Staff & Board
The Prevention Alliance of Tennessee team is governed by a Board of Directors which includes coalition leadership and strategic sector partners from across the state. The CEO manages the day-to-day oversight of organizational operations.
Stephanie A. Strutner, MPH, CPSII
CEO
E-mail: sastrutner@gmail.com
Bio:
A retired substance use prevention coalition director, Stephanie Strutner, MPH, CPSII is the CEO of the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee and owns and operates an independent consulting firm, Catalyst Evaluation Group, through which she provides support to clients through measuring impact and conducting biostatistical and epidemiological analyses. She also serves as consultant and trainer for Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) where she teaches the intensive three-week National Coalition Academy for the Office of National Drug Control Policy. She is a trainer and consultant for the Alliance of Better Nonprofits in Knoxville where she helps support local charities to operate using effective business models and evaluate effectiveness to achieve sustainability and serves as the part-time CEO for the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee.
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Emory & Henry College, a Master of Public Health degree in Health Policy and Management from the University of Tennessee with a focus and field practice in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, a Certificate in Social Enterprise Effectiveness from the College of Business Administration at the University of Tennessee, and is a Level II Certified Prevention Specialist. Previously, Stephanie served as Executive Director for ASAP of Anderson for over a decade, where she secured $6 million in grant funds and left $300,000 in unrestricted raised funds. A veteran in the field of substance use prevention, she has served in leadership roles at the state and national levels for nonprofit organizations as well as for community coalitions and agencies.
Stephanie has spoken on a number of occasions before our U.S. Senators on Capitol Hill about the impact drug use has on our communities and has also testified in Nashville before the Tennessee General Assembly on multiple pertinent prevention issues. In 2018, she attended a meeting in the West Wing of the White House with the President of the United States to discuss effective opioid prevention strategies in local communities. In 2020, the efforts and impact of the coalition she led were selected to be showcased as a case study to Congress. Stephanie is also skilled in logic model development, strategic planning, and evaluation.
Stephanie has been honored with the Young Professionals of Knoxville Outstanding Young Professional Impact Award for her efforts in improving her community in 2015 and was awarded as CADCA’s Advocate of the Year in 2016. Under her leadership, ASAP of Anderson was honored as CADCA’s National Coalition of the Year in 2015.
An avid snow skier, Stephanie also enjoys stand-up paddle boarding, golf, boating, and spending time with her people, Matt and Blair, and their furry creature, Oliver.
Stephanie A. Strutner, MPH, CPSII
CEO
Prevention Alliance of Tennessee
sastrutner@gmail.com
Alex Windings Williamson County Anti-Drug Coalition
E-mail: alex.windings@kmclarkcg.com
Bio:
Alex Windings is a Principal for KM Clark Consulting Group, a consulting company dedicated to developing and sustaining non-profits. In 2014, she graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and a minor in Foreign Language with a focus on Spanish.
From 2014-2017, Ms. Windings was the Executive Director for the Williamson County Anti-Drug Coalition (WCADC) where she led a community wide organization in reducing tobacco, alcohol and other drug use among youth. Through her work with WCADC and KM Clark, Alex has led statewide trainings on different substance abuse prevention initiatives including Count It! Lock It! Drop It! (CLD) and “How to Talk to Your Kids About Anything” from the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. She is the Lead Trainer for CLD and helps counties across the state with implementation of this important prescription drug abuse prevention initiative.
Along with her training around prevention work, Alex has trained on topics around social and traditional media. In 2015, she earned her Certified Prevention Specialist I and Certified Trainer certifications through the Tennessee Certification Board.
Ms. Windings also serves as the Board Chair for the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee, mentors college girls at her local church and is a Certified POP Pilates Instructor. She was raised in Southern Illinois but has called Middle Tennessee her home for 4 years and enjoys spending her off time with her husband Chris and their two dogs, Milo and Nella.
Alex Windings
Principal
KM Clark Consulting Group
alex.windings@kmclarkcg.com
Barbara Kannapel, Executive Director Smith County Drug Prevention
E-mail:smithcodrugprevention@yahoo.com
Bio:
As a youth advocate, I have worked many years with youth development programs. I have worked in substance abuse prevention/education for 15 years and for the past two years have mentored students that are involved in the Juvenile Justice system. I have served as Executive Director of Smith County Drug Prevention Coalition since 2012 and am currently serving on the Carthage City Council and Smith County Commission. Being passionate about bringing positive change to youth and families, I volunteer at our local youth center, “The Spot.”
