Team & Board

Kay Kretsch

In July 2020, Kay Kretsch joined Dismas as the CEO of Dismas Inc. As a board member since 2015, Kay lead the five-year Dismas expansion project from start to finish and during that period also served two years as the Board Chair, bringing her hands-on experience to the position. Kay recently left her corporate position with the Highmark Health Plan to take on this leadership assignment.

Kay is a multifaceted business leader and change agent with diverse experience in operations, program management, contract management, supply chain management, quality management, strategic planning, business development, and organizational design. She has a track record of consistent results in building performance-driven organization for Global 2000 and Fortune 500 companies. Her broad background includes healthcare, wireless technologies, test publishing, commercial and military avionics, semiconductors, defense, and emerging technology arenas. Her leadership style relies on bringing cross-functional operations into close alignment to achieve unprecedented performance results.

Originally from Wisconsin, she obtained her BA from the University of Wisconsin and her MBA from the University of St. Thomas in St Paul, MN, is a registered Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, a certified Balanced Scorecard Professional, and Key Performance Indicator Professional. Using this set of skills, she has helped organizations develop the performance measurement systems necessary to manage their strategic and tactical plans. She has over 30 years of board service, including serving as a volunteer administrator for the Honeywell Foundation, and has received numerous community awards.

Phillip Hill

Phillip joined Dismas House in April 2020 as Vice President of Operations. He brings to the role a rich and varied background in operations management, project management, staff development, customer service, and interior design.

Originally from Athens, Tennessee, Phillip has called Nashville home since 1991. He and his husband enjoy traveling the globe, caring for a multitude of dogs and Crossfit.

Throughout his personal and professional life, Phillip has aimed to be of service to others and lead by that example. He has seen the benefits of such programs as Dismas House through Project Return, Catholic Charities job training programs, and Thistle Farms.

Dr. Julie Doochin

In August 2019, Dr. Julie Doochin joined Dismas, Inc. as Vice President of Programs. She brings to the position an extensive background in non-profit leadership, program development and management, strategic planning and educational leadership, as well as more than eight years of experience working with incarcerated individuals and returning citizens.

Most recently, Dr. Doochin served as Foundation Director for American Paper & Twine Co., where she worked to deepen and expand the corporation’s social impact in the community. Prior to that, Dr. Doochin founded and served as Executive Director for the Tennessee Higher Education Initiative (THEI), a non-profit organization whose mission is, in part, to provide on-site, degree-granting college programs to incarcerated individuals in correctional facilities in Tennessee and to prepare these individuals for successful re-entry. During Dr. Doochin’s tenure as Executive Director, THEI, working in partnership with the TDOC and local community colleges, served more than 600 incarcerated men at three SACS-accredited “prison” campuses in two regions of the state, culminating in the first graduation of 23 men behind bars in Tennessee since the 1980s. THEI’s recidivism rate is less than 10% and to date, 52 students have earned A.S. degrees while incarcerated and 7 students have earned Associate’s or Bachelor’s degrees after returning home.

A Nashville native, Dr. Doochin earned a BA in History and Psychology (’94) from Vanderbilt University, a M.Ed. in Secondary Education from Vanderbilt Peabody College (’97), and a MA in European History (’03) from the University of Pennsylvania. In Dec. 2013, Dr. Doochin earned her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Learning Organizations and Strategic Change from Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. Previously, Dr. Doochin taught high school history and psychology for nine years and served as Director of Education for the Tennessee Holocaust Commission before entering the corporate world as the Director of Marketing for American Paper & Twine Co.

LoLita Toney

Smart, authentic and fun – these three words are defining qualities of LoLita Toney, a local business and community leader driven by her passion for working with people and organizations on achieving their maximum potential. LoLita is a recognized philanthropy strategy expert in both the nonprofit and educational spaces. She develops and implements strategies to amplify her clients’ development efforts.
A native Nashvillian, LoLita was raised by strong women who taught her the importance of working hard and embodying a servant’s heart. Throughout her life, she has lived by these standards and continuously fought for others.

LoLita was a 17-year member of the Army Reserve and National Guard, serving on active duty with the U.S. Army in Frankfurt, Germany, and in the Gulf War.

With every opportunity, LoLita challenges the status quo by lifting the voices of other women and opening doors to empower a range of perspectives. She’s an advocate for equal opportunity and diversity in all their forms.

LoLita’s work in the Nashville nonprofit community reflects the dedicated woman that she is. She has served as past president or chair for the YWCA Junior Board (a board she co-founded), Nashville Cable, Nashville CARES, the Greater Nashville Chapter of the National Black MBA Association, Renewal House and others. She currently serves on the Academy of Country Music Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.
Numerous prominent organizations have recognized LoLita for her leadership. She is a recipient of the Nashville Business Journal’s Women in Music City Award, Power Moves Community Advocacy Award, and Nashville Cable Civic Outreach and Rising Star awards. She’s also been a nominee for both the ATHENA Award and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Davis-Galloway Award and was a finalist for the Nashville Business Journal’s Woman of Influence and Nashville Emerging Leader awards.

Caroline Clipper

Audra Davis

In October 2020, Audra joined Dismas House as a case manager. Originally from Kentucky, Audra moved to Nashville in 2013 to pursue her Bachelor’s degree. Studying Social Entrepreneurship led her to measure success through social impact and sustainable change. She began her career working in admissions and recruitment in higher education and local charter schools. She made the transition into reentry services at Project Return, working for their transitional employment social enterprise. There, Audra found her passion of working in reentry, advocating for and empowering our community.

