BOARD TREASURER - EMAIL WOOD

Wood Caldwell, a principal at Southeast Venture, has more than 40 years of experience in commercial real estate development and sales, as well as 7 years in engineering design. Both provide valuable expertise to Southeast Venture’s development activities, which include such high-profile projects as 12 South Flats and Silo Bend. Wood joined the team in 1991 and has since specialized in all aspects of site identification and analysis, acquisition, zoning, municipal approvals, design, construction management and marketing. Most recently, Wood was recognized for his prominence in Nashville’s development industry on the Nashville Business Journal’s 2019 list of CRE Power.

BOARD SECRETARY - EMAIL ERIN

Erin serves as Director of Operations of The Forge Nashville, which works to give more people affordable access to the professional tools, space and support they need to succeed as makers and artists, and to provide new opportunities to youth in underserved communities. A Nashville native, Erin received her B.A. in Sculpture from Pitzer College in California and her M.F.A. in Sculpture from The Ohio State University. Previously, she has acted as a shop/studio manager in both New York and Tennessee, and through the years she has taught classes on materials, plumbing, electrical work and construction. Also, an entrepreneur, Erin has owned two small businesses for more than a decade: Erin Body Care and Erin Hewgley Jewelry. 

BOARD MEMBER - EMAIL LARRY

Larry Atema is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Development Group, Inc. Since its formation in 1990, Commonwealth has specialized in commercial real estate, office, retail, industrial and multi-family development, project management, and historic restoration.

Mr. Atema also serves as President of Fernwood Real Estate, a residential and commercial real estate brokerage firm in Franklin, Tennessee, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from LaTourneau College.

Board Member - Email Shelby

As the Vice President of Public Awareness for the National School Choice Awareness Foundation, Shelby serves as the organization’s chief spokesperson and oversees the foundation’s efforts to research, develop, and promote school navigation resources for parents.

Shelby has worked in senior-level positions with the National School Choice Week charitable program since 2014. Prior to her work with NSCAF and its related programs, Shelby worked in several positions at academic journals and for government officials. Shelby grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, and was homeschooled. She graduated from Houston Baptist University with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and government.

Board Member - Email Danny

Danny Herron is the President & CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville.

Mr. Herron has led Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville since 2010, transforming it into one of the nation’s most respected Habitat affiliates. With over 40 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, banking, construction, and engineering, Danny brings a wealth of expertise in organizational growth, community engagement, and financial stewardship.

Before joining Habitat, he served as President of Enterprise Construction, Inc., and held executive roles in banking, including President & CEO of Cumberland Bank and Regional President of GreenBank. He began his career as a civil engineer with Duke Power and held leadership positions at Republic Properties.

Danny also serves on the Board of Directors for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, advancing affordable housing initiatives across the region. A dedicated Nashville resident, he is passionate about building inclusive communities and expanding access to homeownership.

Board Member - Email Ana

Originally from Mexico, Ana emigrated to the US at age thirteen. She spent her high school years in Middle Tennessee and studied architecture at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. 

Since moving to Nashville in 2017, she has worked on and managed a wide variety of projects, including residential, high-end commercial spaces, adaptive reuse projects, and numerous K-12 schools.

Ana is a Project Architect at EOA Architects, where she has worked on State projects in Nashville and surrounding counties.  She is passionate about client relationships, sustainability, and finding ways to positively impact our community. When she is not at work, Ana is volunteering, hiking, or dreaming up home-improvement projects.  She is also very involved in the Nashville Chapter of National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMAnash), AIA TN Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and serves on the O’Moore College of Architecture and Design Advisory Board.

Board Member - Thomas Lowing

Thomas Lowing is a licensed architect in the State of Michigan and a LEED Accredited Professional actively engaged in professional consulting services while serving as an educator in accredited programs of architecture. As a graduate of the University of Michigan (M. Arch), his own graduate studies’ concentration in building sciences and energy conscious design have grounded his work in genuinely sustainable design principles.

As an educator, his concurrent roles in Christian education as a fulltime faculty member at Andrews University and as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Notre Dame focused on the traditional values of design and sustainable construction as informants for the integration of advances in technology and design in numerous courses. These combined experiences as both educator and architect serve as a bridge to the profession and practice of architecture.

His professional involvement in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has contributed to work in national membership groups as well as regional and local chapters. His professionalism underscores a strong commitment to students and emerging professionals on their path to licensure.