Commission Legal Advisers
For over a decade, The Commission has been fortunate to have as legal advisers not one, but two highly qualified attorneys, who dispatch their Commission-related duties with unusual enthusiasm and dedication!
John Ryder, Esquire, of The Shelby County Attorney's Office serves as The Commission's staff attorney. Among John's many achievements: the re-routing of The Presidential motorcade in order not to interrupt a network t.v. series filming on Beale Street.
Carmelita Carletos (“C.C.”) Drayton, Esq. and Carlee McCullough, Esq. of The City Attorney's Office approves filming on city property and is always available as The Commission's liaison for legal questions specifically pertaining to these properties, city neighborhoods, and city ordinances relevant to film and video productions.
Commission Mayoral Liaisons
A city/county agency equally funded by both governments, the Commission is directly assisted by The Offices of The Mayor of Memphis and The Mayor of Shelby County. The Commission has historically relied on both mayoral staffs for guidance and for powerful, "deal-making" assistance. Providing these invaluable services in County Government's Kelly Rayne, Esquire and City Government's Gale Carson.
Commission Advisory Board of Directors
The Commission's 22-member volunteer advisory Board of Directors serves by appointment only - half are appointed by The Mayor of Memphis and half by The Mayor of Shelby County.
The Commission Board's activities are governed by strict city/county conflict-of-interest policies. The majority of Board members are not from the film and television industries, but rather from the marketing, public relations, and legal professions.
An Executive Committee of current officers and past board chairmen meet frequently with the film commissioner to discuss policies and procedures and to help plan long-term staff activities. The entire Commission Board of Directors meets quarterly to review staff marketing and recruitment activities.
The entire Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Board of Directors includes citizens from impressive and diverse backgrounds: production professionals; attorneys; a playwright; a hotel executive ; the executive director of The Recording Academy-Memphis chapter; several marketing/public relations professionals; an internationally-known songwriter; a music and broadcast mogul; a endontiist; a CPA/film festival organizer; a university dean; educators; an entertainment booking agency head; and, an internationally-known blues singer. The individual board members' names and board positions are as follows:
City of Memphis
Office of the Mayor of Memphis: Toni Holmon-Turner
Office of Intergovernmental Relations: Tajuan Stout-Mitchell
Office of the City Attorney: C.C. Drayton, Esquire
Office of Contract Compliance: Carlee McCullough, Esquire
Shelby County
Office of the Mayor of Shelby County: Kelly Rayne, Esquire
Office of the County Attorney: John Ryder, Esquire
Board of Directors
Chairman: James (“Jimmy”) Tashie
Vice-Chairman: Gale Jones Carson
Treasurer: Isaac Singleton
Secretary: Dr. Susan Murrmann
Budget & Finance Director: Dr. O’Farrell Shoemaker
Board of Directors Executive Committee
Chairman Emeritus: Herb O’Mell
Chairman Emeritus: Donna Darwin (Ex-Officio)
Chairman Emeritus: Dr. Richard Ranta
Chairman Emeritus: Knox Phillips (Ex-Officio)
Chairman Emeritus: Calvin Miller
Chairman Emeritus: Blanchard E. Tual, Esquire
Chairman Emeritus: David Porter (Ex-Officio)
Board of Directors at Large
Tonya Butler, Esquire
Gale Jones Carson
Paul Chandler
Bill Carrier
Jane Folk
Ike Griffith
Mary Harvey Gurley
Ken Nelson
Tommie Pardue
Pat Kerr Tigrett
Ruby Wilson
Veronica Yates
