Board of Directors
Sheril Varghese, Chair
Tennessee Valley Authority
Brenda Brickhouse, Vice Chair EPRI
Ali Ahmed, Treasurer
Green Strategies, LLC
Wayne Williams, Secretary
Workshop Architecture
Becky English, Past Chair
Scout Realtor Group
Clint Dean
Modus Build
Nastassja Hagan
Baylor School
Ruby Mathai
Tennessee Valley Authority
Michael Ryan
NewTerra Compost
Ricky Supan
Patton, Albertson & Miller, LLC
Alicia Toth
EdMyst & Full Glass Advocate, LLC
David Vanzant
EPB
Ira Weiss
Weiss Associates
Staff
Wayne Brown, EcoDistricts AP
Director of Development
Wayne is a 30-year veteran of the United States Air Force who has served in the US, Europe, and the Middle East. His last tour of duty in the Middle East afforded him the opportunity to serve in the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, which is the famed unit of the Tuskegee Airmen.
He is a graduate of UTC and Andersonville Theological Seminary. Since retiring from active duty, he has worked with local and state organizations to improve education and increase quality of life for many residents in the Chattanooga area. He was appointed by the Tennessee Commissioner of Education to serve on the Partnership Advisory Board for improving education in several schools in Hamilton County. He also serves on the Tennessee Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3) State Council.
Wayne loves to share his experiences through speaking and writing. He is the author of LISTEN, Wisdom and Wit for the Next Generation, and the co-author of 52 ½ Shades of Brown, the not-so-perfect tales of a picture-perfect marriage. He is married to his best friend and writing coach, Laura R. Brown. They have three adult children and three grandchildren.
Laura Bass
Director of Operations and Finance
Originally from southwest Louisiana, Laura and her family have lived in Chattanooga since 2004. She has a BA in English from the UL Lafayette, an MA in Higher Education Administration from the University of Mississippi, and a PhD in Learning and Leadership from UT Chattanooga. She has over 18 years of experience working in universities to improve systems and operations, and she has taught undergraduate courses in Leadership, Organizational Behavior, and Nonprofit Management for Southern New Hampshire University since 2014.
As the Director of Operations and Finance, Laura is responsible for overseeing all financial operations, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. Additionally, she plays a key role in strategic planning, developing operational policies, and improving organizational efficiency. Her goal is to drive sustainable growth while upholding our commitment to our mission and the community we serve.
Laura is an avid volunteer and is constantly on the hunt for new learning and engagement opportunities within the Chattanooga community. She has held leadership roles with the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences PTO for over a decade, served on the Board of Directors for Junior League of Chattanooga, and has been active in Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute. In 2023, she became a proud graduate of the “Best Class Ever” of Leadership Chattanooga.
Laura’s favorite time of year is football season, when she can spend her Saturdays in The Grove with her daughter at Ole Miss. Any other time of year, you might catch her sipping champagne at Epcot, wandering around Dirty Jane’s Antiques in Red Bank, or snuggled up with her Australian Shepherds Cady and Coco watching Parks & Rec, Ted Lasso, or Brooklyn 99 for the 14th time.
Dexter Talley, Certified DET Verifier
Build it Green | Program Director
Dexter Talley is an exceptionally dedicated and relentless problem solver who continues to contribute to society by sharing his knowledge and expertise instructing people who are interested in his field of “Going Green” and being Energy Efficient. In 2019 Dexter took his first step in furthering his own knowledge in the green community by enrolling in the BIG program. After graduating the program he decided he wanted to become a mentor within the program to help inner city impoverished youth to be able to be exposed to something he felt would be groundbreaking and useful to their livelihood. The BIG program is customized to assist young adults in making clear choices, having emotional intelligence, believing in their dreams, elevating their work skills, and overall knowledge in basic life skills.
One important training Dexter prides himself of obtaining during his time in the program is his DET Verifier certification where he achieved an impressive perfect score of 100%.
With an exceptional quality in entrepreneurship of over a decade. Dexter has been effective in building ongoing business relationships and partners over the years. It’s safe to say he’s an expert at making something out of nothing and making something.
With the assistance from within the program and green|spaces, Dexter has now become a vital resource and earned his new role as Program Director. He intends to continue supporting program projects and plans that increase intercultural awareness and understanding. Among his colleagues he can be described as a progressive, down-to-earth gentleman that can always be relied upon to offer creative solutions to intricate issues, and deliver impressive results.
He enjoys fishing, hiking, camping, traveling, trying diverse food, fashion, DIY projects.
Michael Strok, PLA
Understory | Director of Planning & Management
Originally from the Atlanta area, Michael earned his BLA at the University of Georgia and has practiced landscape architecture for 15 years. He has had the privilege of learning under and working with ecologically minded professionals throughout his career.
Over the past decade living in Chattanooga, Michael explored the interaction between nature and the built environment and, more importantly, how both intersect with the human experience. Michael serves as Chair of the Chattanooga Tree Commission and believes our City’s relationship with trees is only as strong as the participation of the people in the communities we serve. Advocating for communities and trees has become Michael’s priority.
