CHRISTY VERNON SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS At each conference the TADCP members find out who they voted

for to receive the Christy Vernon Spirit Award. TADCP members are given an opportunity to nominate a worthy candidate. Then, they review the nominations and vote for their choice. The nominations are always heart-felt and the nominees are all dedicated champions for drug courts. This year, the TADCP wanted to share all the nominations to recognize these esteemed colleagues for their efforts. Below are the nominations in alphabetical order. KEVIN BATTS

1. I think Kevin Batts would be a great candidate for the Christy Vernon Spirit award because of his tireless efforts to promote Drug Courts across the state of Tennessee. He has served on the TADCP board and held a leadership position as the president. He has been innovative within the Dickson County drug court by offering residential treatment for all participants and always thinks outside the box to increase funding opportunities. But the thing that impresses me the most is his willingness to share his knowledge with other Drug Courts across the state. He is truly a team player! 2. I have known Mr. Batts for several years now, my first association with him being through the Tennessee Public Defenders Conference. He served that organization for over two decades. Mr. Batts presently serves as the Program Coordinator for the 23rd Judicial District Drug Court Program, which covers five rural counties northwest of Nashville. He has served that organization for several years now, and during his tenure, the participant base has soared in numbers, retention has improved, a DUIspecific track has been implemented, press recognition of the program is a regular event, record keeping has vastly improved, finances are sound, and the program has flourished. Mr. Batts has served the TADCP as both vice-president and as president. I consider him a shining star in the arena of drug courts in Tennessee. His strong background in technology has benefited the TADCP is developing partnerships with technology providers and information systems that vastly improved drug courts across Tennessee, including the arrest alert system presently being implemented as a pilot program. Mr. Batts hard work and political connections led to a wonderful collaboration with the NADCP during their annual conference at Opryland in 2012, which event greatly benefited Tennessee Drug Courts in the eyes of the nation. Mr. Batts has worked hard to see that the transition of oversight of Tennessee Drug Courts from Finance & Administration to Mental Health would be as seamless and as painless as is possible for all of our drug courts. Our TADCP newsletter has never been finer than it presently is, largely due to the insights and contributions of Mr. Batts. Mr. Batts presently serves as a law professor at David Lipscomb University, in Nashville, where he is an admired and honored member of their faculty. He frequently involves his criminal justice students in drug court related issues, and has had several involved as interns in the 23 rd District Program. Mr. Batts is very much the team-player, and a great motivator of others. He unabashedly requests the assistance of others when he recognizes the benefit of their input to the needs of his program. He has invited many people and agencies to work with both his Drug Court Program as well as the TADCP. On a local basis, that includes partnerships with law enforcement agencies, churches, hospitals, and other civic minded groups. When Kevin asks our advice and assistance, it is simply impossible to say No, and the TADCP has grown stronger as a consequence. No one I am aware of better represents our Drug Court Programs, better promotes the mission statement of the TADCP, or stands as a more deserving candidate to receive the Christi Vernon Spirit Award this tear. With that said, I again present Kevin Batts as the Candidate of Choice. NANCY DODD I would like to nominate Mrs. Nancy Dodd for the Christy Vernon Spirit Award. Mrs. Dodd has been a member of The Recovery Support Foundation of Rutherford County, Inc.s Board of Directors for nine years. The Recovery Support Foundation is the 501 c 3 that supports the Rutherford County Drug Court and DUI Court.

