Kristie Ryan, CFRE, Executive Director

We welcomed Kristie to Fannie Battle as executive director in April 2020. Having served nearly 30 years in non-profit development and management, Kristie has a garnered a depth of knowledge across her profession while working in a variety of non-profit organizations.  Her experience ranges from community based social service agencies, local and national health related organizations, and her sorority’s foundation. 

Kristie was awarded the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential in 1999 and has continuously maintained the designation since. Additionally, she received a non-profit management certificate from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy.  She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), where she has served in various roles including Nashville Chapter President.  She greatly values her own involvement as a volunteer with various Nashville area organizations having previously served with Nurses for Newborns, Boy Scouts – Troop 86, Faith Family Medical Clinic, Hillcrest UMC, and Brentwood High School, to name a few.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from Middle Tennessee State University.  Kristie is a Tennessee native and has been married to her husband, Alan, for 30 years. Together they have two children, a son, Will, and a daughter, Anna Gray, who also attends the University of Tennessee.

Mary Cady Bolin, Director of Development

Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Mary Cady moved to Nashville in 2001 to attend Vanderbilt University and has lived in Nashville ever since. Mary Cady holds a BA from Vanderbilt University and a Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School and has worked with and advocated for children as a classroom teacher, children’s pastor, and chaplain. Passionate about the need for quality and affordable childcare for every child, Mary Cady believes strongly in the mission of Fannie Battle and endeavors to work toward providing opportunities for every child in Nashville to grow, learn, and play.

A passionate volunteer, Mary Cady has served with her daughter’s schools for years, recently as President of the Harpeth Hall Parents Association. She is a member of St. George’s Episcopal Church where she is a Lay Eucharistic Minister. Her longest running community involvement continues to be with the YMCA where she has led group fitness classes for over 25 years.

Mary Cady and her husband, Brian, have two daughters, Caroline and Virginia Harper, and two active dogs, Vanderbilt and Blue. Their family enjoys spending time in the mountains and being outside as much as possible.

Stacie Spasoff, Program Director

Stacie is a former School Age teacher at Fannie Battle and was promoted to Program Director in 2018. Stacie has her Associate’s Degree in early childhood education and is pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree. Stacie has a long background in early childhood care and has been the center director for a multi-site child care, as well as served as a classroom teacher for various age-levels of children prior to joining the Fannie Battle team.

Latara Holt, Instructional Coach

Latara began working at Fannie Battle in 2007, as both a lead preschool and toddler teacher and was promoted to the Infant/Toddler Director in 2018 and then to our Instructional Coach in 2019. Latara holds an Associates Degree and has a vast amount of experience working in a variety of early childhood education centers since 2007, such as Montessori, MNPS schools, and after school programs.

Fenley Utter, Office Coordinator/Development Assistant

Born and raised in Alabama, Fenley moved to Nashville a few years ago in October 2021 and soon started working at Fannie Battle in August 2022. She grew up helping take care of her younger cousins and babysitting for friends and friends of friends. Before Fannie Battle, she worked at a vet clinic/doggy daycare. She’s since learned that children are a lot less furry, but equally as adorable, and just as much reliant on excellent care for growth.

Gena Lewis, Business Operations Manager

Gena started with Fannie Battle as the Kids Yoga Instructor in May of 2022. In July of 2024 she joined the team as Business Operations Manager. She has years of experience as facilitator and administrator running her own business, Recharge Holistics, in Charleston SC, also working as an executive assistant and operations manager before going off on her own business endeavors. She was the founder of a non-profit organization (2004-2008) that focused on caretaking and free non-medical services for the elderly population which cemented her passion of community involvement, holistic healing, and service in all the work that she has done. Gena moved here in May of 2020 and is happy to plant some roots in this East Nashville community with her husband Sam and their cat Lischey.