NORMAN M. LIPMAN AWARD RECIPIENTS

Established in 1991, the Norman M. Lipman Award was created to honor individuals of unique gifts and character – individuals as outstanding in their own way as the man for whom the award is named.

Norman Lipman is remembered by many as a person who observed, honored, and encouraged achievement in other people. Nominators are asked to continue this tradition by naming a person they feel is especially worthy of recognition for their positive personal attributes. The recipient is then chosen by a selection committee made up of prominent members of the national business community, the media, the government, and the clergy.

Unlike other awards of national distinction, the Norman M. Lipman Award does not have prescribed criteria for nomination. Instead, it is given in recognition of the most inspiring qualities of its recipient, as defined by his or her nominator. Past recipients have included leading figures from the wine and spirits industry and private individuals noted for their love of wine and their respect for those who produce it. These recipients have been recognized for qualities as diverse as energy, vision, accomplishment, generosity, and leadership.

MEET THE TEAM

Loren L. Chumley

President/CEO

After decades working in leadership positions in the private and public sectors, Loren Chumley eagerly took on the role of CEO in January 2022. Prior to this role, Loren served on the Nashville Wine Auction board of directors for six years, was chair of the board, and co-chair of both l’Eté du Vin and Pairings. She and her husband frequently have opened their home for fundraising wine dinners and have been top bidders at the auction for several years.

Loren Chumley is known for taking on a challenge and creating innovative frameworks that invest in growth – from systems to people to process review and outcome measurement. Over her career, Loren has set herself apart with distinct accomplishments as a lawyer, audit controversy professional, tax and incentives expert, and trusted client advisor, highlighted with a multi-year role as Tennessee’s Commissioner of Revenue and a KPMG global leadership position. A dynamic developer and mentor of top-tier talent, her reputation for collaboration motivates new and long-time employees alike, cultivating a cadre of champions everywhere she’s worked in both public and private sectors. Her leadership does not stop at the office door. She volunteered for ten years as KPMG’s liaison for the Tennessee chapter of WomenCorporateDirectors, while serving concurrently on additional not-for-profit boards.

Loren retired from KPMG in September 2021, having joined the firm in 2007 as a direct entry partner. While at the firm, Loren led the US Indirect Tax Practice and guided a KPMG acquisition that doubled the practice’s revenue. She also gained unique global and cultural communications experience serving on the governing board of the firm’s centralized Hungary-based Global Compliance Center. In this role, she helped to build shareholder agreements, governance structure, and auditable processes focused on regulatory compliance.

At the foundation of her corporate experience is an equally impressive 13-year career in state government, with the distinction of serving a 4-year gubernatorial appointment as Tennessee’s Commissioner of Revenue. She began her career as a bankruptcy and litigation attorney in Washington DC and Tennessee.

In her prior role, Loren was known as an energetic speaker sought after for translating the intricate tax and regulatory worlds into easily understood concepts and content. In addition to her work on the Nashville Wine Auction’s Board for six years, Loren served as Treasurer of the Girls Scouts of Middle Tennessee as well as the Board of Renewal House. She is a member of the Tennessee Chapter of the International Women’s Forum and has previously served on the advisory boards of the Paul Hartman State and Local Tax Institute and New York University Institute on State and Local Taxation.

Loren holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Tennessee and her JD from American University Washington College of Law. She is a Bar admitted attorney in the state of Tennessee. A self-described fearless traveler, she and her husband reside in Nashville.

Photo Credit: Daniel Meigs

Theresa Johnson

Director of Operations

A Nashville native, Theresa joined Nashville Wine Auction in 2011 in the role of Finance Manager. By 2012, NWA saw an increased need for an Event Manager, and it was a natural transition to incorporate Theresa’s 20 years of event and project planning to develop the new position. Theresa now serves on the NWA team as Director of Operations.

After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Recording Industry Management, Theresa spent 16 years in Corporate Communications at Sparrow Records/EMI Christian Music Group. Here with the guidance of her talented mentor, Holly Hearn Whaley, Theresa was able to combine experience with her servant’s heart and discovered her true niche of coordinating quality events for others.