Barbara Kannapel
Executive Director
Smith County Drug Prevention
smithcodrugprevention@yahoo.com
Brian Sullivan, Director of Public Relations, Addiction Campuses
E-mail: bsullivan@addictioncampus.com
Bio:
After one year with Addiction Campuses, Brian Sullivan was promoted by Chief Marketing Officer Eric Mitchell from Public Relations Manager to Director of Public Relations. Before hiring with Addiction Campuses, Sullivan served over a decade in the television industry, with over 20 years experience as a print and broadcast journalist. He oversees all media communications, community projects, publicity campaigns and public marketing strategy for Addiction Campuses and all of its affiliates. Sullivan is an Emmy Award Winning producer, writer, lobbyist, activist and marketing strategist. He is active in several campaigns raising awareness in addiction treatment, equality and mental healthcare. He was nominated for the 2016 Nashville Emerging Leader of the Year Award. He is an active member of the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee, the Williamson County Anti-Drug Coalition, the Memphis Area Prevention Alliance, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Facing Addiction, Fed Up!, the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Center for Nonprofit Management, Music City Theatre Company, LGBTQI Nashvillians of Faith, Covenant of the Cross Ministries, Human Rights Campaign, HRC Nashville, Team Friendly Tennessee, Tennessee Equality Project, Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, Wilson County Anti-Drug Coalition, National Fraternal Order of Police, the Nashville Filmmakers Guild and is an ordained Minister. Sullivan is a proud donor of the Memphis Hope House, Nashville Cares, Covenant Cupboard Food Pantry, Second Harvest Food Bank, the Wounded Warrior Project and the Lola Embrey Children's Fund, which he founded in honor of his late grandmother. He has worked extensively on projects with several major networks including Fox News Network, CNN, Time Magazine, Washington Post, New York Times, Inside Edition and Mic.
Brian Sullivan
CEO
Sully Public Relations
sully@SullyPR.com
Camilla Bibbs-Lee Hamilton County Coalition
E-mail: cnbibbs@aol.com
Bio:
Camilla Bibbs-Lee, MSCJ has served as a community change advocate for more than 20 years. Her career began as a Public Relations Coordinator/ Case Manager for Senator Jim Sasser in 1993. In 2002, Ms. Bibbs-Lee was selected to coordinate the Weed and Seed Initiative in the M. L. King Neighborhood. The program’s ability to “weed out crime” and “seed in hope” hinged on a collaborative effort between law enforcement, neighborhood association members, community crime watch groups, prevention and intervention support services for youth and families, and neighborhood/ housing restoration efforts.
In 2006, Camilla led the charge to transform the M. L. King Weed and Seed program into community-based coalition that would impact the entire Hamilton County region. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director for the Hamilton County Coalition. Together with help from a diverse, multi-disciplinary team of professionals and community advocates, Ms. Bibbs-Lee develops comprehensive, environmental strategies that foster safe, healthy drug-free youth and young adults. Under her leadership, the Coalition has implemented strategies to enhance Rx Drug Take Backs and assist with Permanent Drop Boxes for law enforcement, host Community Think Tank workshops, Support Alcohol Vendor Compliance Checks, Provide TIPS training and Alcohol Awareness training for Beer Board Members, implement tobacco scans, distribute Drug Prevention/ Awareness materials to SRO, facilitate Youth Coalition projects, develop community-oriented prevention and safety plans, & serve as a Networking hub.
Camilla is a native of Chattanooga. She received an undergraduate degree from Fisk University and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Degree from the University at Chattanooga. She has two children and she enjoys traveling and quiet time.
Camilla Bibbs-Lee
Executive Director
Hamilton County Coalition
cnbibbs@aol.com
Christy Smith Unicoi County Prevention Coalition
Email: ucpreventioncoalition@gmail.com
Bio:
Christy Smith serves as the Director of Unicoi County Prevention Coalition (Uniting Communities through Prevention and Change) in Erwin, Tn. Prior to being director in Unicoi, Christy was employed with Insight Alliance (WCADC) for five years as a Community Outreach Assistant. Christy has been director of Unicoi County Coalition since its inception in 2016. She has over 8 years experience in the prevention field and is a Level 1 Certified Prevention Specialist. Christy received her Masters in Appalachian Studies from East Tennessee State University in 2007, and teaches Appalachian History, Religion, and Culture at King University in Bristol, Tn. She graduated twice from the CADCA National Coalition Academy, under Insight Alliance and Unicoi County Prevention Coalition.
