Staff Profiles

Elizabeth Wright
Executive Director
Main Office – Knoxville

Elizabeth Wright is a lifelong Tennessean with a strong commitment to social justice and the vitality of the state she calls home. Born in Cookeville, Tennessee, she later lived in Memphis for seven years and now resides in Knoxville, where she has lived since 2002. She comes to Tennesseans for Fair Taxation with a Master’s degree from the University of Tennessee in Social Work/Non-Profit Management and a B.A. in journalism and sociology Currently a co-officer of the East Tennessee Progressive Network and Knoxville Girls Rock Camp, Wright was previously the editor of Knoxville Voice, an independent advocacy publication, and a University of Tennessee adjunct faculty member in the College of Social Work. Prior to these roles, she completed a year-long internship at the Highlander Research and Education Center and has also served as an advocate and education specialist at the Sexual Assault Crisis Center in Knoxville. When not working alongside community members to advance social justice, Wright enjoys playing electric bass, being outdoors and tending to her two dogs, Pumpkin and Moby.

Sheila Angel
Administrative Liaison
Main Office – Knoxville

Sheila has worked with TFT since 2005, coordinating volunteer workdays and large mailings, along with managing TFT's day-to-day finances and other administrative tasks. Sheila has more than 13 years of non-profit administrative support and volunteer coordination experience. She’s worked previously with Angel Tree, the Tennessee Children’s Dance Ensemble (7+ years total), Sertoma Center, and the East Tenn. Human Resources Agency on Aging.

Marquita Bradshaw
Regional Organizer
West Tenn. Office - Memphis

Marquita, a lifelong Memphian, has worked for groups such as, A.F.L.-C.I.O, Unite- Here!, Youth Terminating Pollution, and Tennessee African American Environmental Justice Network. As TFT's newest staffer, she designs and delivers creative participatory development programs in leadership, coalition building, and organizing. Among her many accomplishments, she is the recipient of the 2003 Human Rights Award from the Mid South Peace & Justice Center and the 2002 Public Relation Student Society of America VOX Campaign Award. In her spare time, she is a member of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionist Community Action and Response Against Toxins Team.

Bill Howell
Regional Organizer
Middle Tenn. Office - Nashville

Bill has worked with TFT since 2006, staffing our Nashville chapter, supporting education and media activities in Middle and West Tennessee, and coordinating legislative activities at the Capitol. Formerly worked as a community organizer for Tying Nashville Together (TNT), an Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) group, for two years. As the senior staff there, Bill had an array of responsibilities including program administration, organizational outreach, media coordination, long-range planning, as well as fundraising. B.A. from Dartmouth College, B.Ach. from Univ. of Tenn., and M.S. from Columbia Univ. Has also attended numerous professional development trainings including the 10-day IAF organizer training school.

Samantha Wallace
Regional Organizer
Main Office – Knoxville

In 2008, Samantha joined TFT to help manage communications and organize for change. She has a history of working for non-profits such as the YMCA and the Amputee Coalition of America, where she coordinated events, worked with volunteers, and developed messaging strategies. In addition, Samantha has volunteered for various political campaigns and animal rescue groups. In 2007, Samantha earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Tennessee for Communication Studies and Political Science.

Megan Riggs
Development Coordinator
Middle Tenn. Office - Nashville

Megan Riggs is a newly transplanted Tennessean. Originally from Kentucky, she received her B.A. from Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia, and went on to spend two years teaching in Beijing, China. Megan has spent the last year in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania working at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation, where she learned from and worked with development professionals to support all affiliated organizations and events. Megan also enjoys volunteering with organizations committed to social justice and international cooperation.