The Leadership of the Achievement Initiative of Middle Tennessee (AIM‑TN) is proud to champion a mission centered on empowering our communities through strategic youth development, health and wellness initiatives, and impactful service programs. As President and Board Chair Ken Woodard emphasizes, our work is grounded in addressing real needs—particularly for children and families who rely on community support during challenging times. Through collaborative partnerships, innovative programming, and a commitment to sustainable generational change, AIM‑TN continues to strengthen Middle Tennessee by engaging the youth, supporting families, and uniting sponsors and volunteers who help drive meaningful progress across our region.
Meet our Leadership
Ken Woodard
AIM-TN President
Ken Woodard is a finance professional with almost 30 years of experience and serves as President of the AIM-TN Foundation. In this role, he leads initiatives dedicated to building stronger communities across Middle Tennessee. He brings a strategic, data driven perspective to the Foundation’s work, helping guide its investments, partnerships, and longterm community impact.
Woodard is a Finance Manager at Allstate Insurance Company, where he specializes in financial planning, analysis, and cross functional leadership. His commitment to community advancement fuels his support for programs that empower youth, strengthen families, and expand access to education and opportunity.
Woodard holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Middle Tennessee State University, and remains actively engaged in as a member of the Brentwood (TN) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., as well as with other local nonprofit efforts.
Kendrick Darneal
AIM-TN Vice President
Kendrick Darneal is a founding leader of the Achievement Initiative of Middle Tennessee (AIM-TN) and serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors. A charter member of the Brentwood (TN) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Darneal’s leadership across both organizations reflects his deep commitment to service, achievement, and developing future generations of leaders.
Professionally, Darneal is the Senior Sales Territory Leader for Westfield Insurance in Tennessee, where he drives regional business development and provides strategic direction for growth across the state. His dedication to community engagement extends beyond his career, including service as an Assistant Scoutmaster with Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Nashville Chapter of NAAIA.
Kendrick holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and a Master of Business Administration from Morehead State University.
Richard McCarty
AIM-TN Secretary
Richard McCarty, Ph.D., is an accomplished academic leader and scholar who serves as Secretary of the AIM-TN Foundation. He brings decades of experience in higher education leadership, scientific research, and organizational governance to the Foundation’s mission of strengthening communities across Middle Tennessee.
Dr. McCarty earned his Ph.D. in Pathobiology from The Johns Hopkins University and completed postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Mental Health. He began his academic career at the University of Virginia in 1978, rising from assistant professor to getting a professorship and also chairing the Department of Psychology from 1990 to 1998.
From 1998 to 2001, he served as Executive Director for Science at the American Psychological Association before joining Vanderbilt University as Dean of the College of Arts and Science. He later served as Vanderbilt’s Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and as Provost from 2008 to 2014. After a sabbatical, he returned to teaching and retired in 2022 with the titles Professor of Psychology Emeritus and Dean of the College of Arts and Science Emeritus.
Richard has been a member of the Brentwood (TN) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. since 2014. He has served as Secretary and a member of the Board of Directors of the Achievement Initiative of Middle Tennessee (AIM-TN) since 2025.
Sean Baker
AIM-TN Treasurer
Sean D. Baker serves as Treasurer of the Board of the AIM-TN Foundation, where he provides fiduciary oversight and supports the Board’s financial governance in furtherance of the Foundation’s mission.
Baker is a U.S. Army veteran with a longstanding commitment to integrity, accountability, and public service, and is a member of the Brentwood (TN) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Baker holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration in Accounting and is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). He has 28 years of professional experience in auditing and taxation, with extensive expertise in financial controls, regulatory compliance, and risk management. His professional background strengthens the Board’s oversight responsibilities, and supports the Foundation’s long-term financial sustainability.
The Achievement Initiative of Middle Tennessee Foundation (AIM-
TN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded on the unique
approach to strengthening Middle Tennessee communities.
2020 Fieldstone Pkwy, Ste 900-130
Franklin, Tennessee 37069