Dr. Opal Frye-Clark, ETSU DrPH A.B.D.

UNITY HOUSING Board President

Dr. Opal Frye-Clark is a dynamic professional committed to social justice and activism, with a multifaceted background spanning education, healthcare, and research. Opal's research focuses on social determinants and health disparities within Central Appalachia, particularly among individuals experiencing homelessness in rural areas.

Opal has over 12 years of experience in teaching, program development, and education across various university campuses nationwide. Additionally, Opal’s 8 years of clinical nursing experience underscore her dedication to improving healthcare outcomes for marginalized communities. Opal's passion for addressing homelessness led her to co-found Unity Housing.



Through Unity Housing, Opal aims to eliminate homelessness in Johnson City by fostering creative and innovative partnerships with existing service providers. Opal obtained her doctorate in Public Health with a concentration in Health Systems Management and Policy and her research focus is on individuals experiencing homelessness in Central Appalachia. Opal currently serves as Johnson City’s Homeless Policy Consultant and is the lead consultant on the city-wide strategic plan to reduce homelessness.

Dr. Brian Rodesch

ETSU Department of Music, Mary B. Martin School of the Arts

Saxophonist Brian Rodesch joined the faculty of East Tennessee State University in the fall of 2022 as Instructor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies. For the preceding five years, he served as Assistant Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Studies at Simpson College (Indianola, IA). He has additionally served as faculty at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camps, the University of Minnesota-Morris, MacPhail Center for Music, the University of Northern Colorado, was a director with the Minnesota Youth Jazz Bands (MYJB), and served as Interim Director of Bands at Apple Valley High School (MN). Beyond his formal appointments, he has given master classes and clinics at colleges and universities throughout the United States, frequently presents workshops at junior and high schools in eastern Tennessee, and has been invited to present at the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s (MMEA) annual Midwinter Clinic. 

As a concert saxophonist he has performed with the Blue Lake Festival Orchestra, the Boulder Philharmonic, was a featured soloist on the inaugural Aquila Performing Arts Series (Greeley, CO), and has been invited to perform at regional and national meetings of the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA), the American Single Reed Summit, the International Music by Women Festival, the SHE Fest, and looks forward to future engagements as a concerto soloist with the State Line Wind Band. Along with Dr. Lisa Perry (East Tennessee State University), Brian is a founding member of the Nexus Duo, a clarinet/saxophone duo dedicated to outreach through performance and education. As advocates for new music, with an emphasis to expanding the repertoire for clarinet and saxophone duo, the ensemble has commissioned works from composers Katherine Bergman, Peter Gustav Weston II, Sam Krahn, and Neal Endicott. As a jazz musician and improviser, he has been featured with the ETSU Jazz Ensemble alongside Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist Justin Stanton (Snarky Puppy), has performed with the Des Moines Big Band, the NOVA Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, the Soya Vista Jazz Orchestra, the Simpson College Faculty Jazz Quintet, and currently plays lead alto in the Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra. 

Brian holds a Doctor of Arts degree in Saxophone Performance and Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado, where he was a student of Dr. Andrew Dahlke. He holds additional degrees from East Carolina University (M.M. in Saxophone Performance & Jazz Studies) and the University of Minnesota (B.M.E.). His teachers have included Eugene Rousseau, Brian Grivna, Greg Keel, David Milne, Jeff Bair, and additional studies in improvisation with Adam Larson and Steve Kovalcheck.

Brian is a Conn-Selmer and Dahlke Mouthpiece performing artist and performs exclusively on Selmer Paris saxophones and the Virtuoso Series RS mouthpiece.

Josh Banks

Architect

Josh Banks is an architect living in the Tri-Cities region with experience in designing thoughtful structures that compliment and improve the surroundings and neighbors by utilizing the wealth of craftsmanship and abundant resources available in east Tennessee. Josh has studied how to incorporate designs in dense urban areas, as well as designs in rural settings that are worthy of their hardworking communities.

Ingrid McIntyre

Lead Pastor at Glencliff United Methodist Church

Ingrid has done boots on the ground justice work for the last twenty-five years. Beginning her career working for Habitat for Humanity through AmeriCorps, Ingrid’s career has been rooted in dignified care for all. 

Earning her Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies at the University of Evansville, she learned the transformational and uplifting power of words. She has since honed that skill as a public speaker, preacher, grassroots organizer, and heartfelt advocate. Following her graduation from the University of Evansville, Ingrid attended the Wesley Theological Seminary. 

The daughter of a United Methodist pastor, Ingrid grew up in the church. Through her lifelong commitment to the church, she has seen firsthand the transformative power of Beloved Community and has made it her mission to intentionally and proactively expand God’s love to all. 

As a native Nashvillian, Ingrid is deeply rooted in the Nashville community. Following the May 2010 flood, Ingrid left her position at GBHEM to advocate for the marginalized Nashvillians affected most by the disaster. 

In June 2011, Ingrid co-founded Open Table Nashville as an interfaith homeless outreach nonprofit, which disrupts cycles of poverty, journeys with the marginalized, and advocates through education. Ingrid served as Executive Director for just under a decade, organizing and supporting hundreds of friends living on the streets in tackling cycles of poverty and transitioning into permanent housing solutions. 

Throughout her decade of radical justice work with Open Table Nashville, Ingrid developed deep relationships with persons experiencing homelessness across the city, advocating with them for their rights, obtaining supportive services and resources for sustained care, and officiating weddings and their funerals. Practicing ministry in relationships which celebrate and affirm those most impacted as innately whole, beloved human beings, and which center them as the experts of the ministry, called her further into addressing the gaping holes in the continuum of care. 

