TABL CONFERENCE BROCHURE

JUNE 15 - 17




HILTON NASHVILLE DOWNTOWN | MCKISSACK ROOM 3

TABL LOCATION:
CONFERENCE
ITINERARY Hilton Downtown Nashville

121 4th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201

Mckissack Room 3

CLE SESSIONS JOINT EVENTS

Thursday, June 16th Thursday, June 16th
Session I: 9:30am-11:30am 12-1:30 pm - Bench Bar
Racial Injustice: Wrongful Convictions in Luncheon with Speaker Judge
Bernice B. Donald ($100)
the Black Community Discussion 5-6pm - Bench Bar Reception
in Prefunction/Boone/Crockett

($40)

Session II: 1:45pm - 3:45pm:
SOCIAL EVENTS
Black Excellence: Building and
Maintaining Your Brand Wednesday: pH Craft Cocktails


Thursday: WKND Hang Suite

Session III: 4pm-5pm: Friday: SOHO House
Ethics Hour with TLAP



Friday, June 17th
Session IV: 9am-11am:

"Inherently Oppressed": Critical Race
Theory in Law & Education



Session V: 2pm-4pm:
The Great Replacement Theory & the
White Washing of America

STAY UP TO DATE!

@tablawyers

MORE INFORMATION:

[email protected]

WEDNESDAY | JUNE 15TH
6PM - 8PM

PH CRAFT COCKT
AILS

MCOoDnEfRerAeTnOceRS

SIMONE JOHN R.
MARSHALL HAYES MANSON

SIMONE MARSHALL HAYES

Simone Marshall Hayes is a Barbadian-born, Nashville-raised lawyer who advocates
for the marginalized. As an immigrant to America and a child of the deep South, she
saw first-hand the hurdles and the hoops that Black and Brown people have to jump

through to be appreciated and elevated in society. Over time, her academic
research and work in the community has created an unquenchable passion for voting
rights and has made her a proponent of equity in the communities she finds herself in.

Simone currently works in the Nashville District Attorney’s Office, where she began
her career. However, in 2019, Simone and her loving husband Garrison got married
and moved to Washington, D.C., where Simone worked at the Office of the Attorney
General for the District of Columbia. In July 2021, Simone and Garrison realized they
wanted to be closer to family and relocated to Nashville. Simone currently serves as
an Assistant District Attorney in Criminal Court—Division Two, where she has the honor
of resolving a myriad of felony-level cases—primarily domestic violence cases. She

serves her community in a number of ways, but notedly:




Simone is on the Board of the Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers as the chair of

the Political Action Committee; serves on the Napier Looby Bar Association Executive
Committee as Recording Secretary and Co-Chair of the Judicial and Legislative

Affairs Committee and is an Officer of the National Bar Association, Young Lawyers
Division where she serves as Historian. Aside from Voting Rights, community

engagement, and Domestic Violence advocacy, Simone loves traveling, stationery,
church, tennis, good vegan food and ice cream.

JOHN MANSON

John R. Manson is Special Counsel in the firm’s Nashville office. He
previously served as the Presiding Night Court Magistrate for Nashville-
Davidson County. A Nashville native, John earned his Bachelor’s Degree

in Music Performance from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, and his
Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law.



He has additional judicial experience, serving as Special Master and
law clerk for Eighth Circuit Court for eight years, and Special Probate

Master for Seventh Circuit Court for three years, both in Davidson
County, TN.



Mr. Manson is a former faculty member of the National Judicial Institute
on domestic violence, a past member of the Harry Phillips American Inn
of Court, and is a past president of the Napier-Looby Bar Association,

the Nashville affiliate chapter of the National Bar Association.


In a d d it io n t o h is le g a l p u r s u it s , M r . M a n s o n is a n a c c o m p lis h e d

musician and occasionally performs at various venues around Nashville.



He is a past President of the Nashville Symphony Chorus, and is a
member of the Cathedral Choir at Christ Church Cathedral Episcopal

Church.

