Tennessee Aquarium Board of Trustees – 2026

Scott Pierce, Board Chair
Executive VP & COO, BlueCross BlueShield of TN

Patrick Stowe, Vice Chair
Managing Director, Pointer Management Company

Daphne Kirksey, Treasurer
External & Government Affairs, Tennessee American Water Company

Matthew “Matt” Rasmussen, Secretary
Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer – Nuclear Operations, TVA

Liz Ahmed
Executive Vice President, People & Communications, Unum

Dr. Rebecca Ashford
President, Chattanooga State Community College

Jay Dale
Market President, First Horizon Bank

Paul T. Dickenson
CFO, One to One Health

Brittany McKee East
Vice President of Quality and Research & Development, McKee Foods Corp

O’Mally Foster
Chief People Officer, Vision Hospitality Group

Harrison Lewis
Senior Accountant, Ernst & Young

Stacy Lightfoot
Vice Chancellor for Access & Engagement, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Don Mueller
President & CEP, Siskin Children’s Institute

Eric Myers
Executive Director, Chattanooga Design Studio

Aletheia Silcott
Chief Human Resources Officer, Astec

Shalin Tejani
President & Owner, Ribbons and Bows Oh My!
CEO and Co-Founder, Legacy Dental Group

Tennessee Aquarium Leadership

Andrew Wood, President & CEO

Directly Reporting to the President & CEO:

Mary Ann Beil V.P., Chief Financial Officer

Thom Benson V.P., Chief Communications and Marketing Officer

Thom Demas V.P., Chief Husbandry and Exhibits Officer

Michael Floyd V.P., Chief Guest Experience Officer

Melanie King V.P., Chief Development Officer

Mara-Lynne Payne Director of Inclusion, Equity and Diversity

Gordon Stalans V.P., COO, CIO

Michelle Thompson Executive Assistant & Board Liaison