Board of Directors
Courtney Smith, Chairman
Courtney Smith graduated from the University of Tennessee with her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Special Education. She has been a life-long equestrian competing in Jumper and Hunter Jumper Competitions since the age of 9. Courtney has also worked alongside Bill Wilkerson (Vanderbilt) and Saddle Up! in Nashville to combine equine therapy and speech and language goals. Courtney has over 28 years of teaching experience in many different school settings.
Courtney currently serves on the board of several local nonprofits and is an active supporter of the Memphis Community. She is married to Bryan and has two boys, Stefan and Hill.
Kim Jordan, Vice Chairman
Kim Jordan graduated from University of North Carolina with a BS in Business Administration and Finance. Kim and her family have lived in Memphis since 2007. In that time she has contributed her time and energies to multiple civic and nonprofit organizations in t greater Memphis area.
Kim is an active supporter of Memphis University School, Youth Villages and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. She is married to Bryan and they have three children: Avery, Kendall and David.
Charles Burkett - Treasurer, First Horizon Foundation
Charles is Chairman of the First Horizon Foundation. He attended the University of Memphis where he received his BBA degree. He also attended the University of Virginia Graduate School of Banking. Charles has played an active role in community leadership and development, serving on boards including the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, Mid-South Minority Business Council, University of Memphis Board of Visitors, University of Memphis Investment Committee, United Way of the Mid-South, American Heart Association, LeBonheur Children's Medical Center Foundation, Memphis Symphony Orchestra Society and the South Region Chamber of Commerce.
Charles has been married to his wife of 45 years, Judy, and they have two daughters and one granddaughter. He enjoys hunting, the outdoors, hiking, traveling, fitness and spoiling his granddaughter Ella.
Lee Alexander - Secretary, International Paper Vice President Global Fiber Supply
Lee is responsible for overall strategy and leadership for International Paper’s fiber supply organization, managing a $3B annual spend to source more than 65 million tons of wood fiber and 5 million tons of recovered fiber to the 24 mills located in the United States. Lee also provides oversight and strategic planning support for International Paper’s global fiber supply organization. Lee is an Officer of the Forest Resource Association and a member of their Executive Board and American Forest and Paper Association’s (AF&PA), Wood Fiber Resource Committee.
Lee is a native of Cordele, Georgia and attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and the University of Georgia, where he completed a BS in Forest Resources. A 30-year veteran in the industry, he has held numerous operations, technical, and leadership positions during his career and has worked and lived across the south. Lee currently lives on a horse farm in Fayette County, Tennessee and enjoys working, living, and playing outdoors.
Cliff Hunt, Owner of Standard Construction Company and Hobson Development Corporation
Cliff is a graduate of Memphis University School and attended the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee. He is an owner of Standard Construction Company: A large heavy/highway construction company that operates in Memphis, West Tennessee and North Mississippi. Cliff is a past board member of the Tennessee Road Builders Association, Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractor, and has also served on the board for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Memphis, Christ Methodist Day School, Enterprise National Bank and Cadence National Bank.
He and his wife Louise have three sons, Scott, Pete and Spencer, and he enjoys golf, sports and his five grandchildren.
Kevin Kimery, President & CEO of Kimery Wealth Management
Kevin received his B.A. in business administration from the University of Memphis and an M.B.A. with a concentration in finance from Vanderbilt University. He remains active with Vanderbilt’s Alumni Board and the University of Memphis business school. In addition, Kevin is a former board member of the Memphis Botanic Garden, the Vanderbilt Graduate School of Business, the Exceptional Foundation of West Tennessee and the Memphis Zoo, as well as a former president of Hope House. Kevin’s current community involvement includes the New Memphis Institute, Carnival Memphis Board, The University of Memphis Fogelman College of Business’s Executive Board, and Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy.
Kevin lives in Memphis with his wife, Sherri, and their four daughters: Elizabeth, Kathryn, Rachel and Margaret.
Lance Moll, CEO of FedEx Freight
Lance serves as the CEO of FedEx Freight. He was the Senior Vice President for U.S. Operations at FedEx Freight from 2018 to 2020, and has been with FedEx Freight since 1992. He previously served as the Vice President of Operations for the Midwest Region and as Managing Director for several districts.
Lance is a graduate of the University of Missouri and serves on the U.S. Chamber Foundation Advisory Board. He and his wife Nancy relocated to the Memphis area in 2019, and Nancy volunteers her time at Southern Reins.
Advisory Board
Valerie Calhoun, FOX-13
Valerie Calhoun is co-host of the Emmy Award-winning newscast, Good Morning Memphis. Valerie is in the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame. She has won multiple Emmy Awards for her investigative and feature reporting. Valerie is from East Tennessee, but now calls Memphis home. She joined WHBQ-TV in December of 1995. Prior to that, Valerie honed her journalism skills at smaller markets in the Carolinas, Alabama, and at WCYB-TV in the Tri-Cities. Valerie volunteers as a Horse Leader and Sidewalker to support Southern Reins participants, and is a former Board member of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Valerie is frequently called to host and emcee events in the community. Some of the events she hosts each year include the Memphis Business Journal’s Super Women in Business Awards, Macy’s Meet the Experts, the Jockeys and Juleps fundraiser and author events at Novel.
