ABOUT

We’re empowering young people to believe in themselves and their community.

We're creating paths of opportunity for the future.

Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South has been dedicated to educating students about entrepreneurship, work-readiness, and financial literacy since 1955. Through an extensive offering of experiential, hands-on programs, JA empowers students by helping them discover the tools they need to succeed in today’s economy.

More than 40,000 students participate in JA programs each year throughout the Greater Memphis area. Our programs are taught by volunteers from all walks of life, including: business people, college students, parents and retirees. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of our organization.

Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South began teaching students practical, real-world skills in 1955. We are the community’s oldest organization dedicated to providing young people with the tools necessary to succeed in a global economy.

JA’s programs focus on the areas of work readinessentrepreneurship, and financial literacy. In Memphis, more than 40,000 students participate in JA each year. Our programs are taught by volunteers from all walks of life, including: business people, college students, parents and retirees. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of our organization.

There are many ways to be involved with JA from volunteering in a classroom, helping during a JA BizTown simulation, or participating in a special event. We’d love to hear from you.

Leigh Mansberg

President & CEO
lmansberg@jamemphis.org

Steve French

Chief Operations Officer
sfrench@jamemphis.org

Kesha Ivy

Chief Academic Officer
kivy@jamemphis.org

Phil Dotson

Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships and Government Relations
pdotson@jamemphis.org

Timberly Taylor

Director of Site Based Learning and Teacher Education
ttaylor@jamemphis.org

Julie Olsen

Director of Finance
jolsen@jamemphis.org

Mary Kanowitz

Senior Development Manager
mkanowitz@jamemphis.org

Tenela Blakney

Volunteer and School Recruitment Manager
tblakney@jamemphis.org

Deonna Williams

Manager of Education Programs
dwilliams@jamemphis.org

Janel Bonds

Capstone Manager
jbonds@jamemphis.org

Kirby Rogers

Communications Manager
krogers@jamemphis.org

Ivana Cherry

Education Specialist
icherry@jamemphis.org

Nia Nguyen

Office Coordinator
nnguyen@jamemphis.org

Kenya Driver

Volunteer Coordinator
kdriver@jamemphis.org

Board Officers

Board Chair:
Kelly Lomax, Dunavant

Corporate Secretary:
Mary Honoré Tucker,  University Schools/University of Memphis

Treasurer:
Jason Campbell, FedEx

JA President & CEO:
Leigh Mansberg

Immediate Past Board Chair, Investment Committee Chair:
Brandon Cooper

Chair, Audit Committee:
Adam King, Deloitte

Chair, Community Engagement Committee:
Pearson Crutcher, Society of Entrepreneurs

Volunteer Committee Chair:
Kimberly Moore, Regions Bank

Development Chair:
Brenda Duckett, Community Leader

Stock Market Challenge Chair:
Scott Trammell, Strategic Financial Partners

Board of Directors

Dr. Greg W. Boller, University of Memphis 

Tyronza LeSueur-Ellis, Truist

Dr. Sha Fanion, The New Teacher Project

Rick Fogelman, Fogelman Properties 

Gabe Franceschi

Cassie Lynn Foote, American Public Education Foundation

Justin Gentry, Ernst & Young LLP 

Henry Gordon, First Horizon

Tiffannie Hedin, Toyota

Scotty Hendricks, New York Life

Darryl Jackson, Enfinity Supply

Casey King, AZO

Adrienne King, Trust Marketing

Samuel King

Kevin McEniry, MEMPHO Music Fest 

Jason McNeil, AutoZone

Brittney Murray, UTHSC

Alex Piña, Piña Elite McDonald’s

Louis Rogers, KPMG

Jessica Seidner, International Paper

Steve Swain, Pinnacle Financial Partners

Ted Townsend, Greater Memphis Chamber

Robin Wallace, Helms Briscoe

Alonzo Weaver, MLGW 

Kiamesha Wilson, Kaye’s Pints & Scoops