Nashville Cares

Robert Adams, MBA, has been Chief Financial Officer for Nashville CARES since 1992. Adams has managed a department of increasing complexity, responsibility, and accountability as the agency budget has grown from less than $1 million to more than $15 million. He also provides oversight for the Insurance and Dental Assistance Programs and represents the agency on the Community HIV/AIDS Partnership Steering Committee.

Ben Awopeju, MBA, is Program Coordinator for the Insurance and Dental Assistance Program (IDAP). He came to CARES in 2008 with nearly 20 years experience in managing and facilitating care in HIV and Memory Care facilities. Awopeju was instrumental in developing and directing care in the first HIV treatment facility in Oklahoma City, OK. Awopeju oversees the provision of assistance, provides leadership and training to a diverse staff of insurance and dental specialists, and is responsible for Quality Assurance within the department.

Diane Bracey joined CARES as Human Resources Manager in 2008 with more than 15 years of HR management experience in for-profit and non-profit settings. She oversees all aspects of employee adminsitration and relations for the agency.

Brandon Brown, LPC/MHSP, is Director of Emotional and Practical Support. He has been with Nashville CARES since 2004, previously serving as Mental Health Specialist for three years and then as Project HEART Coordinator for two years before assuming his current position in August 2009. Brown oversees mental health and substance abuse treatment services, food & nutrition services, transportation assistance, and the delivery of on-site walk-in (office) and client advocacy services as well as a toll-free hotline through Project HEART.

Patrick Luther, MHS, has been Director of Prevention Education since 2000. He has more than 22 years experience in HIV program design, implementation and evaluation. Luther provides planning, supervision, and evaluation for the agency’s ten targeted prevention programs as well as the HIV Counseling and Testing and HIV Screening initiatives and Early Intervention Services. He represents the agency as the Co-Chair of the Middle Tennessee Community HIV/AIDS Partnership and Chair of the Developing Community Leaders Committee of Alignment Nashville.

Sean Muldoon, LCSW, has been with Nashville CARES since 1995 and the Director of Case Management Services since 1998. He has more than 28 years of human services experience in both administrative and practitioner roles, and 14 years experience with HIV/AIDS services. Muldoon supervises case management, housing and financial assistance services. He also represents the agency on the Community HIV/AIDS Partnership (where he chairs the Committee on Services and Community Needs) and on the Standards of Care Committee for the Nashville Ryan White planning Council.

Sara Welch, MSW, joined CARES in 2009 as On-Site Services Coordinator. She was previously a Research Associate working directly with underserved communities in southern Illinois in HIV education/ testing counseling, program implementation, and group facilitation. Welch oversees delivery of on-site education, testing and supportive services as well as coordinating distribution of food and transportation resources and the provision of client advocacy support through Project HEART. She also supervises the HEARTLine, a toll-free hotline that provides our community with access to information, referral services, and crisis intervention.

John D. Winnett is the Chief Development & External Affairs Officer. He joined Nashville CARES in 2010 after serving as the Vice President of Development, Marketing & Public Relations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City. Winnett previously served as the Director of Development and External Relations for St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School in Kansas City, MO and as the Executive Director of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity's International Endowment in Charlottesville, VA. He has a diverse consulting background including Fundraising, Marketing, Public Relations, Public Policy, Networking and Public Speaking. Mr. Winnett oversees all aspects of Nashville CARES’s fundraising and external affairs including the annual campaign, major gifts, corporate support, special events, sponsorships, marketing, public affairs and media relations.