CLE SESSION I

RACIAL INJUSTICEWrongful nConvictions in the Black Community

SUNNY EATON JASON GICHNER

Conviction Review Unit Director Senior Legal Counsel
Davidson Co. DA's Office Tennessee Innocence Project

JUNE HILTON NASHVILLE DOWNTOWN
MCKISSACK ROOM 3
16th 9:30 AM-11:30 AM

CLE SESSION I

RACIAL INJUSTICEWrongful nConvictions in the Black Community

According to a report by the University of Michigan Law
School, Black people are seven times more likely to be
wrongfully convicted of murder, 3.5 times more likely to be
innocent than a white sexual assault convict and 12 times
more likely to be wrongfully convicted of drug possession.
Moreover, according to the Innocence Project, it takes
longer to exonerate a Black person from their wrongful
conviction. Sunny Eaton, Conviction Review Unit Director at
the Nashville District Attorney’s Office, and Jason Gichner,
Innocence Project Senior Legal Counsel, have played vital
roles in the most recent exonerations in Nashville, Tennessee
—specifically, in the exoneration of Joyce Watkins and
Charlie Dunn, individuals who were wrongfully convicted of
the rape and murder of Watkins’ great-niece in 1988. Both
Eaton and Gichner have gained national attention for their
hard work. They will have a chance to explain their work on
wrongful convictions, the role that racial bias plays in those
convictions as well as the ins and outs of exonerations.

SUNNY EATON

Conviction Review Unit Director
Davidson Co. DA's Office

Sunny Eaton has been an award-winning trial lawyer for 14 years.
After spending four years as a Public Defender, in 2013 she

opened her own criminal defense law firm and was soon after
awarded the TN Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers “Trial

Advocacy Award.”



Sunny has taught courses in Criminal Law & Procedure, Trial
Advocacy, Evidence and is a sought-after public speaker. She
has published articles in several magazines and has co-authored

a book related to her 2-year road trip through Canada, the
United States, Mexico and Central America.



In 2020, she took leadership of the Nashville District Attorney's
Conviction Review Unit and since that time the unit has moved to


v a c a t e c o n v i c t i o n s i n f i v e c a s e s .

JASON GICHNER

Senior Legal Counsel
Tennessee Innocence Project

Jason Gichner is a veteran litigator who has spent his career fighting
for clients in the courtroom. Prior to joining the Tennessee Innocence

Project, Jason was a Partner at Morgan & Morgan, where he
supervised the injury department and focused on complex litigation.
Jason received his undergraduate degree with Honors from Colgate
University before graduating from Vanderbilt University Law School.



Upon graduation from Vanderbilt, Jason joined the Office of the
Metropolitan Nashville Public Defender. As a senior trial attorney and
Team Leader, he represented thousands of clients and tried numerous
jury cases to verdict. He is a Fellow of the Nashville Bar Association,
graduate of the Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law Program

and is a member of the Harry Phillips American Inn of Court.



He served as an Associate Editor of The Tennessee Tort Letter and is
a former member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the Middle


D i s t r i c t o f T e n n e s s e e . J a s o n i s c o n s i s t e n t l y n a m e d t o t h e a n n u a l l i s t o f
Super Lawyers for the Mid-South and received recognition from the
Tennessee Supreme Court for pro bono service. Additionally, Jason is

an Adjunct Professor of Law at Vanderbilt University Law School.

CLE SESSION II

BLACK EXCELLENCE

Building and Maintaining Your Brand

HON.ANGELITA JIMMIE STRONG AFTAN STRONG

BLACKSHEAR DALTON Entrepreneur Founder & Managing Member

Criminal Court Division II Associate General Counsel, Rally.io The Family Law Firm, LLC

Davidson County President, The Advisory Incorporated

JUNE HILTON NASHVILLE DOWNTOWN

16th MCKISSACK RO
OM 3

1:45 PM-3:45 PM

CLE SESSION II

BLACK EXCELLENCE

Building and Maintaining Your Brand

This new era of social media brings new ways for lawyers to
network and market themselves. While social media can be

extremely helpful, it has the potential to be equally as
harmful. We have all seen how just one social media posting

by a member of a business or an unhappy customer can
tarnish a business’ name.



Not only is a lawyer’s reputation online important; but so is
their reputation in practice and in court. One wrong move in

either venue can ruin a lawyer’s long-time, hard-earned
reputation. Judge Dalton will provide her insight as to
courtroom decorum and professionalism, while Aftan and
Jimmie Strong will provide their insight into social media—
both personal and business—and how it plays into a more

fruitful practice of law.

