Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South has welcomed three new members to the our growing team.
Ali Jaffery, Director of Development
Ali Jaffery serves as Director of Development for Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South, where he leads fundraising, donor engagement and strategic partnerships that support JA’s mission of preparing young people for success.
Jaffery brings extensive experience in education, philanthropy and nonprofit leadership. Most recently, he served as Chief Advancement Officer for KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools, leading fund development and business partnerships focused on improving student outcomes. He previously held leadership roles with Nemours Children’s Health, Memphis Education Fund and Baylor College of Medicine.
A former Algebra I and math teacher, Jaffery combines firsthand classroom experience with a deep understanding of educational systems and community impact. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Belhaven University, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Mississippi, and recently earned his Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) credential.
Jaffery is an alumnus of Mississippi Teacher Corps, Education Pioneers, Leadership Memphis and Leadership Jacksonville. He has been recognized as a Jacksonville Business Journal Top 40 Under 40 honoree and a Greater Memphis Chamber Young Memphis honoree for his contributions to education and community impact.
To connect with Ali about development, partnerships or ways to support Junior Achievement, please reach out to him at ajaffery@jamemphis.org.
Markayla McNeal, Site-Based Instructional Coordinator
Markayla McNeal serves as Site-Based Instructional Coordinator for Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South, where she supports the delivery of JA programs in schools and helps connect students with meaningful, real-world learning experiences.
McNeal brings experience in education and student-focused programming to her role. Prior to joining Junior Achievement, she served as assistant director at An Awesome Learning Academy, Inc., where she supported early childhood education and student development.
She earned a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood and Administration from the University of Memphis. Through her work at JA, McNeal helps ensure students have engaging experiences that build the skills, confidence and mindset needed for future success.
To learn more about Junior Achievement’s educational programs and school-based learning experiences, contact Markayla at mmcneal@jamemphis.org.
Tondra Hill, Volunteer Experience Manager
Tondra Hill serves as Volunteer Experience Manager for Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South. She brings more than 20 years of professional experience in nonprofit and business leadership positions, most recently with United Way of the Mid-South as the organization’s Corporate Giving Manager. Prior, she served as the Manager of Emerging Leaders United for United Way of Central Maryland and, before that, as the Corporate Engagement Manager and Affinity Group Manager for United Way of Northeast Florida.
Her career experience also includes sales expertise, having served as a Multimedia Account Executive for The Florida Times-Union and as a Sales Consultant for JAFRA Cosmetics USA. She earned her B.S. in Public Relations, Advertising and Applied Communication from Jackson State University and will complete her Master of Divinity in Theology from Virginia Union University in 2027.
In her role at Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South, she oversees engagement of JA’s 3,000+ volunteers who help deliver programs to nearly 50,000 students throughout 71 counties in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas.
If you would like to connect with Tondra to congratulate her on her new role and/or about volunteer opportunities, feel free to reach out to her at thill@jamemphis.org.
Together, Jaffery, McNeal, and Hill strengthen a JA team that works with K-12 students throughout a 71-county service area spanning Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. Junior Achievement’s programs are centered around experiential, layered learning designed to help students understand the connection between what they learn today and the opportunities available to them tomorrow.
“Junior Achievement is at an exciting point in our history,” Mansberg said. “We are continuing to expand the ways we connect students with the people, businesses and experiences that can help them see what is possible for their futures. Ali, Markayla, and Tondra all bring valuable skills and perspectives that will help us deepen that work and make an even greater impact on students across the Mid-South.”
