Board of Directors
Aspen Tree Ministries Board of Directors
Executive Director - Rev. Dr. Diana M. DeWitt has served a number of churches throughout Middle Tennessee as an ordained elder in the UMC since 1996, having also served on various conference committees to include being Chairperson of both Spiritual Formation and Conference Worship. She is currently serving as an alternate on the Judicial Council of the UMC.
Diana is the Founder and Executive Director of Aspen Tree Ministries, a 501(c)(3) which seeks to be God’s agent of grace and love in bringing people from every walk of life into healing and wholeness through the transformational power of Jesus Christ. In this capacity she is currently engaged as a regular Bible and Discipleship teacher at an area church, and offers spiritual encouragement and hope to numerous clients, including those who are incarcerated.
Dr. DeWitt received her Doctor of Ministry in the area of Transformational Leadership from Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. She received her Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. She is also a licensed teacher in the State of Tennessee, having received her Master of Education from Vanderbilt University. Dr. DeWitt holds certification in Freedom Encounter Deliverance & Inner Healing Ministries. She is the author of “The Authority of Love: Reclaiming Spiritual Authority in the Church Today,”and also “My Grandma is a Preacher.”
Diana considers her most significant blessings to be her two children and their spouses, and her ten grandchildren. Her son and wife, Steven and Kelly, are parents to Henry, Annie, and Ruby. Her daughter and husband, Heather and Jimmy, are parents to Camden, Kaia, and Layna. They have also recently adopted four siblings from Tawain, Mavis, Turner, Evie, and Crosley.
President - Janice Denton is the Computer Systems Manager of Supply Chain for VF Imagewear, an international corporation, with her office in the Nashville area. She has traveled around the world, as well as managing international operations from her local base in Nashville, thus developing expertise in communications with various people groups. On one business trip to India, Janice made contact with an Indian pastor and his family, being instrumental in providing the necessary support for him to complete his PhD in evangelism at Asbury Seminary in Kentucky. She, as well as other ATM Board members, has actively supported this pastor’s ministry here in the US, as well as in Rudrapur, India,
Janice grew up in Henderson, Kentucky, and received her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Systems Management from Murray State University. She is a member of Hermitage United Methodist Church where she has served in many leadership capacities. She is currently the Lay Leader and Trustee of the church, as well as serving on the Finance, Pastor Parish Relations, and Evangelism Committees. Janice sings in the praise choir and leads a ukulele worship band. She also manages the clothes closet for the Room-in-the-Inn guests who spend the night at the church. Janice has also been a member of the Board of Directors of the Nashville Emmaus Community, serving the Emmaus community in several active rolls.
Janice brings to the Board of Directors of Aspen Tree Ministries a heart of compassion and sensitivity, and a spirit of generosity. Her wisdom and discernment offer invaluable insights, while her ability to tackle difficult challenges with determination leads her to successfully complete complex tasks.
Vice President - Bill Pridemore is currently a