HON.ANGELITA
BLACKSHEAR DALTON

Criminal Court Division II
Davidson County

Angelita Blackshear Dalton is the judge in DivisionII of the Davidson CountyCriminal
Court. Judge Dalton was initially appointed to the position by Tennessee Governor Bill
Haslam in November 2017, and elected to retain the seat in August 2018, becoming the
first African American woman to serve on the Criminal Court bench in Davidson County,
Tennessee. Dalton was first elected to the Davidson County General Sessions Court in
2006, becoming the first African American woman elected to a judgeship in Davidson
County. She was re-elected on the General Sessions bench for a second term in 2014.



Prior to assuming the bench, Dalton served in various positions with the Davidson

County District Attorney General’s Office from 1997 through 2005, including a
specialized assignment on the domestic violence prosecution team.



Since assumingthe bench, Judge Dalton has actively worked,both inside the courtroom
and in the community, to ensure efficiency in the courts. In 2010 and 2017, she was

elected among her peers to serve as Presiding Judge of the DavidsonCounty General
SessionsCourt. In that role, she was responsible for the administrative operations of the

court. She co-chaired the Court Operations Committee of the Nashville Domestic
Violence Safety Assessment, which was a collaborative effort with stakeholders in the

General Sessions Court operations that oversawthe implementation of docket re-
structuring to help the General SessionsCourt system operate more efficiently,
specifically as it relates to handling cases involving domestic violence.


Judge Dalton is currentlyworking alongside RetiredJudge Seth Norman and the


Nashville Drug Court Support Foundation to open Tennessee’s first Women’s Residential

Recovery Court to address the specific needs of female non-violent felony offenders
by providing intensive substance abuse and co-occurring treatment services.



Judge Daltonis an Adjunct Instructor at the Nashville School of Law where she teaches
the General Sessions Court Practicum.

HON.ANGELITA
BLACKSHEAR DALTON CONT.

Criminal Court Division II
Davidson County



Judge Daltonpreviously served on the Education Committee and was elected Vice
President of the Tennessee General Sessions Judges' Conference. She currently serves

on the Tennessee Domestic Violence State Coordinating Council. She holds
memberships in the Napier-Looby, Nashville and Tennessee Bar Associations, the
Lawyers'Association for Women, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,Incorporated, and the
Links, Incorporated. Through the Links, Incorporated, Judge Dalton organized and
facilitated Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Awareness and Bullying Prevention
seminars for high school and college students. She has served on the Tennessee Board
of Judicial Conduct and the Tennessee Committee on the Judiciary Leadership. She
served on the steering committee and was a charter member of the Belmont University
College of Law American Inn of Court. She is currently a Barrister member of the Harry
Phillips American Inn of Court. Judge Dalton was selected among lawyers across

Tennessee to the Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law Class of 2007.



Judge Dalton and her family are members of Greater Bethel African Methodist
Episcopal Church where she served on the Board of Trustees and actively participates
in the Room in the Inn and Meals on Wheels ministries. While at Greater Bethel, Judge
Dalton implemented a ministry devoted to helping children in the community prepare

for the school year by providing backpacks and school supplies.



A native of Nashville, Judge Dalton graduated from Whites Creek High School in 1989.
She received a Bachelor of Arts Degreein English from Lane Collegein 1993 and her
Juris Doctor Degreefrom the University of Toledo College of Law in 1997.





Judge Daltonand her husband, Derrick Dalton,are the parents of one son, Ryan.

AFTAN STRONG

Founder & Managing Member
The Family Law Firm, LLC

Aftan Strong is the Founder and Managing Member of The Family Law
Firm, PLLC. Aftan sees her work as much more than the provision of

legal services. As a family lawyer, she feels a sense of commitment to
bettering the lives of all children and families in the cities in which
The Family Law Firm operates. Her commitment to service has led her

to serve as campaign strategist to a candidate for Juvenile Court
Judge, a role in which she hopes to serve one day.



In addition to Aftan’s commitment to her community, she is committed
to others who see family law as more than a profession, attorneys who

view their roles as family lawyers as a calling. Aftan has created a
licensing model for family lawyers who want to leverage The Family

Law Firm’s brand, systems, resources, and mentorship to deliver
excellent legal services to their clients and added value to their

communities.