Matt Galler, Galler Foods
Matt Galler is a lifelong Memphian who graduated from the University of Mississippi. He is the President of Galler Foods, the only locally-owned food distributor in the Memphis area.
Matt is a tremendous advocate for youth programs throughout the Mid-South, and has been a supporter of Southern Reins since 2017.
Bruce Hopkins, First Horizon Bank
Bruce has been with First Horizon for 30 years. Prior to being named West Tennessee Region Market President in 2011, he was Executive Vice President and Manager Private Client, Trust and Wealth Management. On July 1, 2016 Bruce was promoted to Chairman of the West Tennessee Region.
Bruce is very active in the community and serves on the following boards: Chair of ArtsMemphis board, Chair of Trezevant Manor board, serves as a board member of ALSAC and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce, New Memphis Institute, and 100 Club of Memphis. Bruce served as the 2013 General Campaign Chairman of United Way of the Mid-South and received the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis 2014 Golden Eagle Award for outstanding community service.
Brett Hughes, Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh PLLC
Brett is the managing member of Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh, PLLC in Memphis, TN. Before joining the firm in 1998, he served as an assistant district attorney general for Shelby County. Brett primarily works with businesses to assist them with their contract, employment, and insurance issues and frequently handles non-competition, non-solicitation, and other contract disputes. He also represents hospitals, health care professionals, lawyers, architects and engineers defending professional negligence claims, and works with individuals involved in contract disputes and personal injury matters.
Brett enjoys spending time with his family and participating in all outdoor activities, coaching youth basketball, football, baseball, and soccer, and is an avid tennis player and music lover.
Gary Lynch
Gary is retired from Smith & Nephew where he held global positions in R&D, Operations, and Quality & Regulatory. He is now a consultant working with start-ups and large OEMs in the medical device industry.
Gary attended Oakhaven High School, Southwest Community College, and Christian Brothers University. Gary and his wife, Kay, reside in DeSoto County and have three sons - Josh, Adam, and Noah, and four grandchildren. Gary has served on numerous boards in the greater Memphis area and is a PATH Intl. Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor.
Whit Marbut, AutoZone
As an IT Director at AutoZone, Whit is responsible for the strategy of the systems supporting the company's rapidly growing $2.6 billion B2B/Commercial business. He volunteers at the Southern Reins' Desoto campus and is a youth mentor with Strive, a Memphis non-profit bringing mentorship to local elementary school students. Born on a small farm outside of Atlanta, Whit grew up with an eclectic mix of animals ranging from horses to an emu. As a strong believer in the special bond that develops between people and animals, the mission of Southern Reins resonates with Whit.
At home, Whit enjoys playing Legos with his daughter Sofia, running, and baking.
Bridget Trenary
Bridget is originally from the west coast, and her Texas roots run deep, too! At a very early age she began showing Quarter horses throughout the Western United States and eventually, with the influence from her mother and the great horse trainers, Don Dodge, Buster Welch and Shorty Freeman, she began showing cutting horses. In her teens, she was ranked among the top fifteen in the world of the National Cutting Horse Association on her World Champion mare, “Annie Glo.” She then went on to attend Texas State and TCU.
Bridget was a founding board member of The Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame in Ft. Worth, Texas. She is also a civic and non-profit leader among the Memphis community. She has three children; Justin, Brittney and Pearce and one grandchild, Jacks.
Bill Williams, Allen Electric
Bill Williams is a long time Memphian who graduated of Raleigh Egypt High school with two additional years of electrical engineering studies. Bill left academia to begin his career as an electrician and electrical contractor. In 2012 Bill helped re-open Allen Electric and serves as Vice President.
He is a 23-gallon LifeBlood donor, served on the board of West Memphis Christian Academy and the apprentice and training committee of the Mid-South Independent Electrical Contractors, and is co-coach of the Frayzer Judo Club. He is active in his faith and enjoys time with his family, especially his grandson, Harry.
Dr. Kakki Wright, DVM
Dr. Wright began riding horses at an early age and they have been a passion in her life ever since then. You will find her every day, rain or shine, taking care of your horses or her own. She graduated from Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1990 and opened Full Circle Equine Services in 1996.
Her primary interests include, but are not limited to, lameness and sports medicine. For recreation, she enjoys riding, water and snow skiing, scuba diving and spending time with her favorite person - her daughter Kali!
Miranda Yarbro, FedEx Freight
Originally from a small town in North Alabama, Miranda grew up on a family farm with a tremendous love for animals, especially horses. At the age of nine, her love of horses was permanently imprinted with the gift of Blaze, a dapple gray quarter horse. Miranda graduated from the University of Alabama in 2002, and has worked in non-profit or corporate communications in the greater Memphis area since then. She is currently part of the FedEx Freight corporate communications team.
Miranda and her sons, Alex and Will, reside in Collierville, TN. Miranda is married to Beau, and they love spending time with their families and watching their kids grow, attending church, traveling and working out. She and Beau both enjoy horseback riding and Miranda has passed the love on to her sons, who also enjoy soccer, traveling to the coast and University of Alabama football.
