Women of Worth Retreat

Marie Williams, LCSW, TDMHSAS Commissioner

Marie Williams, LCSW, gratefully serves as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS). She was reappointed to her position by Governor Bill Lee on January 19, 2019 and was initially appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam, effective October 22, 2016.

As Commissioner, Ms. Williams oversees and leads the department in its role as the state’s public mental health and substance abuse authority. Under her leadership and with support from two different governors and the Tennessee General Assembly, the TDMHSAS annual budget has grown from $337 million to about $610 million. In all, the department serves approximately 750,000 Tennesseans annually who are struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues. Ms. Williams provides leadership and oversight to more than 1,850 full-time employees who assist individuals in securing prevention, treatment, and recovery services for serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbances, and substance abuse disorders. Her duties as commissioner also include system planning; monitoring, licensing, evaluating, and setting policy and quality standards; collaborating with other state and community agencies; and working to educate the community about mental health and substance abuse services. In her time as Commissioner, Ms. Williams has served as a leader in addressing several essential issues facing Tennessee including behavioral health workforce challenges, mental health struggles of youth and young adults, the opioid crisis, criminal justice reform, leveraging the abilities and resources of the faith-based community, and expanding peer-led services, but her career in behavioral health services has been marked by a special passion for housing.

Commissioner Williams is the recipient of numerous professional and community awards from national and state groups including the Excellence in Advocacy Individual Achievement Award from the National Council for Behavioral Health, the George Goodman and Ruth P. Brudney National Social Work Award from Mental Health America, the Alumni Professional Achievement Award from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, the Vision of Hope Award from NAMI Tennessee, the Senator Douglas Henry Award for Service to Children and Families at Risk from the University of Tennessee College of Social Work. Ms. Williams lives in Nashville, and she is the mother of Nikki Williams.

LOLO

LOLO doesn’t sit around waiting for others to figure things out-that’s her job. Born as Lauren Pritchard and raised in Tennessee, LOLO was a girl in the great big world for almost two decades before returning back to her hometown of Jackson, Tennessee where she has become deeply involved in both the cultural and artistic landscape of her city and state. She recently became a partner at the indie label, No Reverse Records and she currently serves as the first-ever Cultural Arts Coordinator for the City Of Jackson. LOLO strives to help other artists make the kind of impact that they see in their mind and knows from personal experience that letting artists be who they are is how they will always feel successful, even if and when they might fail.

LOLO originated a starring role on Broadway in the hit musical Spring Awakening when she was 18 years old. 15 years later she got the entire original cast, crew and creative team back together for a One Night Only sold-out reunion performance at the Imperial Theater in New York City. LOLO is co-producer of the accompanying documentary that was made with HBO to capture the reunion and look back on the groundbreaking impact the show had on the Broadway community. You can find it on HBOMax titled "THOSE YOU’VE KNOWN: Spring Awakening”.

LOLO’s music life is a never ending story. Sometimes she is behind the scenes and sometimes she is front and center singing her heart out. In 2017 she was nominated for a GRAMMY Award for her songwriting on Panic! At The Disco’s album Death Of A Bachelor. She is also co-writer of P!ATD’s global hit “High Hopes”. She’s been a published songwriter signed with Sony Music Publishing since 2008 and she has released 4 full length albums. LOLO has been a touring force on the road playing over 1,000 live shows since 2010. Some of her favorite moments have been: 27 shows in 9 days @ SXSW 2017, sharing the stage with Annie Lennox to raise money in support of those living with HIV and being an opening act on the Paramore & Fall Out Boy co-headlined MONUMENTOUR.

LOLO is passionate about community outreach and has spent 8 years working with RIFA Jackson’s Snack Backpack Ministry which helps to provide meals and support for the food insecure children in Madison County. Her annual Christmas Show the “LOLO Christmas Show and Gospel Brunch” has become a yearly staple in the Jackson holiday festivities and it has raised over $75,000 to support RIFA’s efforts to care for those in need.

LOLO has a 3 year old son named Xander who is the center of her universe. Her husband Colton is an incredible support system and helps hold it all together when the schedules get crazy. She and her family reside in Jackson, TN with their 4 fur babies.

