FCA seeks to be an indispensable asset to the fraternal movement, to challenge members to imagine a better way of communicating, and to provide an enriching membership experience.
2021 Annual Conference Speakers
Eric Barnes
CEO, Daily Memphian
Barnes is CEO of The Daily Memphian, The Daily News, The Nashville Ledger, The Knoxville Ledger, and The Hamilton County Herald. Since 2010, he has hosted Behind the Headlines on WKNO TV.
Eric is a former President of the Tennessee Press Association, was once COO of Towery Publishing in Memphis, and has worked as a reporter, editor and in other positions at media companies in New York and Connecticut.
He is the author of four novels, The City Where We Once Lived, Above the Ether, Shimmer, Something Pretty, Something Beautiful, and numerous short stories.
He holds an MFA from Columbia University and a BA from Connecticut College. Before that, he drove a forklift in Tacoma, Washington, and Kenai, Alaska, worked construction on Puget Sound, and in a frozen fish in a warehouse outside Anchorage.
Emily Callahan
Chief Marketing Officer, ALSAC/St. Jude
Chief Marketing & Experience Officer for ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Emily is a member of the executive team and leads the organization’s marketing team responsible for brand, communications, interactive marketing, public relations, experiences, entertainment marketing, event production, patient relations and corporate social responsibility. ALSAC is the world’s largest healthcare charity and has been named the top Health Not-for-Profit for six years and the highest quality brand for seven years by Harris Interactive.
Prior to joining ALSAC in October 2010, Emily was the SVP of Global Marketing and Networks for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest breast cancer organization. At Komen, Emily led the marketing team and a global network team responsible for oversight of 125 independently incorporated affiliates and 50-plus network partners. She was the driving force responsible for redefining Komen’s brand in accordance with the 25th anniversary and the development of Komen’s marketing strategy.
Kristen Gwinn-Becker
Founder & CEO, HistoryIT
Kristen is a professional historian and digital strategist. She holds a PhD in U.S. History from George Washington University and is a published author, accomplished scholar, experienced public speaker, and thought leader in digital history and historical collections.
Kristen founded HistoryIT to give history a future and now serves as the CEO. Working with cultural institutions, universities, fraternal organizations, professional associations, businesses and others, HistoryIT finds unique ways to extract more value from existing assets at an unprecedented pace.
Florence Holland
Head of Consulting at The Diversity Movement
Florence is a visionary leader, bridge builder, dedicated and hardworking professional with more than 15 years of strategic planning and hands-on expertise. She has worked with businesses and led strategic planning around talent development. She also has extensive education experience working with secondary and post-secondary students, securing resources, and implementing effective programs.
She has a well-rounded academic background, with practical knowledge of and experience in change management and diversification. Her proven ability to develop solid working relationships with business leaders, campus administrators, faculty and staff, the local community, and various stakeholders helps foster stronger external and internal communications. She brings exceptional interpersonal, analytical, and problem-solving skills to all her roles.
Faith Morris
Chief Marketing & External Affairs Officer, National Civil Rights Museum
With more than 30 years in marketing communications and eight years in broadcast journalism, Faith Morris has worked with and counseled business leaders and influencers in various sectors - corporate, media, entertainment, legislative and nonprofit. She has built a reputation as a marketing strategist who re-energizes established brands, builds new brands,
establishes influencer relationships and creates innovative campaigns that drive audience engagement to exceed marketing and business goals.
As Chief Marketing & External Affairs Officer for the National Civil Rights Museum, Faith positions the Museum globally as the institution chronicling the Civil Rights Movement most comprehensively. She is the chief strategist guiding global marketing communications, branding, virtual events/programming, digital platforms, audience engagement, legislative and influencer relations.
Phil Salvo
Account Executive, Print Specialist, Royle Printing
As an Account Executive with Royle Printing Phil’s goal is to provide clients with Print Specialist services and resources, by bringing value as an active member of your team. Phil’s background has been working in Customer Service for over 25 years along with a 5-year stint with TIME Inc. working on the production team for TIME and LIFE Magazines. He prides himself as a unique sales rep in-that his paradigm starts with service, not sales. Along with his publishing experience, Phil brings the added understanding of the process that you go through to assemble print material.
Phil graduated from California University of Pennsylvania where he received a BS in Printing Management.
Rachael Renken Simmons
Managing Director of Global Communications, FedEx
Rachael Renken Simmons is Managing Director of Global Communications at FedEx. Rachael is responsible for leading a global communications team supporting the internal and external communications for FedEx Express, the world’s largest cargo airline. Prior to joining the FedEx team in 2011, Rachael worked in communications for the fundraising arm of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, other non-profits including The Children’s Trust of South Carolina, public relations agencies supporting various national clients, and benefits technology.
Rachael holds a Bachelor’s of Art degree in French and Public Relations from the University of South Carolina, as well as a Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications, also from the University of South Carolina. She initiated into the Beta Delta chapter of Delta Zeta in 2003, where she served in a variety of leadership positions within the chapter, including Chapter President, and the university Panhellenic organization. Rachael was honored as Chapter President of the Year in 2006 from the university and a Grace Mason Lundy award recipient from Delta Zeta National in 2006-2007. She continued her involvement in Delta Zeta as an alumna, starting the alumnae chapter in Memphis and serving as a Trustee of the Delta Zeta Foundation. In 2018, she was named as part of the first group of 35 Under 35. To not be out-numbered by fellow SEC teams in Memphis, she started the local Gamecock Alumni Chapter.
Chris Smith
Director of Systems, Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity
Director of Research, Alpha Tau Omega Foundation
As the Director of Systems Chris oversees the membership database, data collection and analysis, and special projects related to the National Fraternity. In his role as Director of Research he contributes significantly to the strategy supporting annual fund giving and major gift development, integrates research in all areas of operation, and ensures accuracy and efficiency in process for data collection, analysis, and reporting. Chris is a Birkman Method Certified Consultant and has a bachelor of science in mathematics from Middle Tennessee State University where he was initiated into Alpha Tau Omega.