Sandy Adams is a leadership and career strategist, speaker, educator, and entrepreneur who helps people recognize their value, navigate change, and build careers they love.
Adams brings more than 25 years of experience in leadership, entrepreneurship, brand strategy, and professional development. During her career, she helped build a seven-figure business and launched several small businesses.
Known for her honest, relatable approach, Adams combines real-life stories with practical strategies focused on leadership, resilience, personal branding, and career growth.
Adams is the host of The 5th Quarter Podcast and The Sandy Adams Show, a two-time graduate of the University of Memphis, and a board member for several nonprofit organizations. She is also an award-winning photographer and the creator of journals and workbooks supporting personal and professional growth.

Kevin Adelsberger is the founder of Adelsberger Marketing in Jackson, Tennessee, where he and his team make creative work that grows their clients’ businesses in a culture that values their team and community.
After founding Adelsberger Marketing in 2014, he went on to co-found Our Jackson Home and host its podcast from 2015-2019.
Adelsberger was recognized as an emerging leader by Leadership Jackson in 2016. The following year, Adelsberger Marketing was named the Emerging Business of the Year by the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce. In 2020, Union University recognized Adelsberger for Distinguished Achievement in Arts and Media.
Adelsberger currently serves on advisory committees for Leadership Tennessee and Jackson State Community College and is a board member for theCO in Jackson. He also hosts a podcast about business in West Tennessee called 40×45.
He lives in Jackson with his wife and business partner, Renae, and their two children. They are active foster parents and are involved members of First Baptist Church, Jackson.

Paula Anderson has served as an adjunct instructor for local colleges and universities in Memphis and Jackson, Tennessee, for the past decade.
Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree in English at LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis in 1996 and a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations from the University of Memphis in 2020. She also earned her master’s degree in journalism and strategic media from the University of Memphis in 2021.
In 2023, she earned a graduate certificate in leadership from Union University.
She is a certified professional coder (CPC®), certified professional biller (CPB), and an approved medical coding instructor with the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
Anderson is the mother of an adult son, Eric Ryan Brinson, and daughter-in-love, Kayla Brinson.

Coming soon.

Paul Boyles is an executive coach and a highly talented human resources professional with a broad range of experience across manufacturing, service industries, hospitality, and government.
Boyles holds a B.S. degree in business management from the University of Scranton. He specializes in leadership development for all levels of your organization.
He collaborates with senior leaders to develop their leadership skills, as well as leadership development across all levels of your team. With over 35 years of practical experience, his passion to help others grow is a clear benefit of working with him.

Amber Brandau is a proud graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Information Systems: Business Communication.
Brandau has worked with Dyersburg State Community College and American Job Centers for the past 12 years. She currently serves as the Director of Purchasing and Contracts at DSCC.
In addition to her administrative role, she has spent the last five years teaching non-credit courses for DSCC Workforce Development, helping individuals gain the skills needed for career advancement.

Randy Bridges is the founder and CEO of WRB Organizational Efficiency Group, LLC, based in Obion, Tennessee. He is an organizational efficiency consultant and workforce performance advisor with more than 25 years of leadership experience in human resources, program development, and multi-level supervision.
Bridges partners with executives and leadership teams nationwide to diagnose inefficiencies, redesign workflows, and guide implementation of sustainable operational improvements.
His areas of expertise include process improvement, workforce optimization, performance management systems, policy development, organizational restructuring, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
Bridges is known for his ability to quickly identify root causes of organizational challenges and align leadership, people, and processes to produce measurable results.

Joseph Crews has been an authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer since 2012. He is a licensed attorney with expertise in employment law, workplace safety, and workers’ compensation matters.
With more than 25 years of manufacturing experience, he has maintained a strong focus on fostering safe and compliant work environments.
Crews holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, a Master of Science in Human Resource Management, and a Juris Doctor degree. His combination of legal expertise, human resources leadership, and operational experience provides a comprehensive perspective on workplace safety, compliance, and employee relations.

