The Staff

TNCPE has a permanent team of executive and support staff based in Nashville. The staff’s role is to manage all TNCPE activities and coordinate the various groups of people integral to fulfilling TNCPE’s mission.

Kathryn S. (Katie) Rawls is president and CEO of the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence. A passionate proponent of the quest for excellence in all areas of operation, Katie’s career has been marked by key leadership positions in higher education, public power and the professional service industry. She is widely recognized for her skills in developing teamwork and facilitating consensus. She has put these skills into play as vice president of economic development for the Tennessee Valley Authority, as chief of staff to the president of Fisk University and director of marketing for Atlanta-based Deloitte & Touche, among other notable career highlights. Katie graduated from Vanderbilt University. She holds a Master’s degree in special education from George Peabody College and an MBA in marketing from Georgia State University. 

Sue Alexander is the manager of administration for the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence and has been with the organization since moving to Nashville in 2000. She is responsible for day-to-day operations, including logistics for the annual Excellence Awards Banquet and Conference. In addition, she served on the 2001 Board of Examiners. Prior to joining TNCPE, Sue held similar positions with the JCPenney home office in Dallas, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and the YMCA of the Pike’s Peak Region in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Will Schoch serves as Project Manager for the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence. His duties include managing logistics and resources for examiner training sessions, as well as examiner retention. Will is also responsible for the organization of the annual Excellence in Tennessee Conference and Awards Banquet. His experience prior to joining the staff at TNCPE includes several years in international trade and logistics. Will earned his Bachelor's degree in economics from Vanderbilt University, and is currently pursuing his Master's degree in organizational leadership and communication from Belmont University.

Jennifer Frazier serves as the communications manager for the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence. She is responsible for honing the TNCPE message, managing Web content and developing other TNCPE collateral. Jennifer spent several years as editor or managing editor of a variety of financial services trade magazines including Senior Market Advisor, Wealth and Retirement Planner and the Annuity Selling Guide. In addition, she served as a communications specialist at Memphis-based AutoZone Inc. Jennifer has lived in Tennessee for most of her life. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Indiana University.