Aftan is both an attorney and a mental health professional and
represents a host of individual therapists and companies providing

mental health services. Aftan advises counselors, social workers,
psychologists, and psychiatrists all over Tennessee and speaks at

mental health conferences regarding counseling and the law.




A f t a n e a r n e d a B a c h e l o r o f A r t s i n M e d i c i n e , H e a l t h a n d S o c i e t y f r o m

Vanderbilt University, a Master of Science in Counseling and Forensic
Psychology from William James College, and a Juris Doctor from
Belmont University. Aftan resides in Memphis, Tennessee, with her
husband, Jimmie, and their son, Jettsen.

JIMMIE STRONG

Entrepreneur

Associate General Counsel, Rally.io

President, The Advisory Incorporated

Jimmie is Associate General Counsel at Rally.io. Rally empowers creators with the
ability to launch and build their own digital economies, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs.
Prior to Rally, Jimmie served as the Chief Legal Officer of Rosmar USA and helped
bring Grupo Rosmar, a 40-year-old, Mexico City-based disinfection and sanitization
titan to the United States. Prior to Rosmar, Jimmie served as outside counsel to at
Baker Donelson, where he ran practiced in the firm's mergers and acquisitions, venture
capital, corporate finance, and securities practices.


Jimmie is the President of The Advisory Incorporated. Through The Advisory, Jimmie
serves as transactional counsel and business advisor to a host of venture capital funds,
private equity funds, family offices, athletes, entertainers, and entrepreneurs. Jimmie is
on the Board of Directors of PRSM Healthcare, the exclusive referral management
company for GastroHealth, one of the nation's fastest growing medical practices.
Jimmie is on the Board of Directors of MMCV, Inc., a venture capital investment holding
company and wholly owned subsidiary of Meharry Medical College.


In addition to Jimmie’s legal work, Jimmie is a serial entrepreneur. Jimmie is the
President of Elite Construction Contractors & Design, a construction management
company that specializes in the design, development, and building of commercial real
estate and experience residences (homes with gyms, driving ranges, bowling alleys,
batting cages, and more). Jimmie is an NFLPA certified agent and a partner in the ESQ
Agency, a talent management agency that represents athletes in all sports, writers,
producers, and other creative artists. Jimmie is the President of NAREFCO (National
Refrigeration Company), a refrigeration repair and maintenance company and
preferred vendor of General Electric, Samsung, LG, and Asurion in the Southeast and
Midwest.



Jimmie is a graduate of Morehouse College and Harvard Law School. Jimmie believes
that God's call on his life is to build relationships. The purposes of his relationship
building efforts are, first, to unlock potential that does not surface in isolation and,
second, to give that potential the opportunity to change lives, create destinies, and
advance the Kingdom.


Jimmie resides in Memphis, Tennessee, with his wife, Aftan, and their son, Jettsen.

CLE SESSION III

The Professional Duty of Self-Care

BUDDY STOCKWELL

Executive Director

Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program

JUNE HILTON NASHVILLE DOWNTOWN
MCKISSACK ROOM 3
16th
4:00 PM-5:00
PM

CLE SESSION III

The Professional Duty of Self-Care

This presentation focuses on mental health challenges that
many lawyers experience, emphasizes that self-care is

becoming more and more important in the profession, and
offers real solutions on wellness and mindfulness strategies

to lower the risk of developing mental health issues.

BUDDY STOCKWELL

Executive Director
Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program

Buddy Stockwell was appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court on July 1,
2020, as the new Executive Director of the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance
Program (TLAP). Stockwell comes from south Louisiana where he has been a
volunteer and program monitor for the state’s Committee on Alcohol and Drug
Abuse since 1993, and the Executive Director of Louisiana's comprehensive
Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program (JLAP) peer professionals' program for
the last ten years. He is a Certified Clinical Interventionist through “Love First”
training at the Betty Ford Center and has personally been in recovery from
alcoholism for over 37 years. Over the years he has supported hundreds of bar
members, bar applicants, and family members of the bar with a wide range of

substance use disorders and mental health issues.



Stockwell earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Louisiana
State University in 1989 and a Juris Doctor degree from LSU Law School in 1993.

