WNBA Nashville Board Members 2022-2024
Chapter email: nashville@wnba-books.org
Executive Committee:
President: Kathleen Dietz
Past President: Jodi Hughes
Vice President: Ami McConnell
Treasurer: Barbie Chadwick
Secretary: Tori Ross
Committee Chairs:
Membership: Catherine Baird Hooper
Southern Festival of Books: Allison Stewart
Coffee With Authors/NGRM: Genetta Adair
Programs: Erin Cox
Book Club: Kayla Stierwalt
Webmaster: Nancy Dickinson
Social Media: Nicole Speyrer, Kayla Stierwalt
Sunshine/Hospitality: Libby Simons
Philanthropy Chair: Lee Fairbend
Chapter email: nashville@wnba-books.org
Executive Committee:
President: Kathleen Dietz
Past President: Jodi Hughes
Vice President: Ami McConnell
Treasurer: Barbie Chadwick
Secretary: Tori Ross
Committee Chairs:
Membership: Catherine Baird Hooper
Southern Festival of Books: Allison Stewart
Coffee With Authors/NGRM: Genetta Adair
Programs: Erin Cox
Book Club: Kayla Stierwalt
Webmaster: Nancy Dickinson
Social Media: Nicole Speyrer, Kayla Stierwalt
Sunshine/Hospitality: Libby Simons
Philanthropy Chair: Lee Fairbend
Meet our board members
Kathleen Dietz, President: Carolyn Wilson got me involved with WNBA when I was a library rep for Baker & Taylor. Being a rep in the field limited the time that I could volunteer for WNBA; however, I was thrilled to share with
everyone information about our organization. I have served as president (2001-2003), vice president, program chair, and membership. Additional volunteer activities with WNBA included working with Humanities Tennessee to coordinate transportation for authors appearing at Southern Festival and managing the author signing area at SFB from 2008-2013.
Baker & Taylor, Thomas Nelson Publishers and HarperCollins Christian Publishing have been the primary employers during my career. All three provided unique opportunities to travel. I was a library rep for Baker & Taylor calling on librarians and independent booksellers in Arkansas, Florida and Tennessee. I eventually became a key account rep working with national and regional book chains. Thomas Nelson/HCCP introduced me to international sales, allowed me to learn about selling subsidiary rights for the books we published, dabble in special markets and finally create a program for libraries. I retired from Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins December 31, 2020.
In addition to my passion for books, my husband and I have enjoyed being canine parents to three Golden Retrievers and three German Shepherds. Lizzie, a Golden Retriever, is our current canine baby who turned 10 in December. She still sees herself as a puppy and eagerly runs to greet our neighbors and workmen when walking the neighborhood. I can spend hours sharing stories about the adventures of our canine critters.
everyone information about our organization. I have served as president (2001-2003), vice president, program chair, and membership. Additional volunteer activities with WNBA included working with Humanities Tennessee to coordinate transportation for authors appearing at Southern Festival and managing the author signing area at SFB from 2008-2013.
Baker & Taylor, Thomas Nelson Publishers and HarperCollins Christian Publishing have been the primary employers during my career. All three provided unique opportunities to travel. I was a library rep for Baker & Taylor calling on librarians and independent booksellers in Arkansas, Florida and Tennessee. I eventually became a key account rep working with national and regional book chains. Thomas Nelson/HCCP introduced me to international sales, allowed me to learn about selling subsidiary rights for the books we published, dabble in special markets and finally create a program for libraries. I retired from Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins December 31, 2020.
In addition to my passion for books, my husband and I have enjoyed being canine parents to three Golden Retrievers and three German Shepherds. Lizzie, a Golden Retriever, is our current canine baby who turned 10 in December. She still sees herself as a puppy and eagerly runs to greet our neighbors and workmen when walking the neighborhood. I can spend hours sharing stories about the adventures of our canine critters.
Jodi Hughes, Past President, is an introvert, dog lover, and amateur gardener. In her day job she is senior editor for Harper Muse (HarperCollins Focus) and the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan fiction team (HarperCollins Christian Publishing). Originally from the Alabama Gulf Coast, Jodi graduated cum laude from Samford University with a BA in Classics and has worked in the publishing industry since 2009.
