Board of Directors
Alex Wharton, Chair
THE WHARTON LAW FIRM
Alexander Wharton has been an attorney with The Wharton Law Firm since 2010 where he currently concentrates his practice in civil litigation, including personal injury, workers’ compensation, premises liability and municipal law, in addition to criminal defense. Previously he worked with Teague Campbell Dennis & Gorham, LLP in Raleigh, North Carolina. Alexander graduated Cum laude from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 2007. While enrolled in law school, Alexander was a member and president of the UNC Broun National Trial Team from 2005-2007. Alexander has served in a number of leadership capacities with bar and other civic organizations such as the American Bar Association-Section of Litigation, Memphis Bar Association, Boy Scouts of America and Books from Birth.
Sarah Stuart
BURCH, PORTER & JOHNSON PLLC
Sarah (Smith) Stuart is an attorney at Burch, Porter & Johnson PLLC, where she practices civil litigation and labor and employment law. Sarah previously served as a law clerk in federal district court and on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is an adopted Memphian, having graduated from Rhodes College and the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. While in law school, Sarah was involved in the founding of the Memphis Community Bail Fund and has experience in voting rights restoration and expungement.
Natalie McKinney
WHOLE CHILD STRATEGIES, INC
Natalie is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Whole Child Strategies, Inc. She has served as the Director of Policy for both Shelby County Schools and legacy Memphis City Schools, which included policy development and legislative planning. Prior to moving to Memphis, Natalie founded and directed the Juvenile Law Clinic at North Carolina Central University School of Law, providing a holistic approach to representing youth accused of delinquent behavior and expelled from school. She was recently appointed to the Shelby County Juvenile Justice Consortium Board and has served on the advisory board of the Southern Juvenile Defender Center and the board of the Child Advocacy Commission of Durham. Natalie holds a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law; a Master of Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton; and a Bachelor of Arts from Spelman College.
Vance Gamble
Trugreen
Vance is TruGreen's Senior Manager of HR Planning and an organizational development and learning leader. In this capacity, Vance is dedicated to enhancing TruGreen's human capital strategies, focusing on talent development and high-performer programs.
Before joining TruGreen, Vance laid a solid academic foundation, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Economics from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN, followed by an MBA from the University of Memphis. Furthering his expertise, Vance obtained a Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He also holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI).
Vance's involvement extends into the Memphis community, serving as a board member for OutMemphis and volunteering with the Christian Brothers University School of Business Alumni Advisor Council. A lover of the outdoors, Vance enjoys exploring Memphis's parks and event venues, embracing the city's vibrant and rich culture.
Desi Franklin
First Horizon
Desi has practiced law in Memphis since 1984. She has worked as Assistant General Counsel of First Horizon Bank since 2013, managing the bank’s litigation and providing legal support to the bank’s commercial and consumer lending business as well as the bank’s special assets group. Prior to joining First Horizon, she was in private practice as a corporate and transactional attorney for 26 years, working at Waring Cox and Burch, Porter & Johnson as an associate attorney and later for 18 years as a shareholder with Baker Donelson. From 2010-2013, Desi served Memphis Mayor A C Wharton as the executive director of the Workforce Investment Network, Memphis’ local workforce development agency. She earned her BA and JD from University of Memphis. Throughout her career, Desi has committed her time and energy as a board member to numerous community organizations, including the Girl Scouts Heart of the South Council, Choices, Community Lift, Midtown Memphis.org, Calvary Episcopal Church, the Samaritan Counseling Centers, the Greater Memphis Chamber and Memphis in May.