SHARON ROBERSON
President & CEO, YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee
Sharon K. Roberson, Esq. is a seasoned C – Suite executive. She serves as President and CEO of YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, the largest domestic violence service provider in Tennessee. Since joining the YWCA, Sharon has led the expansion of the shelter beds at the Weaver Domestic Violence Center to offer more women and children shelter and care. She has also broadened the agency's life-saving services, including adding the only Emergency DV Text Line in Tennessee, implementing a children's program at the Weaver Center, and building a state-of-the-art pet shelter - Abbie’s Safe Home. Under Sharon's leadership, the YW has grown all of our school-based programs, including expanding our AMEND Together healthy masculinity program to nine other YWCA's across the country.
Additionally, Sharon has renewed the organization's focus on racial justice by implementing a social justice and advocacy program, staying true to the YWCA's mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.
Before this position, she served as a Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary for Direct General Corporation. Sharon has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, including 17 years with AIG/American General Life and Accident and American General Property. During her career at AIG/American General, she served as a General Counsel for almost a decade and as COO of various companies. Sharon was a state regulator for over a decade. As a regulator, she held the position of General Counsel and Assistant Commissioner for the State of Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, as well as Director of self-insurance and surplus lines. She was appointed by both a democratic and republican governor.
Sharon has served on and chaired numerous insurance boards in multiple states. She was the first African American and female president of the Tennessee Association of Life Insurance Companies. And the first African American and Female to chair the Tennessee Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association.
Additionally, Sharon has served on many non-profit boards, including the Nashville Symphony, YMCA, Girls Scouts of Middle Tennessee, Past President of the Nashville Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and the YWCA.
Sharon has received community recognition, including being a two-time Athena nominee, Nashville Bar Fellow, Leadership Nashville alum, Nashville Business Journal Women of Influence, and being inducted into the YWCA Academy of Women of Achievement.
Recently under her leadership, the YWCA was named a 2018 person of the year by the Nashville Tennessean. She has been named one of Nashville's Most Powerful Women by the Nashville Post and one of Nashville's Most Admired CEOs by the Nashville Business Journal.
Sharon graduated from Vanderbilt University with a B.A. in Economics and earned her law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law. She and her husband Cliff are the proud parents of two adult children. Sharon is an avid runner, having completed five full marathons.
SHAN FOSTER
Executive Director of AMEND Together
Shan Foster is the Executive Director of AMEND Together at YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee. AMEND Together is an initiative that engages men and boys to end violence against women and girls. He recruits, educates, and equips men and boys to serve as advocates for violence prevention and cultural change. Described as an enthusiastic leader, gifted public speaker, and skilled facilitator, Foster is committed to elevating the conversation about violence against women, engaging men to be leaders and role models, and educating young men and boys about healthy masculinity and respect. He is a frequent speaker before national and international corporations, regional and national conferences, local and state government entities, and collegiate and national sports programs, including the National Football League and Major League Soccer.
Foster graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Science in Human and Organizational Development in 2008. During his time at Vanderbilt, Foster was named SEC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year, All-SEC four years in a row, NCAA Division I All-America, and played for the USA Team in the 2007 Pan American games held in Rio De Janairo, Brazil. He was the Lowes Senior CLASS award winner, an award given to the nations senior leader in community, classroom, character, and competition. Foster finished his collegiate basketball career as the all-time leading scorer in school history and was drafted into the NBA by the Dallas Mavericks in 2008. He was inducted to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2009, Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010 and was honored as an SEC Legend during the 2016 SEC Basketball Tournament.
Prior to his work at YWCA, Shan served as Dean of Culture for the Intrepid College Preparatory Charter School in Nashville where he now is a contributing board member. He is a graduate of the 2018 Leadership Nashville class and serves on the board for the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, Nashville Sports Council, and Martha O’Bryan Center’s Explore Academy. Foster is on the advisory committees for the Joyful Heart Foundation, Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee, 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee and serves on the Vanderbilt University Athletics Committee. He most recently was selected Nashville’s 2019 40 Under 40 award winner and Nashville Emerging Leader Award Finalist. Shan was recently recognized by Nashville Business Journal as a Power 100 Disruptor. Also, author of, What Hurt Didn’t Hinder, a story of vulnerability and perseverance, showing that it is possible to reconstruct what it means to be a man, embrace our diversity, and raise everyone up in the process. Foster continues his contributes as a Deacon at Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
Vanessa Helbig Johnson
Sr. Director of Youth Services & Executive Director of Girls Inc.
Vanessa Helbig Johnson has worked in the Youth Development industry for over 15 years, gaining experience in program planning, non-profit leadership, women empowerment, and social justice. She leads the YWCA's Girls Inc. and AMEND Together programs in Nashville. Vanessa's passion for youth work can be traced back to her time in AmeriCorps and working in youth ministry, where she spent significant time working in East St. Louis and advocating for women's rights. As a seasoned Director at YWCA Nashville & Middle TN, she is passionate about advancing the rights and opportunities of underserved youth and promoting equity and inclusion. In addition to her work at YWCA, she is also involved in Alignment Nashville, the Emerging Leader Board of Pencil, YWCA Advocacy Committee, Youth Health Equity Collaborative, Mass Violence Team Steering Committee, and the 2023 Nashville Emerging Leader Award winner for Comunity Service & Nonprofit. As a leader, Vanessa has been recognized for her excellent accomplishments in program growth and development, staff development, strategic planning, and centering her work on positive youth development.