In 2005, Theresa “retired” to stay home with two young boys and continued to hone her various event skills by coordinating church VBS, Cub Scout summer camps, and soccer team activities. At the same time, she contracted part-time providing office manager, bookkeeping, and HR support in various office settings. As an avid audiobook reader, she was presented in 2008 with the opportunity to start her own audiobook proofing company where for two years she led a team of 10 audiobook proofers.

After volunteering at l’Eté du Vin in 2011, Theresa joined Holly again in a new adventure that has led to 12+ years as a member of the Nashville Wine Auction team. “Everyone has been touched by cancer in one way or another, my family included. It is a blessing to be able to continue offering my gifts and skills to help further the mission of Nashville Wine Auction.”

In addition to her duties at NWA, you might find Theresa reading in her hammock, working a puzzle, visiting her boys in Colorado, or enjoying a nice Cabernet Sauvignon by the fire pit. Theresa lives with her husband in Murfreesboro.

Taylor Guardino Engle

Director of Events

An almost local, Taylor moved to Nashville at the age of 5 and never looked back to her birthplace in Scranton, PA – except for the rare visit to the Poconos or on a more frequent occasion to watch an episode of The Office.

With a penchant for nonprofits and events from a young age, she interned with the Nashville Wine Auction in 2010. In addition, she has volunteered with multiple organizations throughout her career including the Junior League of Nashville, where she’s held multiple leadership roles, the Nashville Opera, Renewal House, the Nashville chapter of NACE (National Association for Catering and Events), and Music City YP.

In 2019 and again in 2022, she was nominated for a Nashville Emerging Leader Award presented by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce and YP Nashville, and in 2020, she completed the Young Leaders Council program.

Taylor graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis in marketing, communication, and event planning. She has previously held positions with Noelle Hotel, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, Chef’s Market Catering, and SOVA Food Inc. which includes Take Away Catering under its brands.

Taylor finds inspiration and joy in most things, including thunderstorms and all forms of gluggaveður, a good podcast, meditation, staying active and playing tennis, and spending time in nature. When not working or volunteering, you will find Taylor curled up with a good book alongside her beloved animals and husband, Zachary, spending time with her family, traveling, recording her podcast, or enjoying dinner and drinks with friends.

Kathy Maynard

Director of Marketing

The music industry initially brought Kathy to Nashville from the plains of West Texas; however, in 2016 she embraced the opportunity to pivot into a new and challenging role as the Director of Marketing at Nashville Wine Auction.

Kathy brings more than 25 years of marketing experience to the organization. She oversees the execution of strategic marketing and business development activities including marketing plans, public relations and social media, email marketing, website, advertising, and sponsorship.

Before joining Nashville Wine Auction, she was the director of marketing and sales operations for Capitol Christian Distribution where she managed all business-to-business marketing and sales operation initiatives for the distribution team and co-managed relationships with numerous label, studio, and publisher partners at various levels for more than 20 years. She led the award-winning execution of the company’s tradeshow presence with more than 6 industry awards including CBA’s Total Exhibitor Impact Award for booth presence and total show promotions.

While she loves Texas and considers herself a native West Texan, she doesn’t miss the rattlesnakes or the dust storms. Tennessee is now home. Kathy is a graduate of West Texas A&M University and resides in Nolensville.

Sarah Pulley

Data Analyst/Executive Assistant

While Sarah hails from Detroit, Michigan, her twelve years in the United States Navy as an Intelligence Specialist, and her time as a Vendor Coordinator on the Renaissance Festival Circuit, led her to all corners of the globe and country. After nearly two decades of traveling, she decided to let go of her wanderlust and settle down, choosing metro Nashville to be her home (along with her daughter, and three cats).

Her experience within the government sector, and as a data analyst for several private companies across the country made her a unique fit for the position of Data Manager, bringing several layers of expertise to her role. While her time within the Renaissance Festival Community has provided a unique outlook on life and event planning. Also, giving her a motto to live by: Semper Gumby ad mutationem (always flexible to change).

