The Group Effort Team

Our Founders

Towan Siler, co-founder of Group Effort of Tennessee, has overseen company operations from our startup in 2011.

“My experience in social services revealed a major gap in the availability of options for what I call forgotten members of society including intellectually disabled adults. This group of individuals had almost no access to the quality care and attention they deserved. That became the mission of Group Effort.”

Siler earned his Master’s degree in Public Administration from Cumberland University in Tennessee and his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Bluefield College in Virginia. Prior to founding Group Effort, Siler held the position of Program Director at Turnaround Center in Gallatin, Tennessee and acted as a case manager for the Department of Children’s Services, where he worked with the Juvenile Justice Probation Office.

Derek Potter is a co-founder of Group Effort of Tennessee and has held the position of Director of Business Operations since 2011. He handles all the exciting issues related to finances, communications, marketing, staffing and facility organization.

Potter’s passion for his work comes from the philosophy embodied in the old saying, “You may only be one person in the world, but you mean the world to one person.”

He says, “Every time I have the opportunity to make life better for one person, I too become a better person. While I realize mine is a huge responsibility, I also consider it a blessing and I wake up each day thankful for this great gift.”

Potter is a licensed attorney and earned his Juris Doctoral degree from the Nashville School of Law. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Integrated Strategic Communications from the University of Kentucky.

Our Team

Jennifer Benson

Program Coordinator

Towan Siler

Executive Director

Derek Potter

Director of Business

Jordan Edmondson

Amy Fewell

Case Manager

Alexis Edwards

Program Coordinator

Bethany Grizzell

Case Manager

Colin Bronsink

Case Manager

Christy Wood

Transition Coordinator

Daniel Byerley

Program Coordinator

Dejan Simic

Transportation

Jada Waller

Office Manager

Jeanette Riley

PSR Counselor

Jennifer Massey

IPS Manager, PSR counselor

Julia Harkins

Case Manager

Katrina Leonard

Office Manager Murfreesboro

Kristie Hale

Resource Manager

Kyndria Johnson

Program Manager

Marina Mukandala

Wellness Instructor

Noel Vanmeter

Office Manager Knoxville

Rocio Jimenez-Hernandez

Resource Manager

Sierra Holland

Program Coordinator

Tara Mabe

Wellness Instructor

Tiffany Partee

QA Coordinator

Our Team

Middle Tennessee Region

Transition Department

Christy Wood

Transition Coordinator

I have a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Science in Healthcare Management with 22 years of working with adults with intellectual disabilities.

Tajay Douglas

Transition Case Manager

I received my Bachelor of Art from the University of the West Indies. I’ve always had a keen interest in advocating and helping others since as early as high school. I’ve been able to gain my experience and knowledge through various jobs such as Department of Children services (DCS) and the Child advocacy center (CAC).