Jodi joined the Women’s National Book Association in 2014 and has served on the board in various roles. She lives in Nashville with her black-and-white rescue dogs, the occasional foster pup, and her unspotted Paint horse. Follow her on Twitter @TNJodi.
Jodi joined the Women’s National Book Association in 2014 and has served on the board in various roles. She lives in Nashville with her black-and-white rescue dogs, the occasional foster pup, and her unspotted Paint horse. Follow her on Twitter @TNJodi.
Ami McConnell, Vice President, is a Nashville-based writer, editor, and publishing consultant who formerly served as Editor-in-Chief and VP of Howard Books/Simon & Schuster. Before that, she acquired and edited for HarperCollins where she helped launch a successful fiction imprint. Editing credits include numerous New York Times bestsellers and award-winning titles. A prolific ghostwriter, McConnell now works with celebrities and artists of all stripes to create bestselling books. She also serves as founder and director of WriterFest, a gathering for writers of book, song, and film, and hosts the WriterFest Podcast. She lives with her family in Franklin, Tennessee.
Barbie Chadwick, Treasurer, is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and has a Bachelor of Arts in English. She has worked in the nonprofit field for 30 years before retiring from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee in 2019.
Barbie has been actively involved in Gamma Phi Beta Sorority at both the local and international levels since her graduation. She currently serves as Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of Gamma Phi Beta Foundation. She recently retired from the role of President of the National Panhellenic Conference Foundation.
Barbie lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and spends much of her retired time gardening, reading, playing bridge and mah jongg, and planning her next overseas trip after COVID.
Barbie has been actively involved in Gamma Phi Beta Sorority at both the local and international levels since her graduation. She currently serves as Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of Gamma Phi Beta Foundation. She recently retired from the role of President of the National Panhellenic Conference Foundation.
Barbie lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and spends much of her retired time gardening, reading, playing bridge and mah jongg, and planning her next overseas trip after COVID.
Tori Ross, Secretary, is a retired Nashville Public Library Children's Librarian, who now enjoys reading aloud to two grand-girls. She first joined WNBA Nashville Chapter when she oversaw the library's Children's International Education Center (CIEC) collection of books, donated in large part by WNBA members. Tori served on the WNBA Board 2005-2007 and re-joined the Board as Secretary in 2018.
Catherine Baird Hooper, Membership Chair, is excited to be a part of the WNBA community. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, she is a communications director and event planner for Vanderbilt University where she earned a degree in creative writing. While an avid traveler who’s visited all fifty states and nearly every national park, her greatest joy is writing southern based, feel-good women’s fiction. She looks forward to bringing her first novel into the world, wherever the journey to publication leads.
Through the years, Catherine has volunteered for numerous nonprofits including the Junior League, the Nashville Humane Association and Oak Hill School where she managed their consignment sale for several years. She is thrilled to welcome new members into this wonderful organization and help grow its membership.
Through the years, Catherine has volunteered for numerous nonprofits including the Junior League, the Nashville Humane Association and Oak Hill School where she managed their consignment sale for several years. She is thrilled to welcome new members into this wonderful organization and help grow its membership.
Allison Stewart, Southern Festival of Books Chair, is an avid reader and lover of books and writing. She works in Information Technology and is a program manager and engineer, managing a team deploying VoIP phone systems. She enjoys supporting the arts in whatever small way she can, such as assisting with raising funds for scholarships for young writers to attend a writing workshop
Genetta Adair, Coffee with Authors Chair, writes middle grade novels and picture books with spirited characters who are passionate to make a change in their worlds. Her writing often connects history with the present through a focus on underrepresented groups in STEM and female characters interested in aviation. She has written educational material used as test passages for CTB McGraw-Hill, Harcourt Brace, and Waterford Institute. Her work has been published in magazines and newspapers for children as well as adults.
Genetta is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) where she previously served as Regional Advisor of the Midsouth (TN & KY). When not writing, Genetta can be found tutoring at inner city schools, reading, flyfishing, hiking, or flying vintage aircraft.
