BEST Team
The people who have worked hard to bring the BEST program to life in Tennessee
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." ~ Margaret Mead
Emily
O'Malley-Laursen
Current Title: Director, Offender Programs for TRICOR
Former Title: Tennessee Department of Correction’s Statewide Correctional Counselor Manager
Previously worked with the Offender Career and Workforce Development Services Manager for TDOC.
Founding BEST Team Member
“BEST will transform, empower, and provide meaning to our participants’ lives by providing the opportunity to explore what they love to do and transferring said love into a life long career.”
Karen
Vander Molen
Current Title: Program Director, BEST
MA '15 from Nelson and Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership at Lipscomb University
Founding BEST Team Member
Prison Ministry Volunteer at Riverbend since 2007
Former head of Prison Ministry Team at Christ UMC and Freedom House Ministry
“It has been my dream to have something empowering, hopeful and educational available to inmates willing to work hard to build a better future for themselves. When I learned about the Prison Entrepreneurship Program in Texas, it felt like it was the ideal model upon which to build BEST.”
Rick Johnson
Owner of RRJ Repair Shop
Co-owner of Van on Demand- World Class Transportation
Served 25 years in TDOC under a wrongful conviction
Joined BEST Team summer 2014
“I want to try to help people who are in the hard situations I used to face. So many people get out without anyone to help them, but if everybody who gets out would give back a little something, we could help everyone coming out.”
Dr. Turner
Nashe, Jr.
Bridget Riley
Current Title: Mom
Former AP English teacher, Christ Presbyterian Academy
Juvenile justice advocate since 2009
Founding BEST Team Member
Mentor with Men of Valor/Women of Virtue since 2011
“After encountering many failing policies and programs in our justice and prison systems, I wanted to be part of some solution-- any solution. Joining BEST was a practical way for me to invest directly in lives that I knew mattered immensely.”
Anne Weber
Current Title: CEO/Tennessee State Director for Communities In Schools of Tennessee
Founding BEST Team Member
Volunteer educator in jails and prisons since 1999
Member of Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry team, Nashville
“I believe that education is the way to elevate individuals, families and societies out of poverty. Providing solid entrepreneurial education and life skills training to those reentering society from our jails and prisons is the most effective way to reduce our country’s high recidivism rates. I am honored to work alongside the team who is making BEST a reality here in Tennessee”
Sam Lingo
Chief Operating Officer, Nashville Entrepreneur Center
Founding partner of U. S. Cryogenics (a solution-focused company extending the usable life of industrial wear parts)
Joined BEST Team in May, 2014
"While there's a fine line between initiative and disobedience, the fact remains that today's economy is driven by individuals and teams with entrepreneurial mindsets who strive to leave the world a better place. I'm excited about the opportunity to leverage the EC's best practices in entrepreneurial education to empower and enable people to ignite their internal innovation to pursue their dreams."
President, Innertainment Delivery Systems
Works in the field of correctional education, disseminating educational material using new technologies.
Joined BEST Team summer 2014
" I am honored to be involved with BEST because it will allow me to offer my five years of experience, to a population which receives very little attention for doing the right things. The statistics show that merely being released and doing good deeds does not override a felony. Although there is a psychological stigma associated with having a criminal record, the numbers show that ex offenders are prevalent in our day to day American life. ”