Ashlee Crouse, Faith-Based Community Coordinator for East Tennessee

Ashlee is the point of contact for the faith community in establishing recovery programs for the east region. She provides training and educational presentations, as well as coordination of special events. Ashlee has a passion for helping others find a path to recovery and gain the skills to sustain their journey. She is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, a CCAR Certified Recovery Coach/Facilitator, a QPR Gatekeeper Instructor, a Mental Health First Aide Facilitator, and a Triumph Over Trauma Facilitator. Ashlee is an individual in long term recovery and uses her experience to share hope with others. She previously served as a TN Recovery Navigator and the Region 2 Lifeline Coordinator. She is a mother of two and a wife of 20 years and has two fur babies. She enjoys Bible journaling, crafting, and cookie decorating.

Summer Dooley, MSN, RN, APRN-BC, CARN
Nurse, Consultant, Coach, Overcomer

Summer has been working in recovery for the past 5 years. She has been trudging down the path towards happy destiny one day at a time for 11 years and 11 months. Her personal mantra for recovery is “I choose trust. Teach me and show me how to live from your truth.” After living 32 years in cycles of domestic violence and abuse, she hit rock bottom. She lost everyone and everything that she loved, including her children and her nursing licensures. That rock bottom would lead to Summer choosing to turn her life and will over to the care of God as she understood. This choice would not only break the chains of addiction and codependency but would completely change her framework for living. Her old framework was rooted in significant trauma and abuse, which kept her in continual states of self-sabotage and victimization. However, choosing to trust and asking God to teach her how to live shifted her from those cycles. This choice has lead to victory in every area of her life! She is both humbled and honored to have the privilege of using her professional training as a nurse to give back to those that still suffer.

Sarah Keel

Sarah Keel is a follower of Jesus Christ, wife to Jonathan of 14 years, and mother to Avery, Zack, and Benjamin. She attends Providence Church in Knoxville, TN and has been honored to lead Renew Clinic Knoxville since opening in 2021. Sarah has a long history of incarceration, substance abuse, and mental health issues. She did not grow up in a Christian household and never met her father, but was introduced to the Gospel message while in jail in 2007. Ever since, Sarah has been growing in her relationship with Christ.

She earned her Bachelors Degree in Applied Behavioral Science, is a certified recovery coach, and a certified transformational leadership trainer. Sarah has been working in the mental health industry since 2013 as a High Risk Educator, Resident Advisor for at-risk youth in New Mexico, FSWII for TN Department of Children’s Services, Regional Faith Based Community Coordinator for MDC/State of TN, and now the Executive Director for Renew Clinic. She also serves Christ through speaking, writing, and sharing her testimony.

Kristie King

With a passion for empowering individuals to embrace their worth and unlock their potential, Kristie King is a prominent figure in the realm of personal development and women’s empowerment. She is a seasoned mentor, speaker, and life coach with a background of 25 years of empowering women to achieve their utmost potential. Her background spans across women’s ministry, nonprofit leadership, and impactful engagements in international missions and conferences. Throughout her journey, Kristie has honed her expertise in guiding women towards confidence building, self-discovery, and personal development. Above all else, she passionately guides women in discovering their worth in Christ. Live, laugh, love is her motto. Kristie loves to live her best life, while laughing for exercise! When she isn’t at work in the family business, you will find her laughing with her family during dinner, thrift shopping, or busting a new dance move with her husband on their living room dance floor.

Sarah Mays, Lifeline Peer Project Coordinator, Hardeman and McNairy Counties

Sarah Mays serves as the Hybrid Lifeline Peer Project Coordinator in southern West Tennessee. Sarah resides in Henderson, Tennessee where she has lived with her husband Phillip and step-son Brentley for five years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Social Work from the University of Tennessee, Martin as well as a master's degree in Conflict Resolution from Bethel University. Sarah is also a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in the State of Tennessee, with 7 years of personal recovery from mental health and substance use disorder.

She has an excellent breadth of experience in the human services field having worked in domestic violence, peer advocacy, aging, adoption/foster placement, and mental health before joining the Faith Based Initiatives team. In her role as hybrid lifeline peer project coordinator, Sarah helps to connect people to recovery resources using a two generational approach to support the whole family. She also works with local recovery courts, treatment facilities, and a vast number of other community and faith-based agencies. Sarah works to empower these communities to be recovery friendly, and to make sure that recovery is possible for everyone.