In his free time, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife, Kristen, and their dog, Diamond. He tries to visit a new National Park every year to explore natural wonders.
Brice Breakey
The Green Prix | Director
Brice Breakey brings a diverse background to the role of Director of The Green Prix, drawing from his experience in professional gaming and coaching within the esports industry. Notably, he has had the privilege of managing events of significance, such as the Serena Williams Event, showcasing a knack for curating and delivering exceptional experiences.
While still on his learning journey, Brice expresses a genuine interest in sustainability. Currently furthering his education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, he combines his computer-savvy skills with an emerging passion for sustainability, aligning with green|spaces' vision.
A self-proclaimed “Middle-Earth Nerd,” The Lord of the Rings trilogy are his books of choice. His sport of choice? Soccer.
Brice looks forward to contributing meaningfully to The Green Prix initiatives and aims to play a role in broader sustainability projects within the organization.
Keyta Young-Price
Build It Green | Program Manager
Keyta is the Program Manager for our Build It Green program, and her role consists of assisting our BIG members with life skills, helping to create a path toward success, and managing social services within the program.
A Chattanooga native, Keyta graduated from Brainerd High School. She then went on to graduate from MTSU with a degree in Social Work. Motivated by her passion to serve others, Keyta has worked in social services for the last 15 years. She has worked for The State of Tennessee Department of Human Services, The Chattanooga Housing Authority Family Self-Sufficiency Program, and, most recently, The Salvation Army as the Program Director.
Keyta and her husband have two children and a chihuahua named Boss (because he is). On the weekends, Keyta still devotes her time to the community – whether it’s volunteering at church, teaching self-sufficiency to the homeless, or helping people find stable housing. Other than giving back to her community, Keyta’s second passion is exploring Chattanooga’s parks and downtown area. Her third passion? Italian food.
Chris Winters, ISA Certified Arborist
Understory | Director of Workforce Development
Chris Winters is an ISA Certified Arborist holding a BS in Natural Resource Management and a BA in Philosophy from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Among other qualifications, Chris is a Licensed Pesticide Applicator under the state of Tennessee, and an ISA Qualified Tree Risk Assessor. With a goal of obtaining his Master Arborist Certification this year, Chris is excited to bring his passion for conservation to Chattanooga’s urban forest.
Entranced by Chattanooga’s incredible rock climbing, Chris and his wife, Kate, moved to Chattanooga after living on the road as a traveling trail building duo. Since his reintroduction into normal society, he has been hard at work honing skills as a professional arborist. Chris has a passion for proper tree care and seeing a positive change in the industry. With specialties in large mature tree pruning and plant health care, he hopes to shift the onus of tree care from tree removal to tree preservation.
Outside of his work, Chris is an avid reader of classic sci-fi novels, a passionate vegetable gardener, and a casual climber of rocks and trees. He can often be found lounging in Suck Creek with his dogs, or tirelessly building his new homestead, just off Moccasin Bend, with friends and family.
Jimi Miller
Understory | Director of Environmental Equity & Community Engagement
In 2012, Jimi moved from a small town in Colorado to Tennessee where he earned a bachelor’s degree in urban forestry from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Throughout his studies, Jimi interned with several organizations where he cultivated a strong interest in tree equity, urban wood utilization, and tackling the challenges of urban heat islands.
While living in Knoxville, Jimi founded SoKno Pride, a nonprofit dedicated to hosting annual LGBTQ+ events that raise funds for organizations supporting marginalized communities. This initiative ignited his commitment to community activism and event planning.
Now, as the Director of Environmental Equity & Community Engagement at Understory, Jimi aims to combine his expertise in urban forestry, event planning, and outreach to foster meaningful connections throughout Chattanooga. He will focus on ensuring that all residents have equitable access to trees, green spaces, and the environmental benefits they provide.
When not working, Jimi can be found exploring the outdoors, searching for quirky thrift store finds, building furniture, or channeling his creativity into art projects.
Board Committees
Green Communities
Ricky Supan, Paul Beckmann
Empower
Oliver Richmond, Jazmine LeBlanc, Heather Jones, Jeremiah Renolds, Jessica Cliche, Joan Brown
Green Building
Becky English, Wayne Williams, Paul Beckmann, Clint Dean, Laura Bass
Green Business
Ali Ahmed, Kevin Christopher, Matt Brown, Nastassja Hagan, Wayne Brown
Build it green
Clint Dean, Keyta Young-Price, Dexter Talley
Green Prix
Becky English, Mike Breakey, Andrew Hardy, Brice Breakey
Strategic partnership
Becky English, Kristy Graves, Lex Ryan, Sheril Varghese, Wayne Brown
Finance
Brenda Brickhouse, Ali Ahmed, Paul Beckmann, Becky English, Ira Weiss, Nastassja Hagan, Laura Bass