Stronger Together: Meet the Board Helping Lead Thistle Farms Forward
For nearly 30 years, Thistle Farms has been built around a simple but powerful belief: Love Heals.
That belief began around a circle of women and has grown into a community reaching across Nashville, the country, and the world. Along the way, thousands of people have chosen to walk alongside women survivors—opening doors, sharing resources, creating opportunities, advocating for change, and believing in what is possible when we come together.
Our Board of Directors is an important part of that community.
As Thistle Farms enters an exciting new chapter, we are grateful to welcome new board members, celebrate emerging leaders, and introduce the board leadership that will help guide our mission forward.
Leading Together
This year, David Thompson of Womble Bond Dickinson will serve as Chair of the Thistle Farms Board of Directors, joined by Samantha Pyle of Green Apple Strategy as Vice Chair, Maeve McConville as Treasurer, and David Hutchens, author and business coach, as Secretary.
Each brings a different perspective and set of experiences to the table, but they share something much more important: a deep commitment to the women of Thistle Farms and a belief in the power of this community.
Together with our full Board of Directors, they will help us ask important questions, steward our resources, strengthen partnerships, open new doors, and remain focused on our mission as Thistle Farms grows.
A Community of Leaders
Our board reflects the kind of community we believe creates lasting change—people from different professions, experiences, and perspectives choosing to bring what they have to a shared mission.
We are grateful for the leadership and service of our Board of Directors:
- Amber Brown — Homeland Security Investigations
- Sarah Butler — Hope for Justice
- Carrie Daughtrey — Retired, U.S. Attorney’s Office
- Mary Louis Hemmeter — Vanderbilt University
- David Hutchens, Secretary — Author and Business Coach
- Kelly Jamerson — American Heart Association
- Tasha Kennard – CEO, Thistle Farms
- Lindsey Landrum — IMG
- Peter MacDonald — Retired Honorable Judge
- Maeve McConville, Treasurer — Retired Chief Financial Officer
- Heather Meshell — Ampersand Advocacy
- Traci Nordberg — University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School
- Marley Pentecost — Dollar General
- Samantha Pyle, Vice Chair — Green Apple Strategy
- Brooke Schiferle — Klein Solomon
- Chris Sizemore — Diana Health
- Willie Sims — Fellavision
- Becca Stevens — Founder and President, Thistle Farms
- Daina Storey — Fisher Storey Consulting
- David Thompson, Chair — Womble Bond Dickinson
- Karen Thompson — HCA Healthcare
- Chelle Waller — Graduate Liaison and Entrepreneur
- Kathi Whalen — Retired, HCA Healthcare
Their expertise spans business, healthcare, law, advocacy, nonprofit leadership, communications, public service, and more. Just as importantly, the board includes the voice and leadership of lived experience—helping ensure the women at the heart of Thistle Farms remain at the heart of our decisions.
Our Light Bearers
Leadership at Thistle Farms does not end when a term of board service concludes. We are fortunate to have a special group of Board Advisors who continue to serve as light bearers for our mission—sharing their wisdom, relationships, institutional knowledge, and steadfast belief in the healing power of love. Their continued presence reminds us that this work is not simply a season of service, but a community and a movement that we carry forward together. We are deeply grateful to our Board Advisors: Carlana Harwell, Kathryn Walker, John Weisenseel, Ingrid Cockhren, Jenny Ford, Jennifer Hutcheson, Jeffrey Brown, and Mekesha Montgomery. Their leadership has helped shape Thistle Farms, and their continued counsel and advocacy help illuminate the path ahead.
Making Room for the Next Generation of Leaders
Leadership also means creating space for others to learn, contribute, and grow. This year, we are excited to welcome Ashley Kemp and Isabella Palmeri-English as our newest Young Leaders Council interns. They follow Lindsey Landrum and Marley Pentecost, who began their own journeys with Thistle Farms through Young Leaders Council and now continue their service as full members of our Board of Directors. That progression is something worth celebrating. It reflects the kind of community we hope to build—one where people are invited in, given meaningful opportunities to contribute, and encouraged to continue growing as leaders and advocates.
Walking Into Our Next Chapter
There is much ahead for Thistle Farms.
We are expanding opportunities for women to find safe housing and healing. We are creating pathways to employment and economic freedom. We are growing justice enterprises that demonstrate the power of business to create social change. And through our national and global partnerships, we are helping strengthen a movement that believes every woman deserves the opportunity to experience freedom, dignity, and belonging.
None of this work happens alone.
It takes survivors, staff, volunteers, customers, donors, advocates, community partners—and leaders willing to lend their experience, relationships, resources, and voices to something bigger than themselves.
That is what our Board of Directors represents.
“As we welcome this year’s board leadership, new members, and Young Leaders Council interns, we do so with tremendous gratitude for everyone who has chosen to walk alongside Thistle Farms,” said Tasha Kennard, CEO of Thistle Farms. “Because after nearly three decades, one thing remains as true as ever: We are stronger together. And love is still the most powerful force for change in the world.”
