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FrankTown Open Hearts names Jessica Uecker Interim Executive Director

by | Aug 7, 2026 | FrankTown Open Hearts | 0 comments

PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT: franktownedsearch@gmail.com

FrankTown Open Hearts names Jessica Uecker interim executive director

Experienced executive leader and FrankTown board member will guide organization as search for permanent leader continues

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (Aug. 6, 2026) – FrankTown Open Hearts has named Jessica Uecker, an experienced executive leader and member of its board of directors, interim executive director as the organization launches its search for a permanent leader.

Uecker succeeds Chris Barnhill, who concluded his service as FrankTown’s executive director July 31.

As interim executive director, Uecker will support FrankTown’s staff and volunteers, maintain momentum across its programs and partner with the board throughout the leadership search and transition. She will also focus on strengthening awareness of FrankTown and expanding opportunities for members of the community to become involved in its mission.

“Jessica brings a rare combination of seasoned executive leadership, a heart for service and a genuine commitment to FrankTown’s mission and the young people we serve,” said Tyrone Foxworth, president of the FrankTown Board of Directors. “The board has great confidence in her ability to provide steady, thoughtful leadership during this important season. Her experience guiding organizations through growth and change, along with the relationships she has already built within the FrankTown community, will help ensure continuity and keep our work moving forward.”

Uecker joined the FrankTown board in December 2024 after first connecting with the organization as a volunteer at the Christmas Shopperone event. 

“I’m excited for this opportunity to partner with the FrankTown team in the work God is doing here,” said Uecker. “It’s such a gift to support young people with the hope, love and guidance we all need in this life—and, at the same time, learn from one another and be transformed in the process.” 

Uecker brings more than 20 years of combined human resources and executive leadership experience, advising CEOs, boards, and leadership teams through seasons of significant growth and change across both the corporate and nonprofit sectors. Jessica also has a deep commitment to serving others through ministry and community involvement, making her well-positioned to lead FrankTown during this season. Today she serves on the GraceWorks human resources committee, mentors leaders through Missions Development International, and attends and volunteers at Church of the City in Franklin. She holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from Western Michigan University.

FrankTown’s search for its next executive director is underway. The board is actively identifying candidates whose experience, leadership and commitment to service align with the organization’s mission and future needs. Individuals interested in the position or those who would like to recommend a qualified candidate may contact the search committee at franktownedsearch@gmail.com.

About FrankTown Open Hearts

FrankTown Open Hearts is a nonprofit, Christ-centered ministry based in Franklin, Tennessee, that helps at-risk youth discover hope, purpose and opportunity through values-driven mentoring, vocational training and academic enrichment. Serving elementary, middle and high school students throughout Franklin and South Williamson County, FrankTown provides after-school, evening and weekend programs that equip young people with the tools and support they need to thrive in school, in life and in their communities. Learn more at franktownopenhearts.com.

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Jessica Uecker, Interim Executive Director

With over two decades of executive leadership and human resources experience, Jessica Uecker brings a deep passion for organizational development and faith-driven service to FrankTown Open Hearts. Throughout her career, she has counseled corporate and nonprofit CEOs, boards, and executive teams through pivotal periods of growth and strategic transformation. Jessica earned her bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from Western Michigan University. Guided by a strong commitment to community involvement and ministry, Jessica serves on the human resources committee at GraceWorks and mentors leaders through Missions Development International. She resides in the local community and active in service at Church of the City in Franklin. Her journey with FrankTown Open Hearts began as a volunteer for the Christmas Shopperone event, which led to her joining the board of directors in December 2024. Today, as Interim Executive Director, she supports the organization’s team, programs, and mission of empowering local youth and families.

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Janell Fadler, Senior Program Director

Janell Fadler was born in Missouri and moved often during childhood as her father pursued a career with IBM. These early experiences instilled in her a love for exploration and a heart for service. Alongside her family, she has traveled extensively; from Europe and the Amazon to the Himalayas on vacations and mission trips. She is driven by a passion for sharing the gospel and serving others through the Holy Spirit. Janell holds a bachelor’s degree in Private/Commercial Recreation from Missouri State University and a master’s in Christian Education from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She came to faith in college and became active in CRU, sparking a lifelong passion for student ministry. Since 2001, she has called Franklin, TN, home. Her professional background includes hospitality roles with Hyatt Hotels and ministry positions at Eastside Baptist Church in Georgia and Brentwood Baptist Church in Tennessee. At Lifeway Christian Resources, she served in B&H Publishing, Church Leadership Training & Events, and Retail Marketing. A formative experience in her career was a two-year mission in Russia with the International Mission Board, where she taught English to college students using the Bible. She is currently volunteering in the student ministry at her church, The Church at West Franklin. Most recently, she was Project Management Team Manager for Marketing and Communications at Envision Healthcare. In April 2025, Janell joined FrankTown Open Hearts to continue her calling of serving youth and families in Franklin, now overseeing programming staff, volunteer engagement, and community relationships in support of the mission.