Michelle Mehr

On August 10, 1997, Michelle Mehr, then an officer with the Carthage Police Department, had just made a traffic stop. While attempting to take the man into custody, she was attacked by him, suffering 17 major facial fractures, a crushed orbital, a destroyed nasal cavity, severed facial nerves, and massive swelling of the brain. The attack left her in a coma for six days, with less than five percent chance of survival. Her cruiser’s dash camera captured the entire incident and the footage has been used to train other officers in police departments across the country. Today, Michelle serves as a school resource officer at Trinity Christian Academy in Jackson, TN. She has worked to turn the trauma of her attack into a testimony and often encourages others through speaking at conferences and events all around the United States.

Dianne Sherrod, Region 6S Lifeline Peer Project Coordinator

Dianne has been a part of the Lifeline Peer Project team for Tennessee since September 2017. She serves 11 counties as the Region 6 South Lifeline Peer Project Coordinator. She also serves the State Opioid Response (SOR) Grant as a Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist conducting Naloxone Administration and Overdose Reversal trainings through street outreach to high-risk individuals and families. She is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) trainer and through this work facilitates CPRS trainings across the state. In 2019, she hired a team of Recovery Navigators stationed in 8 West Tennessee Healthcare Emergency Departments across West Tennessee to offer resources and treatment options to those who present with alcoholism, substance use disorder, and/or overdose. Dianne lives in Jackson and loves spending time with her family and her dog friend Kirby.

Tammy Smith

Tammy Smith’s past was a life of domestic violence. Her present is a life of service to God and other women. Tammy is a women’s ministry leader for Daughters of the King Ministry at Missionary Grove Baptist Church in Camden, TN where she also sings on the worship team. She has served as a volunteer with the Story of Grace prison ministry and has mentored women at the Hope Center in Paris. Whether teaching, mentoring, or singing, Tammy is passionate about sharing and declaring God’s truth regarding our identity in Christ. When she isn’t helping women see their worth on the inside, she is helping them to embrace their beauty on the outside through her work as a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant! Tammy is also a wife, mother to four grown children, and a grandmother to seven!

Arsania Wright, Faith-Based Community Coordinator for Shelby County

Arsania Wright serves as the Faith-Based Community Coordinator for Shelby County. Before accepting this role, she served as a Tennessee Recovery Navigator for 5 yrs. In her current position she works with the various Faith Communities of Shelby County, helping them become Certified Recovery Congregations. She provides education and access to resources, empowering Shelby County’s faith community to be an invaluable resource for individuals who need help and/or a place to belong. Arsania offers opportunities for events, presentations, and trainings on suicide, mental health challenges, trauma, and substance use disorders. She is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS), a Certified Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide prevention trainer, and a Certified Trainer for Mental Health First Aid - Adult. She has worked in the recovery field for the past 7yrs. and is in long-term recovery from substance use disorder and mental health challenges herself.

Lindsey Carr

Lindsey Carr is a Jackson, TN native and currently serves as a Primary Prevention Specialist for the TN National Guard. She received a Human Services degree from Bethel University in 2014 and has more than 8 years of primary prevention experience. Lindsey loves the Lord and has had the privilege to lead worship and teach in various ministries for over 15 years. She’s a current student with the Women’s Leadership Cohort at Denver Seminary and will graduate with a Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies. She’s been happily married to her husband Tyler since 2015 and has two of the most precious fur babies. When she’s not working or studying for school, she enjoys going to the movies, board games, roller coasters, and consuming large amounts of chips and salsa.

Ginger Wells-Smith, Hybrid Lifeline Coordinator, Wayne and Perry Counties

Ginger Wells-Smith serves as the Region 5S Hybrid Lifeline Peer Project Coordinator. In this role, she works to assist others in finding and utilizing treatment and recovery resources. On a given day on the job, you might find her anywhere from speaking in a prison to presenting at a community event. She also meets individuals needing treatment or recovery support wherever they are and whenever she is called. Ginger is herself an individual in recovery from substance use disorder and she holds certification as a TN Certified Peer Recovery Specialist.