertise

An Advocate:  One who writes or speaks on behalf of a person or organization; recommends publically.

Members are:

Bill Lee – The Lee Company

David Osborn – Vanderbilt University

Jack Wolf – Artist in Industry

Dick Gygi – Consultant

Sharon Ramsey – The Lampo Group

Peggy Franks – Boxwood Bistro

Brandy Blanton – Southern Exposure Magazine

Brad O’Shoney – Consultant

John Chambers, M.D. – Pediatric Associates of Franklin

Bob Hutchins – BuzzPlant Marketing, Inc.

Paul Bolin – Williamson Medical Center