Genetta is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) where she previously served as Regional Advisor of the Midsouth (TN & KY). When not writing, Genetta can be found tutoring at inner city schools, reading, flyfishing, hiking, or flying vintage aircraft.
Erin Cox, Programs Chair, has almost two decades of marketing and development experience, primarily in the book industry. She previously worked with Simon & Schuster and Macmillan, was the director of development for World Book Night U.S., and has a graduate degree in publishing from New York University. When Erin relocated to Nashville a few years ago, she experienced the other end of the marketing process while working at Parnassus Books. Since then, she's joined Ingram Content Group to help launch a consumer marketing services program for publishers.
Kayla Stierwalt, Book Club Chair and Social Media Co-Chair, has the joy of teaching students all over the country and the world as an English educator who specializes in creative writing. She continues to learn as a reader, writer and runner, taking in life's details.
Kayla grew up in Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri and moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky after opening a business for bird watching enthusiasts in Houston, Texas. Most of her career since graduating from Truman State University has involved teaching English language learners and creative writers. Right now, she is also working on a memoir and writes fiction as well.
Kayla grew up in Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri and moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky after opening a business for bird watching enthusiasts in Houston, Texas. Most of her career since graduating from Truman State University has involved teaching English language learners and creative writers. Right now, she is also working on a memoir and writes fiction as well.
Nancy Dickinson, Webmaster, is a retired elementary school librarian who grew up in Nashville but moved to Florida as soon as she graduated from college. There's no place like home so she moved back to Tennessee after 20 years and then moved back to Nashville after retirement. This is her sixth year serving on the WNBA Nashville board, having been Membership Chair for four years. Nancy spends most of her time reading, volunteering, lunching with friends, and traveling when possible.
Nicole Speyrer, Social Media Co-Chair, attends Belmont University as a Publishing major and pursues multiple ways to participate in the community. She writes for the on-campus newspaper, helps coordinate communications for local social enterprises, and has created a family at Vanderbilt by dancing with their premiere ballet theatre.
Ever since high school, she has been working at a local library either voluntarily or professionally. The power of story moves and attracts her to better understand her world and others, and she hopes to share that with anyone who crosses paths with her.
Ever since high school, she has been working at a local library either voluntarily or professionally. The power of story moves and attracts her to better understand her world and others, and she hopes to share that with anyone who crosses paths with her.
Libby Simons, Sunshine/Hospitality Chair, has served on the board as Southern Festival of Books Chair and membership chair for WNBA. Additional volunteer activities with WNBA included helping with Coffee with Authors and working with Humanities Tennessee at Southern Festival in the author signing area.
Libby is a retired high school guidance counselor with a love for reading. She is currently a member of three book clubs including WNBA’s club, which she has been a member of since its beginning.
Libby is a retired high school guidance counselor with a love for reading. She is currently a member of three book clubs including WNBA’s club, which she has been a member of since its beginning.
Lee Fairbend, Philanthropy Chair, is the retired Executive Director and a founder of Book'em, a children's literacy organization in Nashville. She has been a member of the Nashville chapter of the Women’s National Book Association since 1990, serving as chapter president from 1993 – 1995 and 2008 – 2009. She chaired what became Nashville’s yearly National Reading Group Month event, Coffee with Authors during the Southern Festival of Books from 2008 – 2013. In 2010, as chair of the national WNBA Award, she travelled to New York to oversee the biennial presentation.
She is also a long-time member of the League of Women Voters and the Worcester Hahnemann Hospital Alumni Association. Lee has served on several boards and volunteered for organizations throughout Nashville. She was an active volunteer in local Girl Scout councils in four states, owing to the fact that she had three daughters!
A native New Englander, Lee has lived in Brentwood since 1983.
She is also a long-time member of the League of Women Voters and the Worcester Hahnemann Hospital Alumni Association. Lee has served on several boards and volunteered for organizations throughout Nashville. She was an active volunteer in local Girl Scout councils in four states, owing to the fact that she had three daughters!
A native New Englander, Lee has lived in Brentwood since 1983.