In her free time, Audra loves spending time with her foster kitten, Iris, watching reality television, and adventuring.

Dwanna Lowery

Originally from New Orleans, Dwanna has a strong sense of community and resilience and a deep desire to help others set and reach life goals by identifying barriers and solutions.

Lowery earned a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, with a focus in Psychology, Sociology, and Public Administration, from the University of New Orleans in 2017.

Her volunteer experience includes visiting with men housed in Angola Prison, the Louisiana State Penitentiary, as well as providing free haircuts for individuals at various homeless shelters in the New Orleans area. She also has previous experience working with The Ronald McDonald House of South Louisiana, supporting families while their children received medical care.

In 2019, Dwanna moved to Middle Tennessee and began her career as a Correctional Counselor with the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC). There she served as a pod counselor and a CBIP (Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Program) class facilitator for men serving time at Turney Center Industrial Complex.

In August of 2021, Dwanna joined the Dismas House team as a Case Manager. She is extremely excited to continue supporting and empowering men who have served time in prison. She has a strong belief in one’s ability to make significant, lasting changes through educational, mental health, and job skills training opportunities.

Dwanna enjoys spending time with her family, listening to live music, trying out new restaurants, and practicing mindful meditation.

Hillary Dzialowski

Zay Franklin

Zay Franklin was born in Las Vegas, Nev., and relocated to Huntsville, Ala., where he attended middle school and high school. He currently is a junior at Vanderbilt University, majoring in English and African American & Diaspora Studies. He enjoys spending time with friends, watching movies, and pursuing his passions of making rap music and helping other people.

Kleopatra Gaiter

Kleopatra Gaiter currently serves as the Admissions Manager at Dismas House. She brings to the position 7 years experience working with underserved and at risk populations.

Born in Knoxville, Kleopatra is a true Tennessean in the sense she has lived all over the state of Tennessee. She graduated with her Bachelors in Social Work from University of Tennessee, Martin. Post graduation, Kleopatra served as a Case Manager for the TN Department of Children Services. Following that role, she served as the Social Services Coordinator for The Salvation Army in Nashville, TN. During this time, Kleopatra decided she wanted to take her education further and made plans to pursue a graduate degree in social work at the University of Tennessee. During the program, she collaborated with local grassroots organizations on advocacy campaigns geared towards local bills and policies that affect incarcerated individuals. She also researched and gained extensive knowledge on ACES(adverse childhood experiences) and worked to develop trauma-informed care approaches for local agencies and organizations. She graduated with her Master's in Social Work in May of 2018.

Aside from formal positions, Kleopatra’s volunteer activities include serving in leadership positions for local programs aimed at supporting and mentoring minority youth including Nashville’s Daughters and Bullapalooza, a local music festival with proceeds going to youth aging out of foster care. Kleopatra also serves as a doula, with a focus on providing services to low-income and women of color.

Aside from her role at Dismas House Kleopatra’s other most important job is being the best Auntie to her niece and nephew, Lacey and Lyndon. She enjoys spending time with them, traveling, reading, and baking.

Jessica Guzman

Jessica Guzman has extensive non-profit administrative experience spanning nearly 16 years in Tennessee and North Carolina. Most recently, she served as deputy administrator at the YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, directly supporting the CEO, and implementing process improvements. Previously, she served as executive administrative assistant at the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina where she improved donor relations and fundraising efforts. Prior to that, she served as an executive administrative assistant at the Buncombe County Health Center and PassAlong Networks. Jessica started her career as a senior sales and service assistant at Microsoft in Franklin, Tenn. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Aside from formal positions, Jessica has served as a Young Leaders Council Intern on the Friends of Warner Parks Board and continues to volunteer for the non-profit. Additionally, she has completed the Allstate Foundation’s Nonprofit Executive Leadership Program through Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She is a founding member of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Gamma Gamma Chapter.

Aside from her role at Dismas House, Jessica’s other most important job is being the best dog mom to her Catahoula, Stella. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, working out and reading.

Mike Krone

Kenisha Rhone

A leader in communications and higher education, Kenisha Rhone has 20 years of experience as a sports professional in the areas of strategy, training, and public relations. As a trainer and speaker, she has facilitated numerous workshops for students, employees, faculty, and staff as a part of organization-wide initiatives in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Most recently, she was named CoSIDA's 2019 Bob Kenworthy Community Service Award winner, becoming the first woman of color to receive the prestigious honor. Kenisha was also named the 2018 National Volunteer of the Year by Play Like a Girl, a national non-profit organization focused on impacting girls ages 9-15 through STEM and sport. She also serves on numerous local boards of directors and was a member of the Young Leaders Council, Class 68.

While at Belmont University, the St. Louis, Mo., native served as the primary media contacts and sports information director for numerous Division I programs, including three with NCAA Tournament runs. Prior to Belmont, Kenisha was an Athletic Communications Assistant at the University of Pennsylvania for two years, overseeing 15 athletic teams and assisting with the Penn Relays, before coming to Nashville in 2004 to serve as Sports Information Coordinator at Tennessee State University.

The Indiana University-Bloomington graduate began her career in sports through internships with the St. Louis Sports Commission and the St. Louis Gateway Classic before working with the media relations department of the NFL St. Louis Rams during their successful Super Bowl XXXIV run in 1999-2000.

In addition to her work with Dismas House, Kenisha is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and the Nashville chapter of NABJ, where she now serves as vice president.

M.C. Sammons

Laurel Weiss