While not at work you will likely find Sarah on her porch drinking something bubbly and reading a book.

Nikki Shannon

Design Specialist

Nikki’s history with Nashville Wine Auction began in 2004 when she donated her wine paintings for auction. It continued when they gave her the biggest compliment of her art career by honoring her as the featured artist for the 2007 l’Eté du Vin Premiere Auction. Later in 2013, the job at Nashville Wine Auction magically fell in her lap. It was kismet.

Nikki spent 10 years working as Auction Director and recently reduced her involvement to part-time, taking on the role of Design Specialist.

Nikki hails from Ohio and graduated from Ohio University with a Journalism degree. She makes her home in Bon Aqua where she hangs out in her big garage breaking out paint brushes and getting creative repurposing wooden wine boxes.

Lee Ann Steen

Donation Specialist/Cellar Master

The newest member of the Nashville Wine Auction team is Lee Ann Steen. If she looks familiar, you might recognize her as a volunteer from various Nashville Wine Auction events over the past few years. One morning while scrolling Facebook almost five years ago, she saw a post from the current Director of Operations, Theresa Johnson, recruiting volunteers for that year’s l’Ete du Vin. After a brief conversation with her former college roommate (things really do come full circle), Vintners’ Tasting was the first event Lee Ann volunteered for, and she’s been in love with the organization ever since!

Her focus with Nashville Wine Auction will be managing donations for auctions, fulfilling trips, and overseeing the cellar. Lee Ann’s professional background is in HR, administration, and project management in the manufacturing, distribution, staffing, and medical fields, with a brief stopover at the US Department of Labor as a compliance officer. As a project manager, she was a road warrior working with clients and establishing new office locations for an HR consulting firm.

A native of the Nashville area and a cancer survivor at age 23, Lee Ann believes fully in the mission of Nashville Wine Auction and appreciates that the funding generated for our beneficiaries stays in the Nashville area.

Lee Ann’s ‘a Ha’ wine moment happened with a glass of tempranillo at a Wine in the Warehouse distributor event when she lived in the Caribbean. ‘That first taste was like a flash of family history for me. My grandparents were tobacco farmers, and the earthy, deep, dark smell of tobacco hanging in a barn is what hit me immediately. That’s when I knew I needed to discover more about wine.’

Donna Hickerson

Volunteer Coordinator

Donna is proud to be a native of Nashville and graduate from Vanderbilt University with a double major in French and Secondary Education. She turned down an out-of-state teaching position because the week after graduation her mother was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer. Donna had to help take care of her mom, so she opted to stay local and work in retail management and eventually as a benefits coordinator with the Vanderbilt Employee Benefits Department.

Donna’s first son Matthew was born at Monroe Carrell Jr, Children’s Hospital with a congenital heart defect. Despite the excellent medical care and compassion Children’s Hospital provided, Matthew passed away. Determined to find ways to benefit Vanderbilt and the Red Cross as both she and Matthew required emergency transfusions when he was born, Donna coordinated local blood drives for the Red Cross and was a guest speaker at several of their events to promote awareness for how crucial blood donation is for the community.

She decided to be a stay-at-home mom when she and her husband Eddie welcomed their son Samuel in 2000 and their daughter Gracie in 2002. However, she could not deny her desire to volunteer for long. She volunteered as PTO President of Bellevue Middle School 2 years, PTO President of Hillwood High School 2 years, and Vice President of Fundraising for Hillwood Band Boosters 3 years. Her leadership in these roles gave her experience in running non-profit 501c3s, recruiting hundreds of volunteers for varied events, managing budgets, and executing fundraisers.

In addition, Donna has volunteered with Iroquois Steeplechase for the past 7 years as a volunteer coordinator for a big portion of the race day volunteers. Steeplechase is a way for Donna to honor her son Matthew as it raises money for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

With her experience in volunteer leadership, Donna was asked to join Nashville Wine Auction in June 2019 as Volunteer Coordinator. She herself has had many family members and friends battle cancer. This role has been a perfect fit for her volunteer heart and desire to fundraise for great causes.