Burt Waller has had a 40+-year career in leadership for hospitals, health plans and health systems in Tennessee and Texas, including as CEO of the Regional Medical Center. Since retiring from Christ Community Health Services in 2013, he continues to provide strategic planning, project development and executive leadership assistance, as a consultant, to community and faith-based health organizations across the country.

Mearl Purvis is an Emmy- and Peabody-award winning journalist who recently retired after more than 30 years in the business, working as a television anchor and reporter in five television markets in four states. A native of Mississippi, she now spends time learning how to create beauty in her yard, and she continues to volunteer with the UTHSC Board of Visitors for the College of Medicine at Memphis.

Katie Parker has 21 years of experience as an industrial engineer, working in logistics and then health care, designing and optimizing complex systems to improve efficiency, productivity and profitability.

Joe Livesay spent 43 years as a practicing attorney here in Memphis. His general practice included real estate, family law, contract, probate, bankruptcy and trial work. He retired in 2017.

Dr. Sarah Breazeale has dedicated her career to service in the nonprofit sector, currently serving as executive director of the American Red Cross Mid-South Chapter. Before that, she spent 13 years in various leadership positions for the YMCA across the U.S. before moving back home to Memphis to serve as director of One Family Memphis, a nonprofit climbing gym in Soulsville. Sarah is a member of the Rotary Club of Memphis.

Becky Wilson, a native of Jackson, Tennessee, has spent much of her life serving as a volunteer board member for organizations across Memphis and across Tennessee. After graduating from Vanderbilt University and working as a flight attendant for Pan American World Airways, she earned her law degree from the University of Memphis, going on to serve as the Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. She founded Bridge Builders in 1988 and served on the BRIDGES board for 14 years.

David Waters is associate director of the Institute for Public Service Reporting at the University of Memphis. He worked for The Commercial Appeal for more than 35 years, holding a variety of reporting and editing positions, including religion and education reporter, columnist, and editorial page editor. He served as religion editor for The Washington Post from 2007-2010 and launched, wrote, edited, and produced its “On Faith” website and “Under God” blog. A 1981 graduate of the University of Memphis, and a 2009 recipient of the Outstanding Journalism Alumni Award, David has taught many undergraduate and graduate journalism students.