Andy Cates
Andy Cates is the Chief Manager of Cates Company, LLC and Managing Member of Value Acquisition Fund, a Delaware LLC based in Memphis, Tennessee, which acquires and manages businesses in need of capital, repositioning, or redevelopment.
Previously, Mr. Cates was a founding partner of Viceroy Investments based in Dallas, Texas. In 1999, he returned to his hometown of Memphis, to be the developer of Soulsville. Mr. Cates earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Texas. He and his wife Allison have two children. He serves as Chairman of the Soulsville Board, and is a Board Member of the Grizzlies Academy, Downtown Memphis Ministries, Inc., and President of Hope & Healing Housing.
Deanie Parker
Deanie Parker is President and CEO of Soulsville and was the Director of Publicity, Artists and Community Relations for Stax Records. Previously, Ms. Parker was the Vice-President of Communications and Marketing at the Regional Medical Center in Memphis, the Assistant Director of Memphis in May, and the 1996 Interim Director for the MIM Festival saluting Brazil.
Ms. Parker has a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Memphis, a Doctorate of Humane Letters from LeMoyne-Owen College, and received the University of Memphis University College Alumni Achievement Award in 2003, the 2004 Women of Achievement award for Initiative, and the PRSA 2003 Communicator of the Year award.
Currently she serves on the boards of the Roc n' Soul Museum, Play It Again Memphis, and the Tennessee Arts Commission.
Kenneth S. Robinson
Reverend Kenneth S. Robinson, M.D., is the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health and the Pastor of St. Andrew AME Church in Memphis, TN.
A native of Nashville, TN, he is a former faculty member of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, serves on the Housing Advisory Board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, the Southeastern Regional Advisory Board for the Fannie Mae Foundation, the Memphis Biotech Foundation, and is a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine
He holds a BA degree from Harvard University, a Doctorate of Medicine from Harvard Medical School, and a Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. He is married to the Rev. Marilynn Sasportas Robinson and they have twin daughters.
Staley Cates
Staley Cates is President of Southeastern Asset Management, based in Memphis, TN. Southeastern manages equities for endowment, foundation and pension accounts and is the advisor to the Longleaf Partners mutual fund family.
Born and raised in Memphis, Mr. Cates attended the University of Texas in Austin and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He is a Certified Analyst and has been with Southeastern since 1986.
Mr. Cates and his wife Elizabeth have two children. He is the co-founder of New Hope Christian Academy, and serves on the boards of the Urban Youth Initiative, Soulsville, The National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis Athletic Ministries, and Partners in Public Education.
Richard Hussey
Richard Hussey currently works at Southeastern Asset Management as Chief Technology Officer. Southeastern manages equities from endowment, foundation and pension accounts and is the advisor to the Long Leaf Partners Mutual Fund Family. Previously, from 1991-1994 he worked for J P Morgan in Global Technology and Operations in New York where he worked with major financial entities, and from 1994-1999, worked in his family businesses which include Farming, Retail, and Technology.
A native Memphian, he attended Cornell University and graduated in 1991 with a degree in Applied Economics and Business Management. Richard is a Member of the Synergy Foundation Board and St. Peter's Finance Committee. Mr. Hussey and his wife Beth are the parents of three children.
Howard L. Robertson, Jr.
Howard Robertson founded TRUST Marketing & Communications, Inc. in 1991. Previously he was the Sales Manager for WPTY-TV/Memphis, and assisted in the acquisition of WLOK-AM, the Mid South's first black-owned broadcast facility.
With a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, he was selected as a publicist for Stax Records, handling media relations and publicity.
Mr. Robertson has been recognized by the National Association of Broadcasters, the Radio Advertising Bureau, Sales and Marketing Executives of Memphis, the Television Advertising Bureau, the Chicago International Film Festival and in two national categories of the Silver Microphone Awards for excellence in radio advertising.
Howard and wife, Beverly, are the parents of three children.
Charles L. Ewing Sr.
Charles Ewing is president and CEO of Ewing Moving Service, Inc., one of the leading moving companies in the Mid-south, which he founded in 1980. Ewing Moving Service, Inc. has approximately 50 employees and three locations, including an office in Nashville, TN. Ewing attended Southwest Community College and completed the Executive MBA Management program at Christian Brothers University. Presently he serves on the Boards of Soulsville, the Memphis Chamber, the Boys and Girls Club of America, and is a member of the Society of Entrepreneurs. The Memphis Business Journal honored him for his outstanding business, personal and community involvement.
A native Memphian, Ewing resides in Memphis with his wife Donna, and their three children.
Honorable Bernice B. Donald
Judge Bernice B. Donald has served as a judge of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee since January 1996. With that appointment, by President Bill Clinton, she became the first African-American female United States District Court Judge in Tennessee. Previously, she served on the United States Bankruptcy Court and the General Sessions Criminal Court... Judge Donald has served as President of the National Association of Women Judges, Association of Women Attorneys, and as a faculty member of the Federal Judicial Center and National Judicial College. She has received over 100 awards for professional and civic activities.
A native of DeSoto County, Mississippi, Judge Donald received her B.A. and J.D. from the University of Memphis.
Howard Eddings
Howard Eddings is President and CEO of the Memphis Leadership foundation, which he joined in 1990 as Vice President and Director of Field Ministries. Previously, he was Young Life's Urban Ministries Director.
Howard is founder of NHO Management, Inc., co-founder of Urban Youth Initiative, and a founding /charter board member of Hope Christian Community Foundation, New Hope Christian Academy, Memphis Athletic Ministries, and he helped lead and develop "For the Kingdom Camp and Retreat Center".
A native Memphian, Mr. Eddings received his B.A. in Social Work from the University of Memphis and completed the Executive Management Institute at Christian Brothers University. He is married to Delisa Rose Flowers and they have three children.
Winton D. Hill
Winton D. (Chick) Hill is president and CEO of Davidson Hotels, a company he acquired in 1991. Previously, he was with Flautt & Mann Properties as Vice-President of Development.
A charter member of the Hilton Owners Association, he currently serves on the Marriott Inn National Association Advisory Board, the Embassy Suites Advisory Board and the Advertising/Marketing Committee for Holiday Inn Worldwide. He is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of LeMoyne-Owen College, on the Central Board of the Memphis Boys Club, and an active participant in the Return Basketball to the Inner-city program.
A native Memphian, Chick received a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