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Mrs. Dodd is a member of World Outreach Church. She has served on the Rutherford County Planning Commission and was a representative to the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee Council. She is or has been a member of the Womans Club, the Oaklands Historic Mansion Association, Murfreesboro Little Theater, Murfreesboro Medical Alliance and the Col. Hardy Murfree Chapter of DAR. Mrs. Dodd has hosted fundraisers at her home for the Beesley Animal Humane Society, Main Street Revitalization, CASA and the Recovery Support Foundation of Rutherford County, Inc. Both Mrs. Dodd and her husband, Dr. David T. Dodd, who passed away in December 2010, have been actively involved in the recovery community for much of their adult lives. Dr. Dodd started the Physicians Impairment program for the State of Tennessee, which has been copied by other states. Mrs. Dodd often worked with the spouses of impaired physicians. Additionally, their son, Dr. David Chip Dodd started the Center for Professional Excellence, which treats impaired professionals from many walks of life. Chip Dodd is also a popular speaker and author, who has spoken at the TADCP Conference on several occasions. Both Dr. and Mrs. Dodd have always been ardent supporters of drug courts, especially the drug court in Rutherford County. As stated earlier, Mrs. Dodd has been on our board for nine years, and shows no hint of slowing down. She has advocated for drug courts everywhere she goes. She has never missed a graduation. She has held gatherings in her home to introduce and spread the word about drug courts. She has invited many of her acquaintances to be on our board, and they have served graciously. Mrs. Dodd has financially supported our drug court every year of her involvement. When Dr. Dodd passed away in 2010, the Recovery Support Foundation voted to change the name of their annual fundraiser, Rally for Recovery 5K Race, to the 6th Annual Dr. David T. Dodd Rally for Recovery 5K Memorial Race. We held the 7th Annual Memorial race on September 29th. The entire Dodd family has embraced this memorial to their father, grandfather and husband and has helped the race become even more successful than it already was. As the matriarch of this family, and the work she has done for our drug court program, Mrs. Dodd deserves this recognition. It would be an honor for our drug court program to be able to give Mrs. Dodd this award for all the hard work she has done for us and for drug courts in general. C. BRAD PRICE I would like to nominate Brad Price for the Christy Vernon Spirit Award. Brad Price exemplifies a servant/leader. In Brads position as Coordinator with the 31st Judicial District Drug Court, he has worked diligently to make the program the success it is today. Brad champions drug courts in general, and his drug court specifically as he works within his community to gain both financing and support for drug courts. Brad is an effective collaborator and has fostered longstanding positive relationships with community partners. Brad has been successful in obtaining numerous grants which have proven to further the abilities of the 31st Judicial District Drug Court to serve substance abusing/dependent offenders in his judicial district. In addition to his vital role as Drug Court Coordinator, Brad has served as the Treasurer for the Tennessee Association for Drug Court Professionals (TADCP) for numerous years. Brad continues to be instrumental in planning and seeing the annual TADCP conference to fruition. Brad eagerly provides advice and assistance to fellow drug court practitioners. Brad is the first person many in the professional drug court community go to when they need assistance or advice. Brad exemplifies professionalism, yet he maintains an underlying playfulness and sense of humor that makes everyone he encounters feel at ease. I believe these qualities make Brad Price an excellent candidate for the Christy Vernon Spirit Award. RICK TAYLOR Association with an existing Drug Court program in Tennessee Richard Taylor has a long, distinguished association with the 23rd Judicial District Drug Court, which serves the citizens of Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, and Stewart Counties. Mr. Taylor has

played an active role in the management of the 23rd District Drug Court since its creation, with the exception of the time in which he served the Davidson County Drug Court (DC4). Demonstrate a commitment for the advancement of Drug Courts Mr. Taylor is an innovator for Drug Courts. From his early visions for self-sufficient Drug Court Sober Living Residences to his official visit to Congress to lobby for increased funding for Drug Courts all across America, Mr. Taylor has demonstrated his commitment for the advancement of Drug Courts. Mr. Taylor has been willing to try new things to grow drug courts in both quantity and quality. DC4 and the 23rd District Drug Courts stand as testaments to Mr. Taylors untiring resolve to improve the system. Mr. Taylor is the past President, Vice President, and current Secretary of the Tennessee Association of Drug Court Professionals, and has served on the Board for many years. History of community service Mr. Taylor has served in a volunteer capacity for Drug Courts for more than a decade. He helped make the bold experiment into a reality. He has had a long, distinguished career in public service, serving many years as an Assistant Public Defender. Mr. Taylor regularly donates his time to providing pro bono legal services to the less fortunate. He spends many hours working on and around the 23rd Districts Sober Living Residences to make them feel more like home for the participants. Mr. Taylor is active in a number of other community service and church-related activities. Motivate and inspire co-workers, volunteers and participants

