Nashville State Community College Foundation announces 2019-2020 Board of Trustees
Today, the Nashville State Community College Foundation announced their 2019-2020 Board of Trustees. Beginning a three-year term, Greg Martz, Dr. Richard Rhoda, Deb Varallo, and Robert Sherill will join nineteen other board members.
“As the Board Chair of the Nashville State Community College Foundation, I am delighted to welcome these four distinguished leaders to the board,” said Joey Hatch, who retired in 2018 as an executive for Skanska USA and is a Nashville State Community College alum. “Together, we will help strengthen Nashville State’s efforts to expand access to higher education, promote student success, and further regional workforce and economic development for middle Tennessee.”
Greg Martz served as Plant Manager of the Chemours Johnsonville Plant from January 2012 until his recent retirement in April 2019. He joined DuPont in 1988 and stayed on when it became Chemours in July 2015. Greg has 31 years of service with DuPont and Chemours, including 21 years at the Johnsonville Plant. Prior to his current assignment, he was Plant Manager at DuPont’s Kuan Yin Plant in Taipei, Taiwan and Plant Manager of DuPont’s Mt Clemens Plant near Detroit, Michigan. Greg is very active in the community with a passion for education and workforce development. He currently serves as the Chair of the Humphreys County tnAchieves Advisory Council, has served on the board of the Humphreys County Chamber of Commerce, and has served as Chairman of the Board for the TN Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Greg was born in Salem, OH and he has a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Youngstown State University.
Dr. Richard (Rich) G. Rhoda retired in 2014 as executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, after serving in the post for 17 years. He dedicated his entire 40-year career to higher education in Tennessee, first joining the Tennessee Board of Regents staff as a graduate student. Over the course of his career, he served in the administration of Tennessee State University and was a member of the senior staff of the Tennessee Board of Regents. He held interim appointments as president of Nashville State Community College and Austin Peay State University, and as chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents. He also taught at Vanderbilt University as a full-time and adjunct professor. In post-retirement, Rhoda teaches as an adjunct professor for East Tennessee State University and directs the ETSU Center for Community College Leadership. He served as interim dean of the ETSU college of education in 2016-17. Rhoda earned a BA in History, MA in Education, and PhD in Higher Education Administration, all from Vanderbilt University.
Deborah Varallo, a Nashville native and graduate of Baylor University, founded Varallo Public Relations, a full-service marketing, public relations and crisis management firm in 1991. Deborah has been named to Nashville Post’s InCharge list since it was established and named to their All-Star Board. Deborah is a member of Society of Fellows for TEDxNashville and recognized by the YWCA of Middle Tennessee as a Woman of Achievement. She is a Mentor for the Leadership Catholic 2019 Class, and is president-elect of the International Women’s Forum – Tennessee Chapter. She is past board chair for Leadership Middle Tennessee, Leadership Nashville and is a graduate of Leadership Music. Additional boards included: The Women’s Fund, Catholic Charities of TN, YWCA of Middle Tennessee, Center for Nonprofit Management, and Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee. She was honored by the Women’s Political Collaborative of Tennessee for her community service.
Robert Sherrill is the President & CEO of Imperial Cleaning Systems (ICS), a growing commercial cleaning, restoration and janitorial company based in Nashville, Tennessee. With over 12 years’ experience in the industry, Robert is certified as a MBE/DBE and works to educate others on the necessary processes to grow businesses and contracts. As an entrepreneur and small business owner, Robert has been recognized through several awards, including “Stay On The Go’s 40 Under 40”, Nashville’s Black Chamber of Commerce’s “Rising Star”, and Power Moves’ “Best in Entrepreneurship 2018.” In addition to his work with ICS, Robert is Vice President of The Winner’s Circle, a Nashville-based entrepreneur mastermind group, co-founder of theLAB Nashville, and travels the country as a motivational speaker.
“It is an honor to work with this dynamic group of business, industry and thought leaders to further our mission of empowering all students to achieve their dreams,” said Lauren Bell, Executive Director of Development, Public Affairs & Creative Services for Nashville State Community College Foundation. “Each member of our Board of Trustees is deeply committed to ensuring all students have the resources needed to be successful and thrive in our community.”
The full list of 2019-2020 NSCC Foundation Board of Trustees is as follows:
- Joey Hatch (retired), Board Chair
- Vic Alexander, Kraft CPAs
- Scott Brisson, UBS
- Ginna Burrell, Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin, PLLC
- The Honorable Bob Clement, Clement & Associates
- Kathy Cloninger, Girl Scouts of the USA, CEO Emeritus Chad Custer, Nelson Mazda
- Nancy Eisenbrandt, Nashville Chamber of Commerce Stephen Francescon, Piedmont Natural Gas
- Paula Harris, Barge Design Solutions
- Chef Max Knoepfel, Music City Center
- Greg Martz, Chemours (retired)
- Jovonna Palmer, community volunteer
- Randy Rayburn, Midtown Café/Cabana
- Rich Rhoda, Tennessee Higher Education Commission (retired)
- Robert Sherrill, Imperial Cleaning Systems
- Laquita Stribling, Randstad USA
- Nick Taras, Sysco Nashville (retired)
- Deb Varallo, Varallo Public Relations
- Jennifer Way, Way Solutions
- Kelly West, Dell EMC
- Rod West, Dollar General Corporation
- Derek Young, YMG Enterprises