Anthony Deason has been a nurse since 2002, bringing more than two decades of experience across a wide range of healthcare settings, including medical surgical nursing, critical care, emergency medicine, intensive care, long term care, occupational health, and urgent care. His diverse clinical background has shaped both his approach to patient care and his commitment to educating future healthcare professionals. He received his training at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology. He is a certified basic life support (CPR) instructor through the American Heart Association, certified in intravenous therapy, a certified phlebotomist, and a certified electrocardiogram technician.
Deason began his nursing career at Baptist Memorial Hospital–Union City, where he worked on the medical surgical unit before advancing into the Critical Care Unit and Emergency Department. He later continued his critical care practice in the Intensive Care Unit at Volunteer Hospital in Martin, Tennessee, and in the Emergency Department at West Tennessee Healthcare Dyersburg Hospital. These high acuity environments strengthened his passion for clinical excellence and his desire to mentor others entering the field.
In 2020, Deason joined Dyersburg State Community College as an adjunct instructor in the Healthcare Technician program. His dedication to student success, program development, and hands on education led to his appointment as the full time Healthcare Technician Program Coordinator in August 2021. Today, he proudly serves as coordinator, guiding students as they build the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to thrive in healthcare.

Executive coach and leadership development facilitator Chris Doyle is the owner of Boost Your Leadership, a professional development company dedicated to helping leaders grow, evolve, and make a lasting impact.
With more than 35 years of experience in the information technology industry and over a decade dedicated to executive coaching and leadership development, Doyle brings a wealth of expertise to the role.
His distinguished career includes 10 years with Panasonic Corporation, 15 years as vice president of product management and marketing at Teltronics, and the past decade serving as an executive coach and leadership development consultant, helping organizations and leaders achieve lasting success.
Doyle earned an M.B.A. at Union University.

Terry Howard is an industrial electrician and field engineer based in Union City, Tennessee.
He is a field engineer at Logical Systems LLC, where he is proficient in the startup of new equipment, including Allen Bradley/Rockwell, PLC2, PLC-5, PLC500, and Servo Drive Systems.
Howard previously worked for 37 years as an industrial electrician at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

Adam Haynes serves as the director of the Lauderdale County Ambulance Authority based in Ripley, Tennessee.
Haynes teaches the Critical Care Paramedic course for DSCC Workforce Development.

Charles Jenkins is a seasoned fire service and occupational safety professional with over 10 years of experience in firefighting, emergency medical services, and organizational leadership.
Jenkins is skilled in developing and delivering training programs that integrate technical standards and regulatory requirements into practical instruction. His proficiencies include strategic planning, regulatory compliance, and community outreach dedicated to enhancing individual competency and organizational safety.
He has served as a firefighter and advanced emergency medical technician for the Tipton County Fire Department since 2021.
Jenkins earned an associate’s degree in health sciences at Dyersburg State Community College and a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health at Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Mark Jenkins is a certified WSI AI trainer and Paris, Tennessee, native who leads the local WSI Digital Marketing agency.
Founded in 1995 and operating in more than 80 countries, WSI is one of the world’s largest digital marketing networks and helps businesses put artificial intelligence to practical use.
Jenkins has more than 25 years of marketing experience, including leadership roles as a director, vice president, and head of marketing, and teaches undergraduate and MBA marketing courses online.
He holds a doctorate in marketing, an MBA in finance, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin. Through his agency, Jenkins helps small and midsize businesses win more customers online and use AI to compete more effectively.

Nathan LaFayette brings over 25 years of experience working in a variety of different positions and companies across multiple states. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in marketing and economics from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. Having worked in and closely with many departments throughout his career, LaFayette understands the needs and challenges organizations face. He also has experience working in different types of organizations, from a small privately owned company to a large publicly traded company and for a public institution.
LaFayette’s work experience has allowed him to develop and strengthen skills in data analysis, transportation and logistics, information technology, customer service, among other areas as well. In addition to his skills gained through educational and work experience, LaFayette also volunteers some of his time to multiple organizations, adding more skills and knowledge to draw from.

Coming soon.