Mr. Taylor is well-known in the community and has the proven ability to make things happen. He leads by example. He is instrumental in processing a number of participants through the application process, and in linking them with effective treatment facilities. Mr. Taylor has developed a strong working relationship with treatment facilities across the state, and his knowledge of treatment models provides invaluable insight to the Twenty-Third Districts Drug Court team in selecting treatment options for participants. Mr. Taylor is admired by participants, and is quick to strike up a conversation with anyone in the courtroom. This puts participants at ease, and promotes an open dialogue between participants and team members. Mr. Taylor can often be heard in a corner of the courtroom giving an inspirational talk to someone after court. Participants and strangers alike gather around Mr. Taylor to hear his comforting words of wisdom on their road to recovery. Serve as an advocate or champion for Drug Courts As an Officer of TADCP, Mr. Taylor has developed strong ties to leaders in Washington who are making a difference for Drug Courts in this country. He actively lobbies members of Congress, taking time to educate them on the intricate details of effectively managing Drug Courts. He willingly shares his own experiences of building Drug Courts with other Drug Court managers and state officials. He selflessly shares documents, ideas, and methods with anyone who asks. Mr. Taylor is a voracious student of Drug Court Management techniques, and is always looking for innovations that might be adapted for use in Tennessee Drug Courts. Mr. Taylor is always looking to take Drug Courts to the next level. He advocates for more consistent funding for Drug Courts. He strives for the dream of making Drug Courts accessible to every American in need. He is a strong advocate for guiding principles which bring consistency and accountability to the operation of Drug Courts. DONNA VIZE Ms. Vize has been associated with the 31st Judicial District Drug Court Program since 2007, when she was on the Drug Court Team as a Treatment Counselor with our treatment provider, Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System. Mrs. Vize remained on the Drug Court team while she was employed as a forensic social worker with the Department of Probation and Parole. Mrs. Vize is currently the Program Manager for our Adult Treatment Court Collaborative behavioral health court program. She has been a pivotal part of the team that implemented this innovative court model. Mrs. Vize provides administrative oversight of the treatment components of this project, including the intensive outpatient program, case management and recovery groups. Through her leadership and in partnership with the 31st Judicial District Drug Court and Adult Treatment Court Collaborative staff, the program has exceeded its initial goals and met all milestones outlined by SAMHSA. She has ensured that each participant in the program receive acknowledgement of their work in the treatment program, is an advocate for participants at court and has successfully built the treatment

team at CHEER Mental Health Center in McMinnville, a division of Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System. In addition to her work with the court programs, Mrs. Vize is an active community member. She volunteers her assistance with the Families in crisis Association and Children Advocacy Center in Warren County. During the time I have been associated with Mrs. Vize she has always shown exceptional commitment to her professional career. Mrs. Vize has assisted the 31st Judicial District Drug Court Program in developing many of the ten key components of operating a successful drug court program. Mrs. Vize has demonstrated a passionate attitude for assisting individuals in need, regardless if he/she is associated with the drug court program, or living in the community. I have personally experienced Ms. Vize taking it upon herself to assist family members of individuals not even associated with the drug court program. She has made arrangements to find these individuals financial assistance so he/she can attend inpatient treatment for his/her addiction. It is with great pleasure I nominate Mrs. Donna Vize for the Christy Spirit Award. Mrs. Vize demonstrates daily the spirit to motivate others on the drug court team and fellow workers by her examples.