Executive Leadership
Donna Goodaker, Executive Director
Donna came to Progress as a board member in 1994, bringing ten years professional experience in psychiatric healthcare. She went on to become Director of Cheatham County development in 1996 and Executive Director of Progress Inc. in 1998. Donna completed her undergraduate degree in Special Education at Indiana University and her graduate degree in Human Development Counseling at Vanderbilt University.
Donna has been involved in the Nashville community in a number of ways since moving here in 1984. As a community volunteer, she has served on Boards and committees to enhance public education and the recovery of East Nashville after the 1998 tornado as well as the Margaret Maddox YMCA. More recently, she was appointed to the Regional Advisory Committee for Statewide Planning Council by Governor Bredesen and has served on the Board of TNCO (provider association) for a number of years, as well as TNCO ACTS and CMRA (partner organizations to TNCO). She has two sons, Caleb and Ben.
Barry Cunningham, Director of Fiscal Services
Barry joined Progress in November 2015 and has an extensive background in fiscal management. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Three Rivers Community Health Group, as well as Station Business Manager of Young Broadcasting. Barry completed a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from MTSU, and completed a Masters in Business Administration from University of Tennessee.
Jodi Simmons, Director of Accreditation and Continuous Improvement
Jodi’s first introduction to working with people with disabilities began over 20 years ago when she became an Independent Support Coordinator (ISC). She fell in love with the population and continued her work in this field as a DMRS Regional Investigator, the DIDD Director of Investigations, and as a Consultant to the Federally Appointed Court Monitor (Jackson v. Los Lunas, et. al.).where she assisted the state of New Mexico to enhance their provision of services to people with disabilities in order to settle a long standing lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice. Her bachelor’s degree is in the field of social work and her master’s degree is in counseling; both degrees were obtained at Freed-Hardeman University. Jodi joined the Progress team in May of 2019.
Susan Hutchison, Director of Day Services
Susan Hutchison, a long time Progress employee, with over 20 years experience in the field, serves as Co-Director of Day Services. Susan is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of both the Community Participation program and The Supported Employment program. Susan joined the Progress team in June of 1991.
Susan is a graduate of the State University of New York at Brockport, with a B.S. in Social Work. Susan also holds a Tennessee Social Workers License, obtained in early 2011. Susan is married, with three rescue pets, one dog and two cats, all of whom have won her heart. Given the means and the opportunity, Susan would rescue every stray cat or dog in Nashville.
Pam Hollingsworth, CESP, Director of Employment
Pam joined Progress in 2005 and has a background in management and employment services. Pam has a Bachelor of Science Communications degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin. She has spent the last 13 years gaining experience working with adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Her past several years have been solely focused on employment and individuals who are disabled. Pam is a Certified Employment Specialist. Since beginning employment services, Progress has become a partner in three middle TN Project SEARCH programs, an Employment Network for Social Security's Ticket to Work program and a provider for Employment and Community First Choices Services.
Pam says the most rewarding part of her job is to assist someone in gaining meaningful, competitive, integrated employment and watch it change their life by increasing independence and establishing community relationships.
Eric Metzler, Director of Residential Services
Eric has been with Progress for 10 years, but his passion and work in the field began while in college at the University of Wyoming. Before graduating with a BSW in 1995 he worked as a DSP. Advocating and going above and beyond for the individuals we serve has always been what guides him. While at Progress he has worked in multiple roles from coming in as a Companion, being a Program Manager for both our DIDDs and Choices programs, and now serving as the Co-Director of Residential Services. Eric loves to camp, cook, especially grilling and he always has some craft project going. He has a wife, Michelle, and two teenagers, Zachary & Lyric.
Crystal Martin, Director of Senior Services
Crystal Martin has been a part of the Progress team since 2002. She began as a Program Manager for residential services and was promoted to Residential Programs Manager in 2008. When Progress made the decision to expand its mission to include services to seniors and adults with other disabilities, Crystal accepted the challenge. She was promoted to Associate Director of the Senior Services division in January of 2011.
Crystal received her bachelor's degree from Western Kentucky University in Speech and Corporate Communications.
She has two children Ian and Chandler.
Kelly O'Connor, Director of Development
Kelly joined Progress as the Director of Development in 2013. Kelly has spent more than 20 years serving the Nashville community in various roles including as a volunteer, a board member, an E.D., and a consultant, as well as through fund development and community relations. She has lectured and written on philanthropy and provides consulting and training services to others in the field.
She is a member of the Junior League of Nashville and Rotary Club of Nashville. Kelly has served on a number of nonprofit boards and was appointed by Governor Haslam twice to serve on state regulatory boards.
Kelly earned her bachelor's degree in Social Sciences from Washington State University and is currently completing a Master’s Degree at the Institute for Conflict Management at Lipscomb University. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a Tennessee Rule 31 certified civil mediator.
Craig Lynch, Director of Human Resources
Craig began working in this field in 2002 as a Trainer with Tennessee's Department of Mental Retardation Services (now DIDD). This role brought him into contact with all the agencies in Middle Tennessee and led him to discover an available position at Progress. Craig began as Director of Human Resources for Progress in 2004. Craig has a Masters degree in Organizational Management from Trevecca University in Nashville. He received his Bachelors in Psychology from University of TN Knoxville. Craig has maintained an active PHR (Professional in Human Resources) certification since 2001. He currently resides in Franklin, TN with his wife and two lovely daughters.
