Who We Are
Ashby Rushing
Executive Director
Ashby began volunteering with Better Decisions in 2018. She has served as a mentor and teacher at Thistle Farms and the Tennessee Prison for Women. Ashby grew up in Virginia and attended William and Mary, completing her masters and doctoral degrees at George Washington University. Before moving to Nashville, she taught in public and independent schools as well as universities. Volunteer work included serving on the board of a children’s theater and running auctions benefiting her church and daughter’s school. She took on the role of Executive Director for Better Decisions in 2022. She enjoys yoga, travel, writing, reading - she works part-time at Parnassus Books - and spending time with her husband, daughter and dogs!
Lisa Waddle
Board President
Lisa began volunteering with Better Decisions in 1997 and has served as both a mentor and a teacher. Raised in Connecticut, she attended Brown University and earned her master's in journalism from Columbia University. She moved to Nashville to take a job as a reporter at The Tennessean, and has worked as a writer and editor for Fine Cooking, Martha Stewart Living, Parade, and AKC Family Dog magazines. She has taught cooking classes at the Institute for Culinary Education and worked for a year as a baker at the French bakery Provence. She is currently a Senior Communications Specialist at HCA Healthcare. She is married and enjoys running, yoga, reading and tennis.
Caity Craddock
Vice President & Secretary
Caity became a Better Decisions mentor in 2009 and joined the board in 2015. After growing up in Indiana and graduating from Centre College in Danville, KY, she spent 3 years in Oxford, Mississippi before moving to Nashville in 2004. Caity is an Educational Consultant in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University where she helps create and implement interventions for struggling learners in Metro Nashville Public Schools. She also enjoys volunteering with the Girl Scouts and various school and neighborhood associations. Caity, her husband and two daughters enjoy spending time outdoors, traveling and hiking.
Sasha Pickett
Treasurer
Sasha first volunteered with Better Decisions 25 years ago and is happy to have found her way back to the organization, both as a board member and mentor. Originally from Connecticut, she came to Nashville to attend Vanderbilt University and has been here since graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Sasha works for HCA Healthcare, where she spent 17 years in various roles in Information Technology but is currently Director of Regional Community Engagement, which aligns with her purpose and passion. Sasha and her husband have three daughters. She enjoys reading, traveling, experiencing live music and finding any excuse to gather with family and friends.
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Tatiana Cameron
Board Member
Tatiana "Tajci" Cameron is an award-winning music artist, author, certified meditation teacher (through Chopra Center) and certified holistic life coach (accredited through International Coaching Federation). Motivated by her passion of inspiring people to seek deeper spiritual experiences and enjoy more mind/body wellbeing, she has traveled extensively performing in concerts, presenting keynotes and facilitating workshops and retreats. She has published five books, and writes a weekly blog with coaching tips and music reflections. Originally from Croatia, Tatiana lived in NYC, Los Angeles and Cincinnati before settling in Franklin, Tennessee with her late husband and their three sons. She began volunteering with Better Decisions in 2015 after earning her first coaching certification. When she is not traveling, she enjoys gardening, walking with her goldendoodle Luna, and gigging at local music venues.
Chelsea Hurst
Board Member
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Chelsea moved to Nashville in 2003 to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration with Music Business emphasis at Belmont University. Upon graduation, she worked at Still Working Music/Orbison Productions as the Publishing Coordinator before joining the Performing Rights department at BMI in 2011. Still with BMI, she is now a Senior Director of Customer Service in the Distribution & Administration Services department where she leads a team focused on excellent customer experience and relations for BMI’s writer and publisher affiliates. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, spending time with her husband, attending concerts and sporting events and participating in training and development programs that focus on leadership of self and others. Chelsea joined the Board of Better Decisions in 2019. She loves volunteering at the Tennessee Prison for Women.
Carolyn Welden
Board Member
Carolyn grew up in Canada and studied at the University of Calgary before making her way to Nashville. Before moving here she was a professional dancer with theater and dance companies in Canada, the US and Europe. She spent over 20 years at FISI Madison Financial where her roles ranged from receptionist to Vice President. She was in charge of national accounts where she was responsible for training and, finally, in charge of legal affairs responsible for contracts. Carolyn has wide-ranging board experience and board leadership serving on the boards of the Tennessee Dance Theater, StageWorks and All About Women. Carolyn has been a mentor for Better Decisions since 2019 at both Thistle Farms and the Tennessee Prison for Women. She joined the board in 2023. Carolyn enjoys reading, supporting the Nashville arts community, spending time with friends, international travel–she has been to all 7 continents–and trying to manage her two rescue cats.
Suzy Gregson
Board Member
Suzy began volunteering with Better Decisions in Spring 2024. She is passionate about being involved in the community and supporting others. Originally from New York, Suzy moved to the Nashville area in 2006 as a pre-teen. She graduated from Columbia State Community College with an Associates Degree in Psychology, then finished her Bachelors Degree with a focus in Human Resources and Business Administration from Trevecca Nazarene University. She began her career in organizational and leadership development at Tractor Supply Co. in 2016. She moved to HCA Healthcare in 2019. Currently, Suzy is the Manager of Strategy and Operations for the Care Transformation and Innovation Department at HCA Healthcare; she supports strategic initiatives and operations for the team. In her free time, Suzy enjoys running, hiking, cooking, shopping for new plants and spending time with family and friends. Joining the Better Decisions board is an exciting opportunity for her to support women.