Lana Orchard is a senior executive and business development leader with extensive experience spanning occupational health, workplace safety, OSHA compliance, human resources, operations, finance, and regulated industries.
Orchard serves as senior vice president and chief business development officer at WorkCare Resources in Dyersburg, Tennessee. She leads company-wide safety and compliance initiatives, develops employer-focused occupational health services, builds client relationships, and delivers practical workforce training.
She is known for her ability to translate regulatory requirements into usable policies, training programs, and operational solutions that support safer workplaces and stronger employer partnerships.
Orchard has been a member of the American Society of Safety Professionals and the Society for Human Resource Management.

Oliver Smith is the founder and CEO of WhiteRock Strategies, a strategic planning and advisory firm serving small business owners across all industries, particularly retail, professional services, contractors, medical and wellness practices, manufacturing, and service-based organizations.
Additionally, Smith is the founder of PowerLytix CFO Program, a comprehensive financial operating system designed specifically for small business owners seeking CFO-level insight without the cost of a full-time CFO.
Smith’s experience combines deep financial expertise, ownership experience, and an owner-first advisory mindset. He is a trusted advisor to more than 1,500 small businesses nationwide, delivering measurable improvements in margins, operating efficiency, valuation readiness, and long-term sustainability.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Master of Business Administration degree in finance, both from the University of Memphis.

Amie Tooley is the founder and CEO of Connective Consulting in Paducah, Kentucky, where she helps leaders communicate to connect, so they can meet their goals and hold on to their best people.
A speech-language pathologist by training, Tooley has built her career around helping people be heard. She spent nearly two decades in public education leadership, most recently as the director of human resources at a school district, supporting a staff of nearly 500.
Today, as a Certified Maxwell Leadership speaker, coach, and trainer, and a Maxwell DISC Certified Trainer, she partners with businesses, financial institutions, nonprofits, and public organizations to strengthen supervisors, build trust, and reduce turnover. Her sessions are practical, interactive, and built on one belief: communication is the foundation of retention.
Tooley’s commitment to connection extends well beyond her clients. Every week, she facilitates the Entrepreneur Support Coffee Hour at Sprocket, Paducah’s hub for entrepreneurs and innovators, where she also serves as an ambassador and mentor. In 2025, she was named Sprocketeer of the Year, Paducah Professional Women Entrepreneur of the Year, and Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year.

Cary E. Vaughn is the CEO and president of LWF, Inc., a worldwide radio, TV, and digital faith-based nonprofit reaching 196 countries. He has strategically developed relationships with the private and public sectors, generating $8 million in annual revenue.
From an economic development standpoint, Vaughn was appointed by U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (then TN Commissioner) to the State of Tennessee, Department of Economic and Community Development, representing the southwest region. In addition, he chaired the Shelby County Suburban Chamber Alliance from 2012-2017, working in a collaborative effort to promote rural communities.
He was an active board member and vice chair of the Greater Memphis Alliance for a Competitive Workforce (GMACW), and he was a liaison to the suburbs on the EDGE board of directors for Memphis and Shelby County. Recently, he served as chair of the local Industrial Development Board.
As a chief volunteer officer for Rotary International, Vaughn traveled throughout north Mississippi and West Tennessee speaking to communities, raising funds, and cultivating partnerships. He became a Rotarian in 2005. He is a Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Paul Harris Society, a major donor, and he has served as the district governor.
Additionally, he serves on the board of directors of WestStar, a regional leadership program that covers all 21 counties in West Tennessee.

Matthew Webb serves as evangelist for the Main Street Church of Christ in Newbern, Tennessee.
Before entering full-time ministry, he worked at Chick-fil-A, where he trained new employees and served in a leadership role. It was there that he developed a passion for customer service and caring for people.

Amy West is a seasoned human resources professional with 26 years of experience spanning the banking, manufacturing, and higher education sectors.
West has held the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification through HRCI since 2007 and the SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) credential since 2014. An active member of SHRM since 2000, she has served in volunteer leadership roles since 2002, including positions on both local chapter boards and the Tennessee SHRM State Council.
Beyond her professional career, West is deeply committed to community service through her church, the Leaders Credit Union Advisory Board, and as a volunteer with the Isaiah 117 House of Crockett County. She is the proud mother of two grown daughters.