Board

Gail Carr Williams - Chair

Gail Carr Williams has been a member of the Nashville MTA board since 2002 and is Associate Director of Community, Government and Neighborhood Relations in the Division of Public Affairs at Vanderbilt University. She is responsible for building community relationships on behalf of the university. Prior to her work with Vanderbilt, Williams had similar responsibilities at Ohio State University. She also has been a Human Resources Employee Relations Specialist with an emphasis on conflict resolution and mediation, and she practiced law in Oakland County, Michigan for 10 years. Williams also is a member of the following public service and community boards: University School of Nashville, The YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and Frist Center for the Visual Arts. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1979 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit School of Law in 1982.

Aron Thompson - Vice Chair

Aron Thompson, who was named to the Nashville MTA board in August 2023, is the Executive Director of the Real Estate Developers (R.E.D.) Academy, a program of the Urban League of Middle Tennessee (ULMT). He is responsible for overseeing the program's direction and assists with developing opportunities that allow local developers of color to tap into the program's resources and produce projects that produce equitable development in Nashville. Thompson has more than 20 years of experience in the architect field with numerous project types such as student-focused, student housing, sports and recreation, justice, aviation, healthcare, industrial, and corporate projects. He has worked as a senior project architect and project manager for local architectural firms. Thompson is a member of professional organizations such as NOMA, ULI, NAIOP, NMHC, and NAHB and is a deacon in his church and a board member for Bethlehem Centers of Nashville. He received his undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Architecture, from Prairie View A&M University.

Jeffery Haynes - Member

Jeffery (Jeff) N. Haynes was named to the Nashville MTA board in 2025 and is a partner in Boyle Investment Company’s Nashville office, overseeing real estate projects. In addition to 40 years of commercial real estate experience, he was also an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Owen School of Business from 2006-2011. Haynes has been responsible for the development of more than 2 million square feet of office and retail facilities, including headquarters for several Nashville-based companies. He is known for his extensive attention to detail and excellence in real estate development, including projects such as Capitol View and Meridian Cool Springs. Haynes is a member of ULI and NAIOP, served on the Nashville Parks Board from 2017-2023, and served on the Nashville Planning Commission from 2011 to 2023. He has also served as a Board member for Renewal House and currently chairs the Salvation Army Property Committee. Haynes received an undergraduate degree in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He is married to Lucy, and together they have four children.

Whitney Weeks - Member

Whitney Weeks, who was named to the Nashville MTA Board in 2026 and serves as Assistant Vice President of the HCA Healthcare Foundation, where she oversees strategic philanthropy and community investment initiatives. She has more than 20 years of experience in community development, nonprofit leadership, strategic communications, and public policy. Prior to joining HCA Healthcare, Weeks served as Senior Vice President of Policy at the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, where she helped lead regional initiatives focused on transit, economic development, early childhood education, and inclusive growth. She also held leadership positions at Vanderbilt University and founded a consulting practice focused on philanthropy and cross-sector collaboration. Weeks is passionate about public transit as a driver of economic opportunity and quality of life. Her three children relied on WeGo service throughout middle and high school, making MNPS school choice possible for their family and reinforcing her belief in transit's role in connecting people to education, employment, healthcare, and community. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and earned a master's degree from Smith College.