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Amy Dominguez, Finance & Operations Manager

Amy Dominguez grew up in Memphis, Kansas City, and Madison, Tennessee where her parents were involved in church ministry. She played all the sports growing up and in her teen years developed a love of music, intimacy with God, and seeing people come to know the love of Jesus. Amy graduated high school from Goodpasture Christian School and got her bachelor’s degree from Harding University in Spanish Education and Missions. It was there she met her husband Leoncio. They have been married since 2001 and have been involved in various ministries throughout the years. Wellspring Franklin has been their church family for over a decade. Amy speaks fluent Spanish, loves to travel and eat good food from around the world, and makes a mean salsa. She enjoys quiet walks, diving deep into God’s Word, encouraging others, and connecting people. Her greatest joys are her family and cheering on her children in all their sporting and artistic endeavors. Amy’s role with FrankTown serves behind the scenes to keep the organization running smoothly. Her skills with numbers, love for people, and determination to see things run efficiently have advanced FrankTown’s administrative functions and streamlined the effectiveness of operations.

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Amy Dominguez, Finance & Operations Manager

Amy Dominguez grew up in Memphis, Kansas City, and Madison, Tennessee where her parents were involved in church ministry. She played all the sports growing up and in her teen years developed a love of music, intimacy with God, and seeing people come to know the love of Jesus. Amy graduated high school from Goodpasture Christian School and got her bachelor’s degree from Harding University in Spanish Education and Missions. It was there she met her husband Leoncio. They have been married since 2001 and have been involved in various ministries throughout the years. Wellspring Franklin has been their church family for over a decade. Amy speaks fluent Spanish, loves to travel and eat good food from around the world, and makes a mean salsa. She enjoys quiet walks, diving deep into God’s Word, encouraging others, and connecting people. Her greatest joys are her family and cheering on her children in all their sporting and artistic endeavors. Amy’s role with FrankTown serves behind the scenes to keep the organization running smoothly. Her skills with numbers, love for people, and determination to see things run efficiently have advanced FrankTown’s administrative functions and streamlined the effectiveness of operations.

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Nicole McIntyre, Director of Programming Logistics

Nicole McIntyre, Director of Programming Logistics Nicole McIntyre grew up in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, with stints in three Texas cities, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Orlando, Florida by the time she was thirteen. The variety of people and cultures in those formative years gave her an appreciation for the beauty of God’s creation and people. She has been married to her husband, Nathan, since 2001 and they have two sons. She loves traveling to places she’s read about and will choose a historical city over a beach vacation every time; usually with a crochet project on hand. Nicole graduated from Harding University with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She decided she wanted to be an educator when she was seven years old and began volunteering in children’s ministry when she was fifteen. Since then she has been working with children in some capacity, whether it’s teaching in a variety of classroom settings, tutoring students, teaching Bible classes, leading AWANA, or making bad balloon animals. She is currently leading the Wednesday night children’s programming at 4th Avenue Church, as well as volunteering in the preschool ministry since 2007. Teaching children they are loved, valued, created beings of God is her most important thing. Nicole has been at FrankTown since 2022. She loves finding solutions for problems, usually with a color-coded spreadsheet. As the Director of Programming Logistics, she works to find the best spaces for volunteers, finding engaging opportunities for students, and making sure all of the many pieces of the puzzle work together.

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Raymond Waymon, Director of Programming Operations

Raymond Waymon Jr was born in Los Angeles, California. Raymond has lived in Franklin, Tn for 30 years. Raymond has been married for 19 years and is a member of Limestone Missionary Baptist Church. Raymond graduated from Franklin High School and was a part of multiple sports teams. Raymond played collegiate football at Lambuth University and University of Memphis. Raymond has a Bachelors degree in Business Economics and Administration. Raymond has worked professionally at Vanderbilt Medical Group where he was the satellite clinic office supervisor for several years. Raymond most recently worked at Williamson County Juvenile Court and was the Intensive Probation Supervisor. Raymond is a Leadership Franklin alumni. Raymond has served on several state and national committees in vast capacities. Raymond is the founder of United Front, an event/mentoring sole proprietary business. Raymond has coached young men and women in football and basketball. Raymond last coached as an assistant coach at Spring Hill High school in 2019. Raymond has a deep love for community and the development of tomorrow's future generations. Raymond has received community awards and recognition for his service within the Franklin community. In his free time Raymond loves the outdoors and grilling and spending time with his loved ones. Raymond is committed to living a life of service and believes it's vital to be a part of the solutions not the gossip.

