Jun 25, 2019 | All Alumni, Nonprofit News
Gary Gaston (Class 42), CEO of Nashville Civic Design Center, is profiled in this week’s Nashville Business Journal. For the past five years, Gary has frequently played an influential role in shaping the city’s conversations around growth and development, while cultivating a board of directors and a donor list that includes a who’s who of Nashville’s real estate power players. When he’s not leading his team of urban designers, you can find him on the dance floor or singing along to John Waters’ “Hairspray.” Our favorite story is when Gary talks about a note from his father that he keeps next to his desk that says “There is a way to get this done”when he was in the difficult process of buying a house. He still looks at that note several times a year for inspiration. If you are a NBJ digital subscriber, you can find out what he would like to be his next profession after he retires at the link here (hint: he’s currently honing those skills at a monthly dance party he hosts). 
Jun 22, 2019 | All Alumni, News
In the Summer 2019 issue of Nashville Post, one of the six profiled business leaders who were assembled for the 2019 All-Star Board is YLC alumna Yanika Nikki Smith-Bartley (Class 43). Yanika is Vice President and Special Counsel for Diversity and Inclusion at Asurion, where she brings employment and regulatory expertise to an organization now home to more than 16,000 employees around the world. She is a graduate of Fisk University and Vanderbilt University Law School and this year was also named a Women of Influence award winner by Nashville Business Journaland a nominee for the Nashville ATHENA award by Nashville Cable. Since the All-Star Board was created six years ago to showcase a group of people who could help improve, grow and guide organizations, an additional three YLC alumni have been chosen. In 2018, Harry Allen (Class 62) and Ray Guzman (Class 53) and in 2013, Kevin Lavender (Class 4) made the list. Congratulations to all our YLC All-Stars! Read the entire article here.
Jun 21, 2019 | All Alumni, Nonprofit News
Leadership Nashville has announced the 44 members of its 44th class, with seven of those being YLC alumni. More than 280 people applied for the latest class. The nine-month program, beginning in September, aspires to cultivate community leaders and focuses on issues including education, labor, diversity, criminal justice and more. Congratulations and good luck to Corinne Bergeron (YLC/Jackson National Class 2014), Aaron Dorn (Class 50), Susan Pogue (Class 69), Gabe Roberts, (Class 55), Ron Snitker (Class 38), Brian L. Williams (Class 44), and Sarah Creekmore Woodall(YLC/Junior League Class 2007). Read more about Leadership Nashville here.
Jun 15, 2019 | All Alumni, News
The YLC staff, from left, Jamie Weathers, Patty Kelley St. Clair and Lisa Shacklett, taking a quick breather after a very busy spring with 90 class participants graduating last month, planning Diane Hayes’ farewell reception next week, finalizing the participants for Class 73 kicking off in September and working on admissions for YLC/Williamson Chamber Class 2019 (with a few slots still available for those who live or do business in Williamson County). Oh, yeah…..and celebrating Lisa’s 13th week as executive director, Patty’s birthday and the YLC office getting a fresh coat of paint and new carpet after many, many years. Stay tuned for all the fantastic events coming up this summer and fall. 
Jun 9, 2019 | All Alumni, News
YLC was the association sponsor for Nashville Business Journal’s Next Gen series on May 21 at Fat Bottom Brewing with more than 100 young professionals and accomplished business leaders in small group discussions about personal and professional goals.
YLC executive director Lisa Clark Shacklett was one of the executive table hosts sharing her insight on how to succeed in career and life.
With lots of late afternoon sun streaming through the floor to ceiling windows of the brewing company’s private indoor space, The Reserve, nine YLC alumni were seen at the prime networking event, including Eden Afriat (Class 72), Brett Dabdoub (YLC/Massey Graduate School Alumni Class 2018), Nicole Dickerson (Class 70), Samantha Dwyer (Class 72), Amy Goode (Class 72), Tyler Graham (YLC/Massey Graduate School Alumni Class 2017), Hayley Levy (Class 71), Nathan Sachs (Class 70) and Lindsay Youngbauer (Class 72). 
Jun 7, 2019 | All Alumni, News
Four YLC alumni will be recognized on June 11 as Nashville Business Journal‘s 2019 Power Leaders in Commercial Real Estate, seen as the dealmakers and key professionals planning and securing a solid foundation that is moving Nashville’s skyline upward and outward. Congratulations to Kelly Knight Hodges (Class 40), Gresham Smith (for Architecture/engineering); Tatum Flynn (Class 62), Savills Nashville (for Brokers); and Byran Fort (YLC/Williamson Chamber Class 2014), CBRE and Janelle Gallagher (Class 72), CBRE (for Rising Stars).
