Lunch and Learn Speakers for 2023
Regina Wilkerson Ward
Regional Philanthropy Strategist, Donor Engagement
Bethany Christian Services 
Regina Ward joined the headquarters of Bethany Christian Services as the Donor Engagement Regional Philanthropy Strategist in 2021. Bethany Christian Services strengthens and equips families to be the answer for vulnerable children, both in local communities and around the globe. They do this by protecting children, empowering youth, and strengthening families through quality social services. Regina oversees the development and implementation of fundraising strategies across her regional territories that cover east of the Mississippi River, and the global initiatives team while managing effective donor relationships.
In previous roles, Regina spent a decade as a fundraiser for youth and health care organizations, raising $3.5M to serve the Middle Tennessee community and $16M to serve the Boys and Girls Clubs in Atlanta and 9 surrounding counties. She is thrilled to be back in the fundraising space! In addition to fundraising, Regina served as the Director of Education & Workforce Development at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. There she worked with the local school districts and industry partners from the community, to bridge the skills gap and promote the future of the workforce in the county through initiatives in the K-12 education space.
Regina is President of the Guild for the Discovery Center at Murfree Springs and serves on the boards for United Way’s Young Leaders Society, the Chattanooga Music Academy, and Siegel High School Humanities Academy. She holds a B. S. degree in Organizational Communication from Middle Tennessee State University and is a proud Blue Raider supporter. She loves her hometown, and the people that work to make it a great place to live and work.
Jackson Gibson – Park Ranger and Interpretive Lead at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
Jackson graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in History and Religious Studies and minoring in Sociology, Political Science, and Jewish& Holocaust Studies. While at MTSU he worked multiple part-time positions with Tennessee State Parks, at Old Stone Fort State Archeological Park, Cedars of Lebanon State Park, and the Tennessee State Park's Central Office. Shortly after graduating, he was hired full-time at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park is in Downtown Nashville and opened in 1996 to commemorate Tennessee's two-hundredth anniversary. He works in multiple capacities at the park, but his primary role is the Lead Interpreter. In this role he works with park staff to develop the park's educational and programming initiatives and works with visitors and school groups to help give tours and other programs that connect them to the park and Tennessee's history.