Christy Smith
Unicoi County Prevention Coalition
ucpreventioncoalition@gmail.com
DeWayne Holman, MPA, CPSII Nashville Prevention Partnership
E-mail: dewayne@npponline.org
Bio:
Executive Director of the Nashville Prevention Partnership, DeWayne Holman Has worked in the substance abuse field since 1992 for a variety of organizations. He started working for Nashville Prevention Partnership (NPP) in 1998 and became the Executive Director in 2004. Holman was awarded a fellowship from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in the Developing Leadership in Reducing Substance Abuse Program in 2002. He also has work as a consultant on Youth Leadership and Development across the country. In addition, he has produced several highly acclaimed ad campaigns addressing community and national public health topics.
Holman was awarded the Minority Access to Research Careers Scholarship at Tennessee State University as well as the Graduate Minority Health Careers Institute Internship at Pennsylvania State University. He graduated from Tennessee State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and went on to earn a Master of Public Administration. He is married to Trisha and has two daughters, Marissa and Rachel.
DeWayne Holman
MPA, CPSII Nashville Prevention Partnership
dewayne@npponline.org
Sarah Murfree
Director, Prevention Coalition for Success
E-mail: smurfree@pc4s.org
Bio:
Sarah Murfree, PhD has served as the Executive Director of the Prevention Coalition for Success in Rutherford County, TN since 2019. After completing a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Mississippi, she worked in the pharmaceutical clinical research industry for over 10 years. Dr. Murfree returned to graduate school at Middle Tennessee State University’s (MTSU) Community and Public Health program where she completed a Master’s of Science degree in Heath and a Doctoral degree in Human Performance with a specialization in Health. Dr. Murfree was an adjunct professor for the Drugs and Violence in Health Education class and taught many other undergraduate classes as a Graduate Teaching Assistant during her time at MTSU. She is a trainer for the TN Commission for Children and Youth’s Building Strong Brains program and SAMHSA’s Trauma Informed Approach.
Dr. Murfree has served on many community boards and committees including the American Heart Association of Rutherford County, United Way of Rutherford and Cannon County, the Health, Housing, and Human Services Alliance of Rutherford County, MTSU’s Health Education Research Organization, Murfreesboro’s Main Street program, the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee, and as Rutherford County’s Regional Health Council Representative. She received the Outstanding Doctoral Graduate Teaching Assistant award from MTSU Department of Health and Human Performance in 2018. She has presented research and projects in various settings including the Tennessee Public Health Association conferences, the Meharry Translational Research Center’s Health Disparities conference, and the Middle Tennessee Donor’s Forum.
Sarah Murfree
Director
Prevention Coalition 4 Success
smurfree@pc4s.org
John Rust Tennessee Coalition on Children & Youth
E-mail: john.rust@tn.gov
Bio:
John Rust has worked in the social services field for 25 years. His career began in child welfare as a child protective service worker. He moved on to direct a tutor/mentor program and then branched out to the community development side of social services. He is skilled in strategic planning, legislative advocacy, funds development and community change. 2003 was his first foray in community anti-drug work. It quickly became a passion that he still enjoys today. He currently is the Regional Coordinator for the Upper Cumberland region with the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth
John Rust
Director of Community Outreach, Covenant Cookeville
john.rust@covenantcookeville.org
Karen Pershing, MPH, CPSII Metro Drug Coalition
Email: kpershing@metrodrug.org
Bio:
Karen Pershing serves as the Executive Director of the Metro Drug Coalition in Knoxville, Tennessee. She received her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Tennessee. After working for many years in public health, Karen received her Master’s Degree from UTK in Public Health. Ms. Pershing has provided numerous trainings throughout her career on health-related topics. Other credentials include: Women’s Addiction Services Leadership Institute Class of 2013 (A National program through SAMHSA), Leadership Knoxville Class of 2013, Tennessee Department of Health recognition for work in prescription drug abuse prevention, member of the Tennessee Public Health Association, Executive Women’s Association, and UT Chancellor’s Associates program. She is a Certified Prevention Specialist II and a 2014 graduate of the UT Consortium for Social Enterprise Effectiveness. Karen was the 2016 recipient of the Partners and Leadership Award from the Tennessee Public Health Association as well the recipient of the 2017 FBI Community Director’s Leadership Award, representing the Knoxville Field Office.