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Karen Brockington, Senior Programming Assistant

Elder Karen Brockington was born and raised in the inner city of Baltimore, Maryland. She attends Aspen Grove Christian Center in Cool Springs TN. Karen has a passion for sowing into the lives of young people and has served as a mentor for over 20 years. Having survived childhood abuse in various forms, Karen knows God has taught her not only how to teach young people how to navigate through their own challenges, but also how to walk with them through life. Karen was ordained as an Elder over youth and music by the late Bishop Veronica Watson of the Bethesda Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she was a member for 23 years. She is the founder of the Washington Semester Student Association at American University in Washington DC where she worked for 15 years before God instructed her to move to Franklin, Tennessee. Upon her move to Tennessee she served under the ministry of Christian artist Nicole C. Mullen’s Baby Girls Club, here in Franklin and then in the Country of Belize. Every Saturday, she connected with youth in Belize who had experienced the same adversity she went through, and helped them overcome their challenges through the performing arts, her teaching, mentoring and immense love for them. She was called back to the U.S. mission field by God and has been involved with the Franktown Open Hearts Ministry for 6 years where she is the Senior Programming Assistant and volunteers as the performing arts coordinator. She currently works with and proudly serves Nicole Mullen as her assistant and Road Manager. If you ask Karen what she wants people to know about her she will say “I love the Lord with all my heart, all my soul and strength. I have traveled the world and still my favorite place to be is in the presence of my Father, the lover of my soul who’s I am and whom I serve.”

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Jennifer Greenberg, Senior Programming Assistant

Jennifer Greenberg, Senior Programming Assistant Born and raised in Oklahoma, Jennifer Greenberg spent a decade in Southern California before settling in Franklin, Tennessee, where she has lived for the past 23 years. A nature enthusiast, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and spending time outdoors. She is the proud mother of three grown children—graduates of Centennial High School—and a Nana to two granddaughters. Jennifer holds a degree in Early Childhood Development and began her career as a preschool teacher while raising her children. Her passion for ministry began early in life, serving in both high school and middle school ministries at churches in Ada, Oklahoma, and Ventura, California. She has also led worship for churches and women’s conferences across California and Tennessee. Her heart for service has taken her around the world—she has traveled to eleven countries for both ministry and leisure, and has lived abroad as a missionary in Monterrey, Mexico, and Johannesburg, South Africa. Jennifer currently works in the Professional Development Department at the Williamson County Schools Central Office. She first learned about Franktown while on staff at Centennial High School and has been involved with the organization for the past seven years. She cherishes her evenings spent with Franktown students, especially leading devotions—her favorite part of the night. A close second is overseeing dinner time, which she sees as a meaningful tradition that brings people together like family. Jennifer’s life reflects a deep commitment to faith, youth, and community. She considers it a blessing to be part of what God is doing through Franktown.

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Liz Mitchell, Finance and Operations Manager

Liz Mitchell grew up in Madisonville, KY and later graduated from the University of Evansville with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing and Spanish. She taught adult education for two years before beginning a ten year career in high school classrooms teaching all levels of Spanish as well as Arts & Humanities. During that time she graduated from Murray State University with a Master of Fine Arts degree, fell in love with and then married her husband of now more than twenty years. They moved to Tennessee in 2012 and live in Fairview with their three children and four dogs, where they worship at One Church Home. After Liz left her teaching career, she wrote her first book, Like the Ocean Moves, and began working for a tree care company in Nashville, where she stayed for another ten years in a leadership position and as the office manager. In 2017 she published her second novel, Sound the Alarm, and now proudly operates as a Christian Fiction author through Liz Mitchell Fiction. Her books are available through Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and Audible formats. She joined FrankTown Open Hearts in March of 2026 as the Finance and Operations Manager. She is thrilled and grateful to join this ministry group, bringing with her multiple skillsets she has gained in the fields of education and the business sector. She is excited to handle the behind-the-scenes aspect of FrankTown so that the ministry runs efficiently and those called to it can operate easily in the gifts and positions given to them.

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Liz Mitchell, Finance and Operations Manager

Liz Mitchell grew up in Madisonville, KY and later graduated from the University of Evansville with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing and Spanish. She taught adult education for two years before beginning a ten year career in high school classrooms teaching all levels of Spanish as well as Arts & Humanities. During that time she graduated from Murray State University with a Master of Fine Arts degree, fell in love with and then married her husband of now more than twenty years. They moved to Tennessee in 2012 and live in Fairview with their three children and four dogs, where they worship at One Church Home. After Liz left her teaching career, she wrote her first book, Like the Ocean Moves, and began working for a tree care company in Nashville, where she stayed for another ten years in a leadership position and as the office manager. In 2017 she published her second novel, Sound the Alarm, and now proudly operates as a Christian Fiction author through Liz Mitchell Fiction. Her books are available through Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and Audible formats. She joined FrankTown Open Hearts in March of 2026 as the Finance and Operations Manager. She is thrilled and grateful to join this ministry group, bringing with her multiple skillsets she has gained in the fields of education and the business sector. She is excited to handle the behind-the-scenes aspect of FrankTown so that the ministry runs efficiently and those called to it can operate easily in the gifts and positions given to them.