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Broadening Horizons: FrankTown Students Explore Career Pathways at TCAT and Nashville State

by | Jul 2, 2026 | FrankTown Open Hearts | 0 comments

At FrankTown Open Hearts, our mission is to equip our students with the tools, experiences, and vision they need to thrive after high school. On June 15th, we had the incredible opportunity to take four of our young men on an eye-opening journey to explore local higher education and technical career paths.

The day was packed with inspiration as we toured two fantastic campuses: the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Dickson and Nashville State Community College Dickson.

Here is a look inside their eventful day of discovery.

First Stop: Hands-On Learning at TCAT Dickson

Our visit to TCAT Dickson was an immersive look into the world of skilled trades. The students didn’t just look at classrooms; they stood in real training labs and heard directly from passionate instructors and students who are already launching successful careers.

    • Welding & High Earning Potential: In the welding shop, the instructor and current students gave us  firsthand insight into the trade, opening the guys’ eyes to the massive career opportunities and financial benefits available to skilled welders.
    • The Power of Machine Tool Technology: When the instructor asked if anyone knew what machine tool technology was, our group was stumped. He left us with a powerful thought: “Without it, almost nothing you see or use would exist.” It was a perfect lesson in how critical manufacturing is to everyday life.
    • A Direct Line to Employment:The Automotive Technology department showed us exactly where hard work leads. We heard from a current student who has already secured employment with Nissan thanks to his TCAT training; a brilliant example of the doors this program opens.
    • Inspiration from a 22-Year-Old Senior Instructor: One of the biggest highlights was meeting the HVAC instructor. At just 22 years old, his deep knowledge, intense passion, and rapid career progression to senior instructor made a massive impression on our young men.
    • Going the Extra Mile: We also met Mark, the Auto Diesel instructor, whose humility stood out from the start. Before we even knew who he was, Mark paused his day to personally walk our group across campus to start our tour. When we officially visited his shop later, this Spring Hill native gave a candid, encouraging overview of the diesel industry and offered himself as a personal resource for our students’ futures.

Second Stop: Higher Education at Nashville State Community College

Next, the group headed over to the beautiful, newly built facility at Nashville State Community College Dickson. Right from the entrance, we were greeted with a warm welcome sign that made our students feel right at home.

Our tour guide, Mandy Payne, was absolutely incredible. She kicked things off with a detailed presentation answering common questions about college life, before taking us on a full tour of the campus. The guys got to explore the modern computer labs, the library, the student lounge, and the advanced nursing classrooms.

A Community Connection As we walked the halls, Mandy shared something that truly touched our hearts. After receiving our tour request, she took the time to research FrankTown Open Hearts. She told us how incredibly impressed she was with our programs and expressed a deep desire to volunteer with us in the future!

We love seeing how the mission of FrankTown resonates with leaders in our surrounding communities.

Looking Ahead to Successful Futures

By the end of the day, our students left with a much broader understanding of technical education, community college programs, and the diverse career pathways waiting for them after graduation. Seeing real examples of young people achieving financial independence and career satisfaction was exactly the spark they needed.

It was an eventful, fun, and deeply impactful outing. We are so proud of these young men for asking great questions and representing FrankTown so well!

A huge thank you to the staff and instructors at TCAT Dickson and Nashville State Community College Dickson for investing your time in our students!

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Chris Barnhill, Executive Director

Chris Barnhill was born and raised in the great state of Texas. He is an avid Dallas Cowboys fan and enjoys playing golf when time allows. He has two grown children and has been married to his wife Jo for 37 years. Chris has been a member of the Fourth Avenue Church of Christ for 21 years, where he currently serves as an Elder. His undergraduate degree was from Oklahoma Christian University, and he served as a youth minister for several years at churches in Kansas City and Atlanta. He earned his MPA degree (in Nonprofit Management) from Tennessee State University, and was the Executive Director of Youth Encouragement Services, and CASA before accepting the position as the Executive Director of FrankTown Open Hearts. Under Chris’ leadership, FrankTown has developed new & more effective ways to generate revenue through diversified and sustainable sources. This includes new donor cultivation, increased monthly donors, new fundraising events, additional foundational support, targeted church appeals, intentionally increasing awareness through media relations, social media, board recruitment and focused programming. Chris is a selfless and hardworking Executive Director whose relentless effort in helping those less fortunate has propelled FrankTown to greater heights. He inspires others to act and has an innate ability to get things done by asking the right questions. He does all of this with the mission of FrankTown in mind. He truly inspires, empowers, and equips FrankTown students, staff, the board, and everyone he meets.

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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.