Post-law school, he practiced in both large and small firm settings, but
ultimately opened a solo practice in Baton Rouge where he focused heavily on
domestic litigation until 2004 when he sold his Baton Rouge law office, home,


and vehicles and he and his wife, M elissa, moved aboard a large catamaran

and sailed the seas for six years, covering 19,000 nautical miles. Stockwell is a
U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Captain and seasoned ocean mariner. He also

served in the Navy prior to college. He is dedicated to TLAP's mission and very
excited to serve the Tennessee Supreme Court, the TLAP Commission, and
stakeholders in the profession as the new TLAP Executive Director.

HThuarspdapyyNigHhtour

THURSDAY 5 PM- 7 PM

MINERVA

1002 Buchanan Street

CLE SESSION IV: "INHERENTLY OPPRESSED"
CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN LAW & EDUCATION

ARLENE AMARANTE ASHLEY UPKINS, ESQ. DR. LOUIS WOODS
Associate Professor of
Associate Professor of Founding Partner, African-American History &
Law, Lincolon Memorial The Cochran Firm Presidential
University, Duncan School Fellow for Social Justice and
Nashville
of Law Equality @MTSU




JUNE HILTON NASHVILLE DOWNTOWN
MCKISSACK ROOM 3
17th 9AM-11AM

CLE SESSION IV: "INHERENTLY OPPRESSED"
CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN LAW & EDUCATION

Critical Race Theory has been a hot topic recently. Seeing
the reoccurring change in our school curriculum—from

banning books to topics—we need to equip ourselves with
the knowledge necessary to help us educate ourselves fully
and implement change. Garrison Hayes has used his social

media platform to speak in favor of the importance of
Critical Race Theory. Dr. Woods plays an instrumental role

in the education of African-American history on the
collegiate level. Finally, as a local lawyer and mother of
one, Ashley Upkins, brings a legal and parental perspective.

ARLENE AMARANTE

Associate Professor of
Law, Lincolon Memorial

University, Duncan
School of Law

Arléne Amarante is an Assistant Professor of Law at Lincoln Memorial University,
where she teaches Legal Writing, Immigration Law, Asylum and Refugee Law,

and Critical Race Theory. She is a first-generation American whose parents are
from a pueblo in Durango, Mexico, where she spent much of her childhood. She

received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
(UNLV) and completed her legal studies at the Shepard Broad Law Center at

Nova Southeastern University. Most recently, in the summer of 2020, Arléne
received her Master of Science in Social Justice and Community Action from the
University of Edinburgh. Before she moved to Knoxville in the Fall of 2017, Arléne
was a practicing immigration attorney in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she mostly

represented asylum-seekers in their deportation proceedings.

ASHLEY UPKINS, ESQ.

Founding Partner,
The Cochran Firm Nashville

Attorney Ashley L. Upkins is the Managing Partner of The Cochran Firm - Nashville, LLC,
where she represents clients in a variety of personal injury and defective construction

cases. Ms. Upkins is known as a fighter by her clients and colleagues, and she is a
feared contender within the courtroom. 'There is no fight too big for justice," says Ms.
Upkins. She is an award-winning leader who continues to build her community outside
of the courtroom, along with her dynamic team at The Cochran Firm - Nashville, by

imparting her strong charitable values into her firm's culture.



Ashley L. Upkins is a born and bred Nashvillian, where she earned her undergraduate
degree from Vanderbilt University. Following her studies at Vanderbilt, Ms. Upkins

worked for a Fortune 50 company assisting in the business acquisition of mid-level IT
companies. She followed up that success and later became a proud member of the
Inaugural Class of Belmont University College of Law. While there, she was the founding
president of Belmont Law's Black Law Students Association. Always determined to join
an organization aimed at promoting justice in the law, she committed her time and
talents to the National Bar Association where she now holds a position as a national

board member.



Ms. Upkins is open about her personal journey as a young working mom achieving her
dreams no matter what and shares her journey often in hopes of inspiring other young
women to push forward. Ms. Upkins exemplifies the words, "You should be the change

you wish to see in the world." She is a savvy business leader and a popular legal
analyst that took a stand against fraudulent scammers following the devastating

tornadoes that demolished many parts of Middle Tennessee in March 2020.



