Memphis Mayor-elect Paul Young picks a transition team. Who are the community leaders on it?

Katherine Burgess, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·2 min read
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Memphis Mayor-elect Paul Young has begun assembling his transition team, a team that will be led by top Memphis leaders in nonprofit organizations, government, education, business and a former Memphis Police Department director.

Among the co-chairs of eight committees are the former chief people officer for FedEx, a former University of Memphis president, the president of the Greater Memphis Chamber and more.

"Diversity is a defining element of this team," Young said in a news release. "It was important to pull together the best and brightest people from all neighborhoods and all facets of our community. Our business sector, civic, nonprofit, and community organizations are all represented in this team, and we look forward to adding more.”

The team includes dozens of members and 25 sub-committee co-chairs.

Paul Young gives a victory speech after winning the mayoral election as his son Paxton Young, 8, wife Jamila Smith-Young and daughter Zöe Young, 12, look on during a watch party at Minglewood Hall in Memphis, Tenn., on Thursday, October 5, 2023.
Paul Young gives a victory speech after winning the mayoral election as his son Paxton Young, 8, wife Jamila Smith-Young and daughter Zöe Young, 12, look on during a watch party at Minglewood Hall in Memphis, Tenn., on Thursday, October 5, 2023.

Nearly 85 Memphis advocates have agreed to represent their communities on the transition team, according to the news release.

The team is 45% millennial or Generation Y, 40% Generation X, 57% Black, 36% white and 4% Latino or other races, according to the release.

Young’s term as the city’s next mayor starts Jan. 1.

Here are the cochairs of each subcommittee:

People/Appointments

  • Emily Greer, CEO, Greer Leadership Solutions. Former chief administrative officer, ALSAC/St. Jude

  • David Rudd, former president, University of Memphis

  • Chris Winton, former chief people officer, FedEx

Public Safety

  • Jennifer Collins, president, Rhodes College. Former Assistant US Attorney

  • Sandy Bromley, deputy director of Justice Programs, Shelby County Division of Community Services

  • Toney Armstrong, director of security, St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Former MPD Director

  • K. Durrell Cowan, director, Heal 901

Economic Development

  • Christina McCarter, owner, Feast & Graze

  • Ted Townsend, president & CEO, Greater Memphis Chamber

  • Jozelle Booker, president and CEO, Mid-South Minority Business Council Continuum

Strong Neighborhoods

  • Archie Willis, president, ComCap Partners

  • Janet Boscarino, executive director, Clean Memphis

  • Regina Blount Williams, neighborhood leader

Supporting Our Youth

  • Jonathan Torres, CEO, Memphis Athletic Ministries

  • Patrice Thomas, chief of staff, Memphis Shelby County Schools

  • Sarah Lockridge Steckel, CEO, The Collective Blueprint

Thriving Arts & Culture

  • Cara Greenstein, vice president of Public Engagement, Doug Carpenter & Associates

  • Craig Brewer, Filmmaker

  • George Monger, CEO, Connect Music

  • Rachel Knox, senior program officer, Hyde Family Foundation

Transportation & Infrastructure

  • Anna McQuiston, executive director, Mid-South Development District

  • Courtney McNeal, chief of staff, Innovate Memphis

  • Stephen Edwards, senior engineer, TREKK Design Group

Good Governance

  • Cheyenne Johnson, Councilwoman, Memphis City Council

  • Dorcas Young Griffin, director, Shelby County Community Services and Young’s sister

  • Marco McClendon, mayor, City of West Memphis

Katherine Burgess covers Memphis City Government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com or followed on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kathsburgess.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Paul Young names transition team leaders, including top officials