Paul Richardson
Title: Chairman
Date of Appointment: 2008
Spouse: Mrs. Jana Richardson
Profession: Real Estate & Insurance Agent for J. Paul Richardson & Sons
Mr. Richardson is a native of Lincoln County, graduating from LCHS in 1993. He earned a degree in Animal Science and Economics from the University of Tennessee. He is the 3rd generation to run his family business in Real Estate and Insurance. He and his wife Jana married in 2001 and have one daughter and one son. Mr. Richardson is a member of the First Baptist Church in Fayetteville. He was also a past President of the Fayetteville Rotary Club. Mr. Richardson and his family reside in Fayetteville and live on their family farm where they also raise beef cattle.
Amy Harwell
Title: Vice-Chairwoman
Date of Appointment: 2017
Spouse: Mr. Justin Harwell
Profession: Governmental Sector
Amy Harwell is a native to Lincoln County, Tennessee. Mrs. Harwell graduated from Lincoln County High School in 1990. She began her work career at Fayetteville Electric System while attending Motlow State Community College. Mrs. Harwell has over 26 years of experience in the areas of customer service, operations, government contracting, legal services, and financial management with an emphasis on portfolio management and budgeting. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management & Human Relations and a Masters of Organizational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University. Mrs. Harwell currently works in the government sector. She is a member of First Baptist Church of Fayetteville. Mrs. Harwell resides in Fayetteville with her family and enjoys spending her free time at home on the farm.
Deborah Woodward
Title: Secretary/Treasurer
Date of Appointment: 2017
Profession: School Teacher (Retired)
A native of Lincoln County, Deborah is an alumnus from Central High School. Shortly after graduation, she went on to achieve her Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Mississippi. She then received her Master’s Degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro and has a +45 from Tennessee State University. Woodward is a retired teacher having taught at Eighth District, Central High School and Ninth Grade Academy.
William Hurd
Title: Board Member
Date of Appointment: 2009
Spouse: Mrs. Brenda Hurd
Profession: Store Keeper (Retired), Stone Mason Carpenter, and Baptist Minister
Mr. Hurd is a native of Bedford County where he graduated from Central High School in 1969. He attended college at Motlow State Community College and Middle Tennessee State University where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration and Education. He worked for 33 years at the Aerospace Testing Alliance, a division of Arnold Engineering as their store keeper. He also has spent the last 38 years as a stone mason carpenter, an art and skill he learned from his father-in-law. Mr. Hurd is also a minister at the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church of Fayetteville. Mr. Hurd and his wife, Brenda, have been married for 40 years. They have three children and seven grandchildren.
Russ Dixon
Title: Board Member
Date of Appointment: 2015
Spouse: Mrs. Dawn Askins Dixon
Profession: Energy and Utilities Sector & Healthcare
Mr. Dixon grew up in rural Minnesota before moving to east Tennessee with his family in 1987. He graduated from Jefferson County High School in 1992 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science/Engineering from the University of Tennessee in 1997. He has extensive experience in the utility industry with more than 15 years of experience implementing large scale customer billing and service applications for large electric and gas utilities throughout the U.S. Since 2018, Mr. Dixon has been employed by the Corridor Group, a leading provider of outsourced Revenue Cycle services to the Home Health and Hospice Services industry where he currently services as the Chief Operating Officer. In 2004, Mr. Dixon and his wife Dawn returned to her hometown of Fayetteville to raise their family. Mr. Dixon is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Fayetteville where he is involved in working with the church youth and a number of mission projects. He has also served as a coach for AYSO, Upward Basketball, and the Fayetteville Area Swim Team.
Daniel Eldridge
Title: Board Member
Date of Appointment: 2024
Spouse: Mrs. Dana Eldridge
Profession: Aerospace & Defense Industry
Daniel Eldridge is a native of Lincoln County, having grown up in the Blanche community, and is a 1988 graduate of Lincoln County High School. He and his wife of 33 years, Dana, also of Lincoln County, have four adult children. Daniel works in the Aerospace and Defense industry for Axient, a large business located in Huntsville, Alabama, where he serves as the Executive Director of Contracts. In 2000, Daniel co-founded Riverside Christian Academy, where he served as its President for 11 years. He continues to serve as the school's Board Chairman. In 2022, Daniel was elected to the Lincoln County Commission to represent the citizens of the 5th district, and he serves on various committees, including Chairman of the Lincoln County Planning Commission. Daniel holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Tennessee Tech, an MBA from Florida Tech, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Tennessee State University.
Mike Keenan
Title: Board Member
Date of Appointment: 2024
Spouse: Mrs. Tricia Keenan
Profession: Aerospace & Defense Industry
Mike Keenan has over 30 years of experience in the Aerospace and Defense Industry. Keenan served 24 years in the US Army as an Army Aviator and spent 16 of those years in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) where he deployed multiple times in support of the Global War on Terrorism. After retiring from the US Army, Keenan continued to focus on the needs of the warfighter. Currently, he serves as director of aviation operations at Yulista and is the vice president of operations for Horsepower Therapy, a non-profit veteran’s organization dedicated to the support, empowerment and enrichment of the lives of America’s veterans, combat-wounded veterans and their families. In 2024, Keenan was elected as alderman for the City of Fayetteville and appointed to serve on the Board of Public Utilities, Public Works Committee, Parks and Recreation Committee, Chamber of Commerce Board and Industrial Oversight Committee. He is a member of the Fayetteville Rotary Club, the Fayetteville-Lincoln County Veteran Advisory Committee and the Lincoln County Warrior Exhibit Board. Keenan previously served on the Fayetteville-Lincoln County Library Board and the Fayetteville-Lincoln County Regional Airport Authority. Keenan and his wife, Tricia, have been married for 33 years. They reside in Fayetteville and have four children and two grandchildren.
Mayor Donna Hartman
Title: Ex-Officio Board Member
Date of Appointment: 2022
Profession: Chief Financial/Operating Officer
Ms. Hartman spent most of her working career, 26 years, with the Madison County District Attorney’s Office, from where she is now retired. She has extensive experience in human resources, budgets and financial management, grants and local/state government operations. She grew up in Hazel Green, Alabama, and she has one son, Zach. Ms. Hartman served as Alderman in 2018- 2022 and was voted Mayor in November 2022, where she plans to be a full-time Mayor. As Alderman, she served on several Committees/ Boards, which has given her a large insight to the operations of the city. She has spent numerous hours volunteering with Main Street to ensure its success we see today. Ms. Hartman is also a member of Fayetteville First United Methodist Church, member of The Elks Lodge and a graduate of Leadership Lincoln 2020.