Ms. Upkins continues to trailblaze on her mission to bring justice and a greater
purpose to her community. Ms. Upkins is one of the founding members of 260 Change
Fund which is a giving circle composed of young people of color seeking to invest time,
talent, treasure, and testimony to uplift their communities. Her charitable efforts do not
stop at home. Ms. Upkins has traveled across the world acting as a legal advocate to


those who are unable to afford help. As a result of her hard work, Ms. Upkins received

numerous awards including the Jean-Marie Sylla, Jr. Legacy Award; one the NBA's own
respected and remarkable legends. She successfully spearheaded programs focused

on the women's pay equality, young attorney development and affordable housing
issues, just to name a few. In 2019, Ashley L. Upkins was elected as the National Bar
Association Secretary and earned the Nation's Best Advocates 40 under 40 Award. In
2021, during her second term as NBA Secretary, Ms. Upkins received the President’s
Award from NBA Past President Tricia Hoffler. Ms. Upkins is honored to be a part of the

legacy of Mr. Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. to ensure that justice marches on.

DR. LOUIS WOODS

Associate Professor of African-American
History & Presidential

Fellow for Social Justice and Equality
at MTSU




Dr. Louis Woods is an Associate Professor of African-American History and the
Presidential Fellow for Social Justice and Equality at Middle Tennessee State

University (MTSU). Graduating Phi Beta Kappa, Dr. Woods received his B.A.
degree in Africana Studies from SUNY Stony Brook. He obtained his M.A. and
Ph.D. in African American History from Howard University. Dr. Woods’ research
has appeared in several academic journals including: Journal of Urban History,

Journal of African American History, Health Promotion Practice, and The
American Journal of Economics and Sociology, and the Journal of North
Carolina Association of Historians. During his time at MTSU Dr. Woods has also
been the Africana Studies Program Director and President of the Black Faculty

and Staff Association.

CLE SESSION V

THE GREAT REPLACEMENT THEORY

GARRISON JERRY L. P. DANIELLE DR. LOUIS
HAYES MAYNARD II NELLIS WOODS

JUNE HILTON NASHVILLE DOWNTOWN
MCKISSACK ROOM 3
17th
2 PM-4 PM

CLE SESSION V

THE GREAT REPLACEMENT THEORY

With the most recent attacks on the Black community—
specifically, the 2022 mass shooting at Tops Friendly Market

in Buffalo, NY—we are hearing more and more about the
“great replacement theory.” While this may seem like a new

theory to some, the great replacement theory predates
slavery. The great replacement theory is a conspiracy that

states that migration, the demographical and economic
growth, and increase in population of non-whites are all
plots to undermine or replace the power of white people. P.
Danielle Nellis will bring her legal prospective and join with

Garrison Hayes and Dr. Woods on the discussion of the
great replacement theory and its reoccurring, mass attack

on the Black community.

GARRISON HAYES

Garrison Hayes is a creator, speaker and Diversity, Equity &. Inclusion professional who
helps leaders and organizations amplify stories that will change the world.



Recently honored as one of Mogul’s Top 100 DEI Leaders of 2021, Garrison is a member
of the dynamic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team at Greenhouse Software. There, he
works collaboratively to elevate DE&I practices both inside Greenhouse Software and

with their partners.



With over 260,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram, Garrison has emerged as an
influential voice at the intersection of current events, culture and antiracism. Garrison’s
innovative storytelling situates the headlines of today within the historical context that
informs them. His content has garnered the attention of millions, landing him features in

several publications and partnerships with top organizations like USA Today, the
Smithsonian Institution, Amazon Music, Purex and more!



When not speaking or creating, Garrison enjoys spending time with his family and on


the golf course with his lovely wife, Simone.

P. DANIELLE NELLIS

Danielle is an attorney by training, teacher by calling and blessed to combine a myriad set of
skills to train, consult, encourage, and motivate others.



Danielle began her legal practice as a solo practitioner where she focused on diligent,
effective and affordable criminal defense and representation in child custody/support
matters. Building a business from the ground up, Danielle zealously represented clients at what
was often their lowest point. Danielle quickly recognized the need to look not just at the issue
the client immediately faced, but instead at root causes to provide holistic support and

connection to services.