In her next step in a lifelong commitment to advocating for permanent housing for those deprived of it by gentrification and greed rather than genuine community restoration, Ingrid visioned and led years of community and congregational collaborations and partnerships to bring to life The Village at Glencliff. The Village provides a dignified, loving, and hospitable medical respite and bridge housing for the most vulnerable friends experiencing homelessness in Nashville. The hope is to meet each individual’s most basic needs so that they are empowered to focus on healing and permanent supportive housing.

Ingrid presently serves as a Pastor in the The Tennessee Western Kentucky United Methodist Conference. She is on staff at both Belmont United Methodist Church and the Lead Pastor at Glencliff United Methodist Church, leading communities in living the Gospel in “Risky Discipleship,” or a faith of courage and action.

Dr. Deborah Harley-McClaskey

ETSU Department of Counseling and Human Services

Dr. Harley -McClaskey served for 39 years in administrative and faculty positions at East Tennessee State University. She wrote and directed several grants totaling a million dollars creating programs engaging students in leadership and service-learning opportunities. She also developed the first academic undergraduate leadership program at ETSU for the Tennessee State Higher Education System. Additionally, she is the author of two textbooks on leadership development. During her time at ETSU, Deborah served as a leadership consultant and trainer for many organizations in the region. 

Deborah served her community as a board member for the Girl Scouts of the Appalachian Council, Coalition for Kids, as well as Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee. She served on the Steering Committee that developed the first Youth Leadership Program for the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce and the Tri-Cities Youth Empowerment Conference. Deborah currently serves as the chair of the Johnson City Housing and Community Development Committee. She also serves as Treasurer of Unity Housing, a new nonprofit working on solutions for Homelessness in Johnson City and Washington County. Deborah was recognized by the Office of the Governor and the Higher Education Commission with the Love Community Service Award (1995), as a Tennessee Volunteer Hero (2000), and named a Tennessee Treasure (2008.)

Deborah is a 2019 graduate of Emerge Tennessee, a program that prepares women to run for political office. In 2020 she was elected the Democratic Party Executive Committee Woman to represent state senate district 3. In 2020 she was a candidate for the Johnson City Commission. In 2021 she was elected as the East Regional Vice Chairwoman of the Tennessee Democratic Party.

Dr. Harley-McClaskey holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of South Florida and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from East Tennessee State University.

Deborah is the mother of two daughters and grandmother of one.

Brandon Davis

Owner, Sharprism Branding & Marketing

Brandon Davis is a creative professional with a passion for story telling through visual media. Brandon is a career marketer with experience spanning multiple industries including outdoor retail, eco tourism, advertising & media, video & photo production, as well as logos and branding. 

Brandon has over 20 years of experience in marketing and creative development. After getting his formal education in Johnson City Tennessee, he moved to the New Orleans area as a state-wide director for media and advertising to support local and national businesses. While living there he served on the board of directors for Ascension Parish Chamber of Commerce. In 2021 Brandon started his own business, Sharprism Branding & Marketing. Brandon and his family of five have returned to the Appalachian Mountains where he continues to support local businesses through marketing and advertising.

Brandon has a passion for local the community and to apply his talents in order to bring awareness to the social needs of the region. Brandon knows the impact that providing resources and support to the unhoused can do for the area and is supporting Unity Housing as a working board member.

Dr. James Elliot PharmD,BCACP

Clinical Specialist, Medication Management

Dr. Elliott is dedicated to providing exceptional patient care by ensuring that every individual feels heard, informed, and confident in their healthcare decisions. With years of clinical experience and a deep passion for advancing therapeutic knowledge, he is committed to educating the next generation of healthcare professionals. Dr. Elliott is particularly passionate about working with underserved populations and aims to make a meaningful impact on patient care at a broader level. He joined Unity Housing to champion medical respite services and deliver healthcare to those in need, while upholding the principles of dignity and respect to improve the well-being of his local community.

Ashley Cavender

Nutrition & Food access Program Director, ARCD

A native to East Tennessee and an ETSU Alumni, Ashley Cavender is elated to get back to nonprofits and meaningful initiatives that focus on local food, community organizing, and education. She is inspired by grassroots agriculture movements, educational programming, and sustainable conservation efforts. As the Program Director for the Produce Incentive Programs, Ashley garners support and community connections to leverage access to healthy local foods in low-income communities. With over a decade of non-profit management, event organizing, fundraising, and volunteer management, Ashley is passionate about engaging and educating people from diverse backgrounds to grow and consume local healthy foods. Prior to this position, Cavender was employed by Visit Johnson City as their Event Coordinator and was Director of Meet the Mountains Festival. Before that she served as the Volunteer and Development Coordinator for One Acre Cafe, a community cafe. Her passion for local food and farmers markets blossomed while attending ETSU where she fell in love with the local agriculture community and ETSU Farmers Market. From there, she found her home in Jonesborough and served as the market manager for Jonesborough Locally Grown for a number of years. When she is not working or volunteering for various events in the region, you will find her on the Nolichucky River with her Jack Russel, Banjo. She enjoys cooking and trying new things. She loves being outdoors and traveling abroad any chance she gets, she most recently backpacked Vietnam for one month, solo. But Appalachia is her home through and through.

Candida Hall

UX Researcher | Designer

Designer on a mission to make good things through collaboration with others. I've been in UX since 2013 and during that time I've worked with clients across several different industries from EdTech to Healthcare. No matter the project, two things always hold true: design is better through collaboration and user research is the difference between fine and great. ​For this reason, research is an integral part of my design process.