Staff Members
Brittany Spence - Executive Director
Brittany, along with her husband David, founded the Forrest Spence Fund in memory of their son Forrest. Brittany was born and raised in Hendersonville, Tennessee. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Elementary Education and Psychology from The University of Tennessee. She worked as a school teacher and youth director for several years before becoming the Executive Director of the Forrest Spence Fund. Brittany currently serves on the Family Partners Council and the Parent Mentor Program at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.
She loves to spend time with her husband and three children, Austin, Miller, and Maggie. She also enjoys reading, traveling, exercising, and spending time with friends and family.
Contact Brittany at brittany@forrestspencefund.org
Marilyn Bridges - Program Director
Marilyn was born and raised in Southaven, MS, and graduated from Delta State University. She has lived in Memphis since 2003, with the exception of living in Bogota’, Colombia in South America for 3 years as a missionary with her family. Her background is working in travel, arranging trips and conferences for clients. She is excited to use her gifts with the Forrest Spence Fund and serve the families. Marilyn enjoys spending time with her husband, daughters, traveling, and being a great aunt.
Contact Marilyn at marilyn@forrestspencefund.org
Stephanie Shelton - Office Manager
Stephanie Shelton was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She attended the University of Memphis where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance. Stephanie enjoys reading and spending time with her husband, Adam, and two children, Lawson and Brooks.
Contact Stephanie at stephanie@forrestspencefund.org
Pesi Katz - Communications Director
Pesi is from Memphis, TN and graduated high school in June 2023. She looks forward to pursuing a career as a child life specialist to continue helping children in need. During her free time she loves to volunteer at Le Bonheur, make sourdough bread, shop, and spend time with her family, including her four older brothers. Pesi interned for us in the summers of 2022 and 2023 and is excited to be a permanent part of the team.
Contact Pesi at pesi@forrestspencefund.org
Holly Carpenter - Nashville Director
Holly is from West Haven, CT where she attended Gateway Community College majoring in hospitality management. She then made her way to the south and lives with her three-year-old son, Jameson, and dogs, Smudge and Maggie. Jameson spent 31 days in the Saint Thomas NICU. Through their experience in the NICU, Holly found ways to give back to families in similar situations. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with Jameson, reading, traveling, and trying new restaurants and wines. Her goal is to take Jameson to a different baseball park every year. After assisting with the Bootlegger’s Ball 2023 in Nashville, she is excited to join the team.
Contact Holly at holly@forrestspencefund.org
Alora Haney - Chattanooga Director
Alora is originally from the metro-Atlanta area, but has lived in the Chattanooga area since moving to Lookout Mountain in 2007 to attend Covenant College. While at Covenant, she studied history and education and developed a skill and passion for working with families and young children. Her background is in business administration and e-commerce operations. She has a heart for the children of our community and is grateful for the opportunity to work with the Forrest Spence Fund, and looks forward to continuing and developing the work done in Chattanooga. In her free time she enjoys listening to a good podcast and craft projects, but her best times are spent with her friends, family, and her cat Zola.
Contact Alora at alora@forrestspencefund.org
Jessica Seebeck Ganey - Special Events Manager
Jessica is from Memphis, TN and attended the University of Memphis graduating with a Master of Social Work. She has worked in various settings and currently holds private counseling sessions. She has been married to her husband, Neal, for two years. They have two dogs, Rudy and Charles, and are anticipating the birth of their baby girl in February. Jessica enjoys reading, traveling, listening to live music, sipping on peppermint mochas, and practicing yoga. She is a registered yoga teacher with a specialization in Trauma Conscious Yoga Method.
Contact Jessica at jessica@forrestspencefund.org