Justin Entzminger Executive Director

Justin brings a decade of experience as a strategy and growth consultant for nonprofits, start-ups and for-profit businesses to his role as Director of Innovate Memphis. He joined the team in 2014, and leads its blight priority efforts, developing tools to measure blight and the impact of mitigation strategies. Previously, Justin served as the Director of Business Insights for Hyphen Market Solutions, Strategic Planning Consultant for media start-up DittyTV and Manager of Strategy Development for Southern Growth Studio. Justin received a Master of Entrepreneurship degree from the Massey School of Business at Belmont University and holds a B.A. in English from Georgetown University.

Susan Dalton Program Manager

Susan is a lifelong Memphian, drawn to Innovate Memphis by the unique opportunity to make meaningful social impact. As a Program Manager, she performs research, design, and project management roles to support multiple programs and priority areas. She serves as the primary project support role and data evaluation lead for Reimagining the Civic Commons, Neighborhood Condition and Mobility Management. Susan also supports operations for the organization, developing internal process improvements, technology integration, and manages the marketing, communications and design efforts for Innovate Memphis. Prior to joining Innovate Memphis, she worked as a research assistant for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center on research studies related to public health. Previous work includes supporting digital strategy and database management for an agriculture technology startup devoted to minimizing waste. As an independent design consultant, she managed client contracts to deliver a portfolio of marketing products. Susan graduated from the University of Memphis with a B.A in Communications and is currently enrolled in the Executive Program for Social Impact Strategy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice.

Altonio Smith Community Data Lead

Altonio Smith, MURP, MBA is an experienced and dedicated Urban Planning Professional who works with municipalities, corporations, and individuals to increase the health, safety, and welfare of those involved. He is dedicated to encouraging continued and increased equality throughout communities, and serving as a liaison between community groups, government agencies, and elected officials. Altonio joined the Innovate Memphis team to serve as the Community Data Lead.

Altonio holds Undergraduate and Master’s Degrees in Urban and Regional Planning, and Business Administration from Alabama A&M University; and his career focus is oriented towards solving social and technical related planning/economic issues with public and private groups.

Sylvia Crum Commute Options Program Manager

Sylvia’s preferred type of bicycle riding is for transportation. Arriving in Memphis in 2012 she quickly found a home and thanks to growing bicycle infrastructure, her family shares just one car and a fleet of bicycles. Her work as the Commute Options Manager, at Innovate Memphis, allows her to encourage local businesses, employees and students to shift from drive-alone commutes to transit, walking, rideshare and bicycling. Before coming to Innovate Memphis, Sylvia served as the Director of Revolutions Bicycle Cooperative. And in previous roles, she supported economic empowerment programs for women in both Senegal and Malawi. She received a B.S. in Chemistry from Bryn Mawr College.

Courtney McNeal Community Engagement Specialist

Courtney is a native Memphian who has experienced many of the barriers that impact the quality of life for her fellow citizens. Her work at Innovate Memphis enables her to focus on social equity while carrying out her personal mission of helping and loving the people of her amazing hometown. Courtney has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Memphis, where she was also a graduate fellow in the Housing and Community Development Research Program. She is certified in Nonprofit Management and Leadership by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance of Kansas City, and has a graduate certificate in Philanthropy Leadership at the University of Memphis. Courtney’s areas of focus include community outreach and development, education equity and special events.

Nadine McLean Program Associate

Nadine is a firm believer in the people of today, actively and mindfully shaping the future for themselves and others to come. In her role with Innovate Memphis, Nadine applies anthropological principles and human-centered design methodologies to help shape a future Memphis with and for all Memphians. Currently, she works in the priority areas of Homes & Neighborhoods and Transportation & Mobility. Nadine holds a Master of Arts in Applied Anthropology from the University of Memphis.

Alejandro Paredes Commute Options Ambassador

Alejandro Paredes is originally an audiovisual journalist from Venezuela. He came to Memphis in 2014 and he quickly fell in love with the city. His passion for cycling led him to join the Commute Options program in 2017. As a Commute Options ambassador, he engages with community members and employers to promote transportation choices. Alejandro also serves as a storyteller to capture audiovisual content and narratives from residents and partners impacted by Innovate Memphis programs.

Sarah Farrell Project Management Specialist

In 2019, Sarah began working with Innovate Memphis as a project management specialist focusing on the Healthcare Navigator Program at the Memphis Fire Department.

Sarah began her career in philanthropy at the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis in donor relations. After almost five years with the Community Foundation, she joined FedEx for over 12 years. Sarah began her career in FedEx Social Responsibility providing grants administration and executive giving requests support. During her time at FedEx, she had various roles including budget management, charitable shipping, special projects, and developing a global citizenship campaign.

She graduated from the University of Memphis with a BBA in Marketing and a minor in Nonprofit Management. Sarah lives in Memphis with her husband, Patrick, and her two dogs, Crosby and Daisy. In her spare time, she enjoys cheering for the Memphis Tigers.

Austin Harrison Research Fellow

Austin Harrison is a Ph.D Candidate in the Urban Studies Institute at Georgia State University. His research interests include neighborhood change, community development, urban policy and shrinking cities. In addition to his Ph.D research, Austin is also an active practitioner in the housing and neighborhood arena. Through his independent consulting firm, he has worked with nonprofits, local governments, and developers across the country to implement programs and policies aimed at inclusively revitalizing neighborhoods, developing quality affordable housing, and stabilizing systemically disinvested communities. He also is a Research Fellow for Innovate Memphis, supporting the launch of a local open data intermediary in Memphis, Tennessee focused on applied data analysis and policy research to drive advocacy for neighborhood and housing concerns such as evictions, abandoned property, and local market dynamics.

Lenzi Rowsey Lead for America Fellow

Lenzi joins Innovate Memphis as a Lead For America fellow. Lenzi is a recent graduate from Strayer University where she received her Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Urban Development & Foreign Policy. She graduated summa cum laude from The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in May 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Psychology/Legal Studies and a minor in English. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, going to worship service, and analyzing the importance of urban development within the public administration field. She is a charismatic, energetic, and persuasive young professional offering expertise in community service advocacy, public administration, and government relations.

Steven Willoughby Community Fiber Infrastructure Lead

Bess Philipoom EMS Research Associate