Karen Pershing
MPH, CPSII Executive Director
Metro Drug Coalition
kpershing@metrodrug.org
Kristina Clark, President and Founder Clark Consulting
E-mail: kclark.grantconsulting@gmail.com
Bio:
Kristina Clark has been the Executive Director of the Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition since 2007. Ms. Clark has dedicated herself to non-profit work since graduating from Middle Tennessee State University in May of 2006 with a Bachelor’s of Science in psychology and minors in mental services and sociology. Before serving as the Coalition Executive Director, Kristina held positions as a domestic violence court advocate and in home counselor for at risk youth. In 2012, Ms. Clark earned her Certified Prevention Specialist II and now trains throughout Tennessee on the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse as well as non-profit management and capacity building.
Under her leadership the Coalition has achieved several awards and grants including Drug Free Communities funding (Years 1-10), the National Got Outcomes! Coalition in Focus award 2013, Tennessee Department of Health’s Injury Prevention award 2012 and a 2014 Patriotic Employer Award from the Office of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve . With community collaboration and staff team work, Ms. Clark has been able to achieve community level change regarding substance abuse behaviors on a county wide scale including successfully advocating for local and state policy change. As an advocate for diversifying funds for non-profit sustainability, Ms. Clark recently lead her community coalition in trademarking and marketing a successful comprehensive prescription drug campaign, Count it! Lock it! Drop it!™ which will provide the non-profit foundation money for the future as well as assist counties throughout the country in reducing prescription drug abuse. Kristina Clark is also an executive board member for the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee, a statewide prevention legislation advocacy organization.
Kristina Clark was raised throughout the United States as a proud Air Force brat. Ms. Clark has now made Tennessee home base with her husband and best friend Michael Clark and their furry canine children Max and Sammie.
Kristina Clark
President and Founder
KM Clark Consulting
kclark.grantconsulting@gmail.com
Robin Racine Drug Free Tipton
E-mail: robin.racine@pcswtn.org
Bio:
Robin Racine serves as the Director of Drug Free Tipton in Tipton County, Tennessee. With over six years of experience working in the field of prevention, she has led the coalition from its beginning stages to an active coalition that engages the community in substance abuse prevention. She has and continues to serve on a variety of community boards. Robin received her Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Harding University. She is a Certified Prevention Specialist II and a graduate from the CADCA National Coalition Institute. Robin has been married to Mike for 23 years, has two sons, two beautiful daughter-in-laws, and three grandchildren with the fourth on the way.
Robin Racine
Director
Drug Free Tipton
robin.racine@pcswtn.org
Kate Durst, Epidemiologist Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Informatics & Analytics
E-mail: Kate.Durst@tn.gov
Bio:
Kate Durst is an Epidemiologist with the Tennessee Department of Health in the Office of Informatics and Analytics (OIA). Within OIA, Kate is a member of the Data Visualization Unit where she assists her team in transforming health data into creative content including data dashboards, infographics, and reports. In addition to data visualization, Kate works closely with the Informatics Unit in OIA where she has developed data analytic tools for the purpose of improving data collection and data quality. Kate has expertise in developing health data visual campaigns and data visualization technologies. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of Nebraska and a M.S. in Global Health from Notre Dame.
Kate Durst
Epidemiologist TNDOH, Office of Informatics & Analytics
Kate.Durst@tn.gov
Kimberly Ladd
Executive Director, Maury County Prevention Coalition
E-mail: kimberly@mauryprevention.org
Bio:
Kimberly Ladd is founder and Director for Maury County Prevention Coalition and a 2021 candidate for the national prevention specialist certification.
Entering the field of prevention to raise awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) as a social determinant to poor health and substance use disorder, Kimberly is responsible for building, growing and sustaining community based prevention in Tennessee’s south central region.
As an active member for the
National Campaign for Trauma Informed Policy and Practice, Kimberly is a skilled Building Strong Brains and Trauma Informed Care trainer, using a unique blend of stories and tactical strategies to promote upstream prevention for kids and families. She also serves on numerous state and local boards focused on health, safety, and wellness.
Prior to transitioning into the Prevention field Kimberly worked as a trainer, facilitator and learning design consultant in the private sector delivering topics such as tax research, 1031 exchange deferment, emotional intelligence and a range of soft skills.
Kimberly is a Middle TN native where she resides with her husband, son, cat Smokey and dog Sadie Mae. She enjoys outdoor recreation, hiking and summer rides in her jeep.
Kimberly Ladd
Executive Director, Maury County Prevention Coalition
kimberly@mauryprevention.org