Following her solo practice, Danielle joined the Office of the District Attorney General where
she served as an Assistant District Attorney. There she gained significant experience

prosecuting domestic violence and felony cases in both General Sessions and the Circuit and
Criminal Courts.

As an Assistant DA, Danielle also administered the intern program and worked actively to
increase diversity within the Office and connect the Office with the community it served.



Prior to joining Klein Solomon Mills, PLLC, Danielle served as Judicial Law Clerk for the
Honorable Angelita Blackshear Dalton in the Davidson County Criminal Court. This role


allowed her to master not only criminal law as a subject matter, but also gain invaluable

insight into the impact of effective advocacy and the implementation of policy for the
effective management of cases.

At KSM, Danielle looks to bring her significant trial experience, solution-oriented perspective
and years of relationship building to pursue client interests and meet client needs. As Counsel,
Danielle works on the Litigation Team while also developing training and conducting policy
review to support business needs in areas including DEI, Culture Shift, Employee Relations, and

other best practices.

JERRY L. MAYNARD II

Jerry L. Maynard, II is best known for his ability to get things done. More notable is his
passion for the people of Nashville/Davidson County that has been evident in his
advocacy efforts to expand Nashville’s tax base while providing opportunities for

success for all Nashvillians. Jerry has been a champion for small, women, and minority-
owned businesses because of a core belief that small businesses are the economic
engine of any thriving city.


After eight years of serving as council member-at-large and focused attention in the
areas of budget and finance, education, healthcare and economic development,
Maynard embarked on a new venture, opening The Maynard Group, with the critical
focus of developing and creating economic success for all.


During his tenure as a countywide, elected oLcial in the largest city in the State of
Tennessee, Maynard was a crucial lead and sponsored various legislation and
programs that saw great success and was even responsible for changing the
landscape of Nashville.

JERRY L. MAYNARD II
CONT.





This includes:
· Metro Small Business Growth Act, the Diversity And Inclusion Act, and the Metro
Workforce Development Program. Each of these provided a foundation for women,
minority, and small business owners resulting in over $200 million in contracting for
Metro/Nashville and public/private partnership from 2010 to present. Securing nearly
$600 million for the Music City Center – Nashville’s 2.1 million square foot convention
center – located in the heart of downtown. “Yes to Sulfur Dell” grassroots campaign,
which led to the successful securing $75 million for the construction of the First
Tennessee Park – the new home of the Nashville Sounds Minor League Baseball Team –
in the Capital District. Legislation that created Metro Employee Healthcare Incentive
Act, which led to $20 million in new revenue for General Hospital and saved Metro
millions of dollars in healthcare costs for their employees. This Act continues to
generate $5 million annually to General Hospital. Affordable Housing Incentive Act
· Securing more than $10 million in funding for the National Museum of African
American Music (NMAAM). Securing nearly $500,000 for Tennessee State University’s
John Merritt Classic. Led in the development of the 28th Street Connector (now named
The Francis S. Guess Connector), which now connects North and West Nashville for the
fIrst time in 45 years . Worked to develop the Jubilee Bridge and secure $850,000 in
funding for the Gateway to Heritage, which is now a pleasing entry way into the
Fisk/Meharry area in North Nashville




In his role here at The Maynard Group, he uses his keen abilities to solve problems,

foster development, forge valuable partnerships and shape strategies for effective
communication on behalf of clients. As a public servant, pastor, and consultant,

Maynard’s hard work, vast experience, success and influence allows him to lead The
Maynard Group to continued success for our clients.

DR. LOUIS WOODS

Associate Professor of African-
American History & Presidential
Fellow for Social Justice and Equality

at MTSU




Dr. Louis Woods is an Associate Professor of African-American History and the
Presidential Fellow for Social Justice and Equality at Middle Tennessee State

University (MTSU). Graduating Phi Beta Kappa, Dr. Woods received his B.A.
degree in Africana Studies from SUNY Stony Brook. He obtained his M.A. and
Ph.D. in African American History from Howard University. Dr. Woods’ research
has appeared in several academic journals including: Journal of Urban History,

Journal of African American History, Health Promotion Practice, and The
American Journal of Economics and Sociology, and the Journal of North
Carolina Association of Historians. During his time at MTSU Dr. Woods has also
been the Africana Studies Program Director and President of the Black Faculty

and Staff Association.

Outside

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