VOL. 126 | NO. 116 | Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Memphis Newsmakers
Murry-Drobot Joins Family Safety Center
By Taylor Shoptaw
Olliette Murry-Drobot has joined the Family Safety Center of Memphis and Shelby County as executive director.
Hometown: West Memphis
Work Experience: Fourteen years in not-for-profit management, neighborhood revitalization, organizational development and social services delivery. Recently, I served as the executive director for the Southeast Memphis Community Development Corp. and as a lead consultant on community outreach efforts for The Center for Criminology and Research at the University of Memphis.
Family: Married to Tadeusz Drobot for 11 years.
Last book read: “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho.
Favorite music: Soul, rock.
Sports team: Memphis Grizzlies.
Activities you enjoy outside of work: Traveling, strength training, reading, music, art, Middle Eastern dance, spending time with family and friends, volunteering.
What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could play an instrument.
Who has had the greatest influence on you? My mother, Phyllis, a domestic violence survivor, taught me strength, resilience, and love.
What drew you to the Family Safety Center? It is an effort with community-wide support from partners, such as the Memphis Police Department or domestic violence advocates, to create and sustain long-term solutions to a complex issue plaguing our community.
What do you hope to accomplish as executive director of the Family Safety Center? I hope that the Family Safety Center will become the core of a seamless system for individuals and families impacted by domestic and family violence.
What do you consider your greatest professional accomplishments? I was a part of a team that led the implementation of the Safeways initiative in Southeast Memphis resulting in a 30 percent reduction in certain crimes in that community. While at MIFA, I developed the Opportunity Banc that provided lending, training and technical assistance to more than 300 self-employed individuals. I worked with a collaborative of community development professionals and other stakeholders on blight and neglect that led to the passage of the Neighborhood Preservation Act.
What do you most enjoy about your work? I get to interact with a wide array of organizations and individuals on a daily basis.
Dr. Jason Barrett has joined Southwind Medical Specialists PC as its new practice administrator. Barrett served as ambulatory services practice director for the Regional Medical Center at Memphis before joining Southwind.
Glen G. Reid has been named by Memphis Business Quarterly as one of the best Memphis courtroom lawyers. Reid is a partner at Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP and concentrates his practice in the areas of banking litigation, commercial litigation, products liability litigation and white collar criminal defense.
Mid-South Spay & Neuter Services has elected new officers to its board of directors. The new officers are Carol Word, president; Deborah Camp, first vice president; Stacy Early, second vice president; Caren Creason, treasurer; Tracey Shanklin, vice-treasurer; and Susan Pack Davis, secretary.
Kevin Dowdell has joined Madison Hotel as director of sales and marketing. Dowdell comes to the Madison with more than 27 years of experience in the luxury hotel industry including 12 years as a director of sales and 12 years as general manager for Hilton Worldwide and Starwood properties in the Caribbean, South Carolina, Arizona and California.
Jeff H. Martin has joined the Kelley & Associates sales team. Martin has nearly 30 years of sales and leadership experience.
Craig Locke has joined Hope House as director of development. Locke will oversee fundraising, public relations and day-to-day communications efforts. Locke previously served as director of development at United Housing Inc.
Tonya Stenwall has joined Pickering Firm Inc. as an electrical technician. Also, Wallis Wimbish has joined the Pickering Firm as an electrical engineer intern.