Brenda Hauk, BrightStone’s visionary and founder, served as CEO until her recent retirement effective January 2023. Read her full retirement announcement and appointment of Lee Rose as CEO here.
BrightStone employees are our greatest asset. It is through their work, their commitment, and their passion that a quality program exists for adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Middle Tennessee.
Lee Rose, President & CEO
Lee Rose began serving as BrightStone’s CEO in January, 2023. Prior, he served as BrightStone’s Director of Operations, responsible for daily facility operations, state licensure compliance, human resource functions and staffing, facility maintenance, transportation, safety, training and product marketing and sales.
Before joining BrightStone, Lee proudly served in the United States Army as a Captain and Army Aviator with 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Over his career he has held positions with companies such as DCI Management Group, Pearle Vision, and KFC serving in capacities of District Manager, Regional Manager, Vice President and Division Vice President.
Randy Elliott, Chief of Staff
Randy was promoted to Chief of Staff in 2024 and reports to the CEO. He joined the leadership team in April 2016 as Director of Advancement. Randy was responsible for the Development staff leading all fundraising, grant, event, marketing, communications, planned giving/Legacy Society, community relations, and Capital Campaign activities. Randy was responsible for BrightStone’s Phase One Land of Dreams Capital Campaign, which launched in 2017, and successfully completed the $20,500,000 campaign at the end of 2023.
Prior to joining BrightStone, Randy was Director of Advancement for New Hope Academy, Director of Development for Guideposts Foundation, President of Texas State Credit Company, and Vice President for Thomas Nelson Publishers. Randy holds a BA degree in Journalism from the University of Memphis.
Community volunteer service includes four years as treasurer on the Forrest Crossing Community Home Owners Association Board; serving on the Planned Giving Council of Middle Tennessee board; and served as bookstore manager at St. Ignatius Orthodox Church for many years. Beginning Sept 2024, he will the church treasurer and member of the Parish Council.
Randy and his wife Ann have four grown children, seven grandchildren, and have lived in Franklin since 2003. To contact Randy: 615-491-0096 (cell), 615-790-4888 (office) or randy.elliott@brightstone.org.
Susan Sistrunk, Director of Programs
Susan joined BrightStone as the Director of Programs on September 19, 2022. She brings 15+ years of experience in nonprofit management and program development from the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, working primarily with Franklin, Brentwood, and Donelson branches, and Christ Church locations.
Prior to BrightStone, Susan served as Director for the Full Circle, an outreach program of the YMCA that serves individuals with disabilities, ages 3 and up, through adaptative swim, sports, after-school programming, an adult day program, and summer camp.Susan graduated from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Education, in Special Education, at MTSU.
Along with her husband, Clay, and 3 children, she has been a resident of Franklin, TN, for 25 years. They enjoy traveling, hiking the many beautiful parks in Tennessee, and spending time with their family.
Jenny Myhr, Director of Development
Jenny Mhyr joined BrightStone as Director of Development in March of 2022. Jenny is a non-profit professional with nearly 20 years of experience developing programs, managing social enterprise and raising public support for organizations across middle Tennessee.
Prior to joining BrightStone, Jenny served on senior leadership teams for Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, Rocketown of Middle Tennessee and Barefoot Republic Camps & Retreat Center serving in the role of Director of Development.
Jenny is a native of Nashville and currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee with her husband, John, 2 children, and 5 year old labrador retriever Lucy. The Myhr family attends Brentwood United Methodist Church where Jenny serves on the Missions Team as well as Leadership BUMC. Jenny enjoys watching her kids play ball, being involved in her local community and traveling. A self-described, lifelong student, Jenny loves meeting new people and collaborating on ways to make the world a better place for everyone, especially individuals with special needs and their families.
Diane Frazier, Director of Finance
Diane Frazier joined BrightStone in 2016 and brings over 30 years of experience in accounting, payroll and management to her role. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University, she worked for 21 years with USA Today, serving as the Assistant Controller for 17 years. In that role, her department was responsible for processing over $125 million annually.
Diane is a resident of Smyrna where she lives with her husband Terry who serves as an Assistant Pastor of Giles Creek Baptist Church. In addition to serving their church, they love spending time with their sons and their families in New York and Charleston and being at home with their beloved dog Sammy. They also enjoy the beauty of the Northwest, especially Terry’s home state Washington.
Leslie Rayfield, Accounting and HR Coordinator
Leslie joined BrightStone in 2019 part-time and serves as our Accounting and Human Resources Coordinator. She has over 15 years of financial and business management experience for non profits including Vice President of Finance and Operations for the Arthritis Foundation and Director of Finance for Make-A-Wish. In this season of life as a busy mom of three, she appreciates the flexibility of her current position at BrightStone, and loves being part of such a life-changing mission for adults in our community with special needs.
Leslie and her husband John enjoy their family time attending kids activities, going to the lake, traveling, and just hanging out on the farm with their many pets.
Dru Victory, Program Coordinator
Overseeing daily life for the adults at BrightStone, Dru Victory has served BrightStone since 2001. She is responsible for securing, supervising, training and development of the direct services staff, scheduling and monitoring the program services to our adults and their individual goals and objectives, scheduling student daily activities and work groups, overseeing grant compliance, and monitoring product inventory.Before coming to BrightStone, Dru assisted in establishing a school-to-work transition program, developed a Job Coach Manual, and was the lead trainer for job coaches in the Williamson County Schools.
Elaine Farmer, Admissions, Tours, and Volunteer Coordinator
Elaine Farmer brings over 40 years of administrative and management experience to BrightStone. She coordinates Admissions, Tours and manages BrightCorps Volunteer program.Elaine lives in Murfreesboro with her husband, Lenny, a pre-need funeral planner and retired pastor. She not only is proud to be a Tennessean by birth, but everyone knows she is a diehard Tennessee Big Orange fan. When she has free time, Elaine loves being with her children and grandchildren and spending time in the Smoky Mountains!.“The purpose and people of BrightStone is what drew me to this wonderful organization. It is a joy to come to work each day and interact with these dear adults. I count it an honor and privilege to work with prospective families in hopes of becoming a part of BrightStone!”
Kerri Bryant, Marketing and Communications Manager
Joining the Brightstone team in February of 2022, Kerri Bryant brings over 25 years of brand marketing and communication experience to the role of Marketing and Communications Manager. In this role, she works to build messaging and content that creates awareness of Brightstone’s mission, and generates engagement within the community, media, and external partnerships.
Having worked in the non profit industry for many years, Kerri has a passion for cause organizations working to serve the needs of others. She also served as a volunteer Board Member for Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee.Kerri resides in Hendersonville with her husband Ivan. She has two grown children who also reside in Tennessee. Beach vacations, watching football, painting, and spending time with family, friends, and her two fur babies are some of her favorite things.
Carolan Trbovich, Partnership Development Manager
Carolan serves as our Partnership Development Manager. She is a service-driven leader with a robust acumen in strategic partnerships, donor relations, and volunteer management. She brings strength to building relationships with churches, donors, corporations, and civic organizations.
Prior to entering the nonprofit sector, Carolan worked in film and television in Los Angeles and enjoyed a career in the Christian music industry in Nashville with powerhouse record labels Sparrow and Word Entertainment.
In addition to her role at BrightStone, Carolan continues to produce cabaret tours featuring Broadway performers and is a journalist/theatre critic whose reviews and celebrity interviews are published on BroadwayWorld.com. Carolan and her service dog Jethro are re-transplanted residents after 8 years in Sarasota, Florida, and feel blessed to call Middle Tennessee home again.
“It is an honor and a blessing to be a part of an organization whose mission is to provide continued education and life-long learning skills for adults with special needs, empowering them to thrive in a God-centered, nurturing environment.”
Mary Fran White, Digital Marketing Manager
Bio Coming Soon!
