The CYCA Board of Directors

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June Hurt – President

A lifelong Memphian, June has lived in the Cooper-Young area on and off since 1993.  She now lives with her husband, Justin, and her stepson, Tyler, 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, sang with local bands, and is now the marketing services manager at a regional commercial real estate firm.  Her favorite things about Cooper-Young are the diversity of the people here and the strong sense of family shared by her neighbors.  June also serves on the Communications Committee, represents the CYCA on the Lick Creek Storm Water Coalition & heads a committee that addresses sinkhole and flooding issues.

April Boleware – Vice President, Block Clubs Committee Chair

April, a native Memphian has lived in Cooper-Young with her husband since 2008. She graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in Marketing and has been working in sales for over 17 years. She is passionate about animals and hosted a dog micro-chipping day last year to encourage owners to protect the four legged members of their family. April loves the community spirit in Cooper Young as well as its ability to be a neighborhood that others want to emulate. “Everyone loves our community, it’s warm and inviting to everyone, just as it should be.”

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 25 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.”

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.

Kevin Ritz, Volunteer Coordinator

Kevin Ritz has lived in Cooper-Young since 2009 and in midtown since 2005.  Kevin grew up in East Memphis and graduated from White Station High School.  After receiving undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia and a master’s from Georgetown, Kevin moved back home and now serves as an Assistant United States Attorney and Adjunct Professor at the University of Memphis Law School.  He volunteers as a Deacon at Idlewild Presbyterian Church and as a programmer on WEVL (“The Jukebox Graduate,” Tuesday mornings 6-8 AM).  Kevin and Anna love walking the neighborhood with yellow lab rescue Sandy and visiting friends and Cooper-Young businesses along the way.

Amanda Ball – Code Awareness Committee Chair

Amanda Ball is a native Memphian from East Memphis and a graduate of Ridgeway High School and Middle Tennessee State University. After nearly 7 years of international travel, studies, volunteer work and employment abroad, Amanda moved back to Midtown Memphis in 2003 from Barcelona, Spain with her husband Guillermo. In 2007, Amanda and Guillermo bought their very first home in Cooper-Young.  They chose Cooper-Young not only because of the location, but for the retail, restaurants and friends within walking distance, the neighborhood’s friendly vibe, and the fun organized events during the year. Amanda and Guillermo both work at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and can’t imagine living anywhere else in Memphis than Cooper-Young.

Renée Massey – Membership Committee Chair

Knowing that nowhere but Midtown Memphis would do, Renée Massey and her husband Scott moved to the Cooper-Young neighborhood in 2006.  Renée is a native Memphian and has a mathematics degree from the University of Memphis.  Cooper-Young attracted the Massey family with its walkable mixture of residential and commercial property, socially active community of neighbors, and appreciation for all things artistic.  The Masseys have volunteered at numerous CY events including several years at the Art for Art’s Sake Auction and the Festival 4-Miler race.  Renée joined the CYCA Board of Directors in 2011 and also chairs the CYCA Membership Committee.

Demetrius Boyland- Beautification Committee Chair

Demetrius has lived in Cooper-Young for seven years with her son, and wouldn’t have it any other way.  She confesses that Central Gardens would be a close second, but the fact that her home is walking distance from all her favorite restaurants made Cooper-Young the obvious choice.  A native of Denver, Colorado, she grew tried of the banking system and wanted a change from cold weather.  When she made the decision to move to Memphis, she was drawn to Cooper-Young because it’s a walking neighborhood, has great historic homes with plenty of amenities, has great neighborhood schools and lots of local foods, arts, and shopping.  Demetrius thinks that this community is full of amazing people that are always willing to help in a time of need.  She feels that she is a steward of the world and wants to express that desire by making Cooper-Young be all that it can be by helping her fellow board members!  The best is yet to come!