Our Mission

Green Interchange’s mission is to plant trees and establish and sustain natural systems for healthier communities, economies, and quality of life. We plant trees near roadways, waterways and in other public and private spaces. We currently operate in Tennessee with a vision of offering our programs nationally in the future. Learn more about our mission, our work, and our impact.  

Board of Directors

Nikki Smith, Board Chair
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Smith is a Nashville native with a Master of Science in Sustainability from Lipscomb University. She specializes in relationship building and has spent more than eight years leading recruitment and engagement efforts for organizations in the healthcare space. She has also supported environmental non-profits with marketing and fundraising efforts for the betterment of our community.

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Brooks Hudson, Board Treasurer

Brooks is originally from Mobile, Alabama, and earned his Accounting and Finance degree from Auburn University. He’s an active CPA who has utilized his special skillset with multiple companies throughout the Middle TN area for the past 7+ years. He is motivated to make a positive impact throughout the community for many years to come.  ​
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Jim Delanis, Board Member

Over 40 years of experience in resolving business disputes by litigation, arbitration or mediation.

Specialties: Business litigation including contract disputes, banking and commercial paper, trade secrets, intellectual property, state procurement, Tennessee tax and administrative litigation, arbitration and mediation.
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Leadership

John McFadden
CEO

John brings over three and a half decades in conservation, sustainability, environmentalism, education and non-profit management to Green Interchange. From ideation to execution McFadden has led municipalities, organizations and individuals in environmental restoration, and environmental education projects. Connecting with everyone from governors to garden clubs, he has raised over 4 1/2 million dollars towards conservation efforts, in addition to leading thousands of volunteers in stream restoration, and reforestation, planting over 1 million trees with staff and volunteers. His work has earned four Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards, a Friend of Forestry Award, and the Tennessee River Basin Network’s Science and Management Award. 

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Jennifer Liepis​
Director of Marketing & Development

​Jen is the Founder of the small business directory Love Local, holds a Masters in Sustainability, and is working towards a certificate in Corporate Sustainability at Harvard University. She uses the Love Local platform to empower people to advocate for and adopt sustainable practices. She’s active in community originations addressing climate change resilience in Nashville. ​

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Joy Giggie
Director of Corporate Relations

Joy brings over 20 years of cross-functional corporate experience, including Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Euro RSCG Discovery (Havas Creative) and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. As a recently certified Tennessee Naturalist, Joy is passionate about Green Interchange’s mission and thrilled to utilize her strategic mindset and business acumen to help plant more trees across Tennessee! 

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Julie Hornsby

Julie Hornsby is a Civil Engineering graduate from Vanderbilt University. With a passion for problem-solving and combating climate change, she recently pursued a Master's in Engineering for Sustainable Development at the University of Cambridge. Now back in the Southeast, she wants to pave a new career path in sustainability consulting, driving positive change with innovative solutions for companies that wish to decrease the negative environmental impacts that their activities have on the planet. Julie's goal is to build a more sustainable future where humans, animals, and all living beings can live in a harmonious relationship filled with respect and gratitude for one another.

An Idea Into Action - Congressman Mark Green

"As an avid fly fisherman and outdoorsman, I care deeply about our environment. Unfortunately today, some of the extreme proposals out there have forced conservatives out of the discussion when we should very much be in it. I came up with this idea as an easy way for everyday Tennesseans from both sides of the aisle to come together and take a small first step toward protecting our environment, and beautifying our interchanges too. Because of House Ethics rules, I can't be a part of this project directly, but I am honored that this team has launched my idea, the Green Interchange, and I can't wait to see the impact they make."