Donna came to Progress as a board member in 1994, bringing ten years professional experience in psychiatric healthcare. She went on to become Director of Cheatham County development in 1996 and Executive Director of Progress Inc. in 1998. Donna completed her undergraduate degree in Special Education at Indiana University and her graduate degree in Human Development Counseling at Vanderbilt University.
Donna has been involved in the Nashville community in a number of ways since moving here in 1984. As a community volunteer, she has served on Boards and committees to enhance public education and the recovery of East Nashville after the 1998 tornado as well as the Margaret Maddox YMCA. More recently, she was appointed to the Regional Advisory Committee for Statewide Planning Council by Governor Bredesen and has served on the Board of TNCO (provider association) for a number of years, as well as TNCO ACTS and CMRA (partner organizations to TNCO). She has two sons, Caleb and Ben.
Barry Cunningham, Director of Fiscal Services
Barry joined Progress in November 2015 and has an extensive background in fiscal management. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Three Rivers Community Health Group, as well as Station Business Manager of Young Broadcasting. Barry completed a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from MTSU, and completed a Masters in Business Administration from University of Tennessee.
Jodi Simmons, Director of Accreditation and Continuous Improvement
Jodi’s first introduction to working with people with disabilities began over 20 years ago when she became an Independent Support Coordinator (ISC). She fell in love with the population and continued her work in this field as a DMRS Regional Investigator, the DIDD Director of Investigations, and as a Consultant to the Federally Appointed Court Monitor (Jackson v. Los Lunas, et. al.).where she assisted the state of New Mexico to enhance their provision of services to people with disabilities in order to settle a long standing lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice. Her bachelor’s degree is in the field of social work and her master’s degree is in counseling; both degrees were obtained at Freed-Hardeman University. Jodi joined the Progress team in May of 2019.
Susan Hutchison, Director of Day Services
Susan Hutchison, a long time Progress employee, with over 20 years experience in the field, serves as Co-Director of Day Services. Susan is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of both the Community Participation program and The Supported Employment program. Susan joined the Progress team in June of 1991.
Susan is a graduate of the State University of New York at Brockport, with a B.S. in Social Work. Susan also holds a Tennessee Social Workers License, obtained in early 2011. Susan is married, with three rescue pets, one dog and two cats, all of whom have won her heart. Given the means and the opportunity, Susan would rescue every stray cat or dog in Nashville.
Pam Hollingsworth, CESP, Director of Employment
Pam joined Progress in 2005 and has a background in management and employment services. Pam has a Bachelor of Science Communications degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin. She has spent the last 13 years gaining experience working with adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Her past several years have been solely focused on employment and individuals who are disabled. Pam is a Certified Employment Specialist. Since beginning employment services, Progress has become a partner in three middle TN Project SEARCH programs, an Employment Network for Social Security's Ticket to Work program and a provider for Employment and Community First Choices Services.
Pam says the most rewarding part of her job is to assist someone in gaining meaningful, competitive, integrated employment and watch it change their life by increasing independence and establishing community relationships.
Eric Metzler, Director of Residential Services
Eric has been with Progress for 10 years, but his passion and work in the field began while in college at the University of Wyoming. Before graduating with a BSW in 1995 he worked as a DSP. Advocating and going above and beyond for the individuals we serve has always been what guides him. While at Progress he has worked in multiple roles from coming in as a Companion, being a Program Manager for both our DIDDs and Choices programs, and now serving as the Co-Director of Residential Services. Eric loves to camp, cook, especially grilling and he always has some craft project going. He has a wife, Michelle, and two teenagers, Zachary & Lyric.
Crystal Martin, Director of Senior Services
Crystal Martin has been a part of the Progress team since 2002. She began as a Program Manager for residential services and was promoted to Residential Programs Manager in 2008. When Progress made the decision to expand its mission to include services to seniors and adults with other disabilities, Crystal accepted the challenge. She was promoted to Associate Director of the Senior Services division in January of 2011.
Crystal received her bachelor's degree from Western Kentucky University in Speech and Corporate Communications.
She has two children Ian and Chandler.
Kelly O'Connor, Director of Development
Kelly joined Progress as the Director of Development in 2013. Kelly has spent more than 20 years serving the Nashville community in various roles including as a volunteer, a board member, an E.D., and a consultant, as well as through fund development and community relations. She has lectured and written on philanthropy and provides consulting and training services to others in the field.
She is a member of the Junior League of Nashville and Rotary Club of Nashville. Kelly has served on a number of nonprofit boards and was appointed by Governor Haslam twice to serve on state regulatory boards.
Kelly earned her bachelor's degree in Social Sciences from Washington State University and is currently completing a Master’s Degree at the Institute for Conflict Management at Lipscomb University. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a Tennessee Rule 31 certified civil mediator.
Craig Lynch, Director of Human Resources
Craig began working in this field in 2002 as a Trainer with Tennessee's Department of Mental Retardation Services (now DIDD). This role brought him into contact with all the agencies in Middle Tennessee and led him to discover an available position at Progress. Craig began as Director of Human Resources for Progress in 2004. Craig has a Masters degree in Organizational Management from Trevecca University in Nashville. He received his Bachelors in Psychology from University of TN Knoxville. Craig has maintained an active PHR (Professional in Human Resources) certification since 2001. He currently resides in Franklin, TN with his wife and two lovely daughters.
