The CYCA Board of Directors

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John Kinsey – President

John moved to Memphis and to Cooper-Young in January 2006. The friendliness of the residents and the neighborhood’s small town feel won him over when he was house hunting. He graduated from Ole Miss with a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Accountancy with Tax Emphasis. As a sales engineer for CORPTAX, LLC, a corporate tax software company – John demonstrates the company’s products via web demos from his CY home. John was born in Trenton, TN and grew up in Tupelo, MS. He holds a CPA in GA, TN and TX and is an Eagle Scout. In addition to the CY Board, he is a Block Captain and led his street to their First Place win in the 2007 Light the Way Race Competition, and serves on the board of directors for Playhouse on the Square.

June Hurt – Vice-President/Membership Committee Chair

Another lifelong Memphian, June has lived in the Cooper-young area on and off since 1993. She now lives with her husband, Justin, in a bungalow on Evelyn purchased in 2000. Since the day she came home and discovered her front porch decorated with potted plants, placed there by a neighbor concerned about her porch’s “lack of fabulousness,” she knew that she was never leaving. the Memphis State graduate worked her way through college in the food and service industry, sanf with local bands, and is now a marketing manager at a local, commercial real estate firm. June loves to enjoy good food & drink at the neighborhood restaurants, spoils her dogs rotten, and lives to make people laugh. Her favorite things about Cooper-young are the diversity of the people here and the strong sense of family shared by her neighbors. June serves on the Communications Committee.

Jason Word – Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair

Jason has been apart of the CY community since 1997. Jason has volunteered in a number of special projects including the Festival, Festival 4-Miler, Home Tour, Members Count Campaign, Art for Arts Sake, and Community Clean-ups. Jason is a project engineer for Federal Express. He is a graduated of the University of Memphis. Jason’s broad experience as a volunteer will bring both knowledge and perspective to upcoming projects.Jason says “My goal is to continue to encourage community involvement and pride in Cooper-Young”.

Andy Ashby – Secretary

Andy, a reporter for the Memphis Business Journal, moved to the area in 2004 because he liked the idea of an interesting mix of restaurants and retail within walking distance of his front porch. He sees active participation by residents as a primary way to improve Cooper-Young. He has volunteered at CYCA events and delivered the LampLighter and is now serving the community on the CYCA Board.

Debbie Sowell – Building Committee Chair

Debbie, her husband Chris McHaney and son Owen, have had roots in the CY Community for some time. Chris grew up in CY from a young boy and they are now working on their 3rd home in Cooper Young. Debbie has a degree in Interior Design and is a local real estate agent. She first became involved with CYCA at a Mulch to Members Giveaway and has been rolling up her sleeves ever since. “This neighborhood is my home”, Debbie says “and I will always have an active role in making it better”.

Emily Bishop – Communications Committee Chair

Emily Bishop put down roots in Cooper-Young in 1988 and began volunteering for the LampLighter in 1989. Her job as a flight attendant for the past 20 years gives her the flexibility and time to give back to the community. Along with her husband Steve and son Jonathan, she enjoys everything about the neighborhood. Walking to visit friends and businesses is a daily practice for the Bishops. Emily served as president of the CYCA from April 1999 to April 2001 and her proudest accomplishment was the dedication of the Trestle Art in 2000. “To me the beauty of CY is it’s interesting people and that they take the time to get to know one another.”

Sharron Johnson – Code Awareness Chair

A native Memphian, or shall we say, native Cooper-Younger for 28 years running, Sharron was one of the early pioneers of the transitional years when no one wanted to invest in Cooper-young. She started working closely with the Peabody PTA and the CYCA around 1984. She sat on the board of all the Cooper-Young organizations at one time or another over the years. She was even a paid employee of the Cooper-Young Development Corporation for two years as an Americorp-VISTA. She was a former business owner in Cooper-Young for eleven-plus years. She has taken an early retirement and has the freedom to pursue the next callings, whatever they may be. Now she has come full circle to sit on the board of the CYCA yet again. Sharron is married with one grown daughter and two grandchildren. She is looking forward to the new endeavors of working with this Cooper-Young group.

Ginger Spickler – Block Clubs Committee Chair

Originally from Kentucky, Ginger moved to Memphis to attend Rhodes College, and has been here ever since. She and her husband, Josh, bought a house in Cooper-Young in 2003, and added on to it in 2008 so they can stay forever! Ginger works part-time for a nonprofit called Memphis Opportunity Scholarship trust (MOST), and full-time as mom to Walt. Ginger is an active member of Neighborhood Church, and volunteers for both Advance Memphis and Su Casa Hispanic Ministries. Her favorite things about Cooper-Young are her neighbors, and the diverse eating and shopping options within a few minutes walk of her front door.

Shelley Thomas – Ad Hoc Committee Chair

Shelley, a native Midtown Memphian, moved back to Memphis after a few years in the Northwest to Cooper-Young with her husband in 2003. Shelley loves the outdoors and can be found running and watching her children play at local playgrounds. In addition to joining the CYCA board, Shelley is an active and involved member of Neighborhood Church and serves on the Advisory Council and as state representative for an international prison ministry called Kairos. Shelley owns SOLO Solutions, a small marketing and communications firm, allowing a more flexible schedule for her other roles, including mom to her two young sons, Lyndon and Colin. What Shelley says she loves about Cooper-Young is the “unexpected” — things you don’t find in other neighborhoods. Shelley serves on the Ad Hoc and Membership Committees.

Peter Owen

Peter grew up in Midtown near Cooper Young. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a BS in Computer Science and Math. After he moved back to Memphis, he started working for FedEx. Finally he found his way back into Cooper Young in 2008 with his wife, Diana, and son, Elek. Peter has become block captain, joined the Communications Committee and finally the Cooper Young Board of Directors. He is interested in helping Cooper Young become an even more safe, neighborly place to raise a family.

Sarah Frierson – Safety Committee Chair

Sarah has lived in Midtown since she moved to Memphis from East Tennessee to attend Rhodes College.  In 2004, she bought her home in Cooper-Young, where she enjoys the spirit of the neighborhood and the eclectic mix of people, businesses and things to do.  When not walking her dog in circles around the neighborhood, she works as the digital projects manager in the History Department of the Memphis Public Library & Information Center.  She has also served on the board of the Cooper-Young Development Corporation and Lantana Projects, Inc.

Beth Pulliam – Volunteer Chair

Native Memphians, Beth and her husband Steve, moved to Cooper-Young in April 1996 and soon found themselves active in all aspects of life in CY. Beth has held several positions over the years on the CYCA board as well as Co-Chair of the Gateways Project. She is very excited to return to the CYCA board and looks forward to helping neighbors find their special nitch in community involvement. Beth and Steve have two children, five grandchildren and a four-legged son Dexter, their rescued Dachshound! Beth is an Office Manager for a local dentist and also servies on the MAGY Board and is an Ambassador for Ronald McDonald House of Memphis. Beth enjoys growing herbs for neighborhood restaurants as a ‘thank you’ for all they do for CY. Beth loves living in a neighborhood known for its diversity and neighbors who actually know each other by name.