News
Contact: Rebecca Finley
615.321.4939
rfinley@cfmt.org
September 7, 2006
The Community Foundation Names New Board Members
Nashville, Tenn. - The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, a charitable organization that benefits nonprofits serving those in need in 40 Middle Tennessee counties, has elected seven outstanding community leaders as new members of its board of directors, according to Foundation Chair Nelson Andrews:
Ben Cundiff
Farzin Ferdowsi
Kerry Graham
Gordon Inman
Linda Rebrovick
Michael Shmerling
“This diverse group of leaders and their far-reaching talents are an exceptional addition to our board,” said Andrews. “Their commitment to the community and dedication to the quality of life in Middle Tennessee have already served so many, and we look forward to drawing from their wisdom and insight to continue reaching out to people across the region.”
Cundiff is a community leader who has actively supported numerous organizations through his commitment and volunteer efforts. He is highly involved with the Center for Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University and received the Summit Award in October 2005 for volunteerism. To recognize his service, the Center has established the Cundiff Fund for Excellence. Previously, Cundiff was a partner at the Nashville law firm of Dearborn and Ewing from 1977 – 1991. He became managing partner in 1986. Cundiff and his wife currently run Cundiff Farms, a 12,000-acre farm located in Trigg and Caldwell counties in Kentucky. Additionally, he has served as the chairman of the Trigg County Industrial Authority and as the industry vice president with the 2000 Cadiz-Trigg County Chamber of Commerce. Cundiff received his bachelor’s degree and law degree from Vanderbilt University.
Ferdowsi is the founder and CEO of Management Resources Company, a Brentwood-based fast food franchise company with 80 units and approximately 2,000 employees. He is a former member of the Taco Bell Franchise Association, former board member of NCCJ and a member of the Taco Bell Foundation. An active community member, Ferdowsi serves on the boards of Tennessee State University Foundation, Goodwill Industries and the Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Nashville and The Nashville Board of Trustees for Leadership Nashville and serves as Chairman of the Board for Reliant Bank. He is the founder and former chairman of the Nashville Zoo. Ferdowsi received his B.S. in industrial and mechanical engineering from Kansas University.
Graham is the executive vice president and creative director of The Buntin Group, the largest advertising agency in Tennessee. As founder of Campaign, Inc. in Atlanta, he joined Buntin when the two agencies merged in 1997 and has twice been named by AdWeek as “Copywriter of the Year.” The Portfolio Center
in Atlanta has named Graham one of the “50 Greatest Copywriters of All Time.”
Inman is chairman of Fifth Third Bank, Tennessee. A longtime Nashville business leader, Inman has been involved in starting many businesses including Franklin Financial Corporation, First National Bank of Knoxville, the Middle Tennessee division of Cellular One, and the Nashville Scene. Inman received Middle Tennessee State University’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2000-2001, the Review Appeal’s “Person of the Year, 2002”, the Heritage Foundation of Franklin-Williamson County’s Patron’s Award in 2003, the Bridgestone Champion Award for Business Leadership in 2006, and the Association of Fundraising Professional’s Philanthropist of the Year for 2006. He currently serves on the board of trustees at Belmont University, the board of directors of the Boy Scouts of America, and the Nashville Symphony. Inman is a veteran and served in the US Army in Korea.
Rebrovick leads Dell Inc.’s health care division in the United States, a role in which she is responsible for sales, marketing, customer service and support. Previously, she held a number of positions as BearingPoint, Inc., including executive vice president and chief marketing officer of the company and executive vice president of health care consulting. Currently, Rebrovick serves as chairman of the board for the Nashville Technology Council and is a member of the Board of Directors for HealthStream. Rebrovick received a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and also earned recognition as one of Auburn University’s top 400 women graduates in the past 100 years.
Shmerling currently serves as a Senior Advisor to Kroll, Inc., having previously served as president and chairman of Kroll’s Background Screening Group and executive vice president and chief operating officer. Shmerling has been involved in the founding of several businesses and has worked with many public service organizations. Currently, he is on the board of directors of United Way of Metropolitan Nashville, Nashville Alliance for Public Education, University School of Nashville, Fisk University, and Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) as board treasurer. Shmerling received his Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of Oklahoma.
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee oversees more than 565 charitable funds. In the past fourteen years, The Community Foundation has distributed $270 million to community programs and institutions. Currently, The Community Foundation manages endowment, unrestricted and memorial funds totaling more than $379 million. It is located at 3833 Cleghorn Avenue, #400, Nashville, Tennessee 37215. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.
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