We are the Tennessee Baptist Foundation.
We are a 501(c)3 corporation chartered by the State of Tennessee and directed by a 15-member Board of Trustees elected by The Tennessee Baptist Convention.
Our Staff
Bill Gruenewald
President-Treasurer
Bill joined the foundation in 2011 as the Executive Vice President and was promoted to President-Treasurer in 2014. Bill holds a BS degree in accounting and an MBA from Tennessee Tech University. He also holds a Master of Religious Education degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is an ordained minister and a member of Forest Hills Baptist Church in Nashville. He was a Certified Church Administrator (CCA) with the National Association of Church Business Administration from 2009-2017. Bill is married to Betsy Reid. He also has one son, William (Jill), who is serving in ministry in Arkansas and a granddaughter and a grandson.
Tod Tanner, Ed.D.
Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
Tod joined The Foundation staff in 2021. Tod is a native Texan and graduated from Texas A&M University with a business degree and he was also a member of the Corps of Cadets while there. He also holds a Master’s in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, along with a Doctorate in Education from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Tod has served over 20 years in ministry and has held various church staff positions, which include being the Senior Pastor of two churches. He is married to Deborah and they have the joy of raising their daughter Danielle together.
Bonnie B. Sneed
Administrative Assistant & Corporate Secretary
Bonnie joined the foundation staff in November, 1988. She is a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville. She is married (Tim) and has two sons. She is a member of Judson Baptist Church. Hobbies include reading and gardening.
Melinda Walker
Director of Accounting
Melinda joined the Foundation in September, 2019. Melinda holds a B.S. Degree in Accounting from Georgetown College and comes to us with 30 years of experience in both privately held and public companies. She is a member of Forest Hills Baptist Church, where she currently serves on the Greeter Team. She is married to Mark and has one son, Seth. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. She loves traveling, baking and trying out any new restaurant.
Judy Garner
Trust Operations Specialist
Judy Garner is married to John and has two sons and two awesome grandsons. She grew up in Louisiana but has been a resident of Tennessee since 1990. She got her BS in accounting from Louisiana Tech University and her Master of Accountancy from Belmont. In April 2019, Judy retired from the Southern Baptist Foundation after 27 years of service. After enjoying some time off, she chose to go back into the workforce on a part-time basis at the Tennessee Baptist Foundation. Her hobbies are gardening, watching all kinds of college sports — especially cheering on her LSU Tigers — and spending time with her grandsons. She and John have enjoyed serving at ClearView Baptist Church since they moved to Franklin in 1990.
Trustees
The Foundation needs qualified and competent people to help promote its work with Tennessee Baptists, ensure accountability to Tennessee Baptists, establish and oversee policies by which the Foundation operates and monitor the investment and management of funds entrusted to the Foundation’s care. Trustees are expected to:
- Attend orientation planned by The Tennessee Baptist Convention as well as an orientation session planned by the Foundation.
- Attend the Annual Trustee’s Meeting in December, Semi Annual Meeting in May, as well as any other meeting which might be necessary.
- Attend and actively participate in the meetings of the committees to which they are assigned.
- Support the work and ministry of the Foundation with their prayers, time, and expertise.
- Serving as a Foundation trustee is both an honor and a sacred trust. The counsel and faithful service of the trustees greatly strengthens the Foundation’s work. The confidence, support and friendship of those we serve are essential to the Foundation’s ministry and progress.
Board of Trustees 2019-2020
The Board of Trustees for the Tennessee Baptist Foundation are elected by the Convention and charged with giving oversight to the integrity and work of the Foundation. Each trustee is an active member of his or her local Baptist church. Because the Foundation is a financial institution its board members are heavily weighted from various financial backgrounds. Our trustees do a marvelous job blending and balancing the spiritual nature of our task with sound financial policies and practices.
Miles Shackleford
First Baptist Church Hendersonville, Investment Director Lifeway Christian Resources
Lisa Francisco (Chair)
Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville, Church Business Administrator
Joe Day
First Baptist Church, Cleveland, Retired Naval Officer and Church Administrator
Robert Caldwell (Secretary)
First Baptist Church, Kingsport, Engineer and Business Owner
Joe Brasher
Englewood Baptist Church, Jackson, Retired Banker
Tom Crow
First Baptist Church, Nashville, Executive Pastor
Laura Byrd
West Jackson Baptist Church, Jackson, Banker Commercial Bank and Trust
Bob Alvey (Vice Chair)
Englewood Baptist Church, Jackson, retired, Proctor and Gamble
Bobby Hancock
Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, CEO Cord, Inc
Chad Keaton
Wallace Memorial Baptist, Knoxville, Financial Planner
Phil Jones
The Gathering@840, Franklin, Administrative Pastor
Tracy Russell,
First Baptist Church,Cookeville, Financial Advisor
Jamie King
First Baptist Church, Jackson, Financial Advisor
Dennis Culbreth
Stuart Heights Baptist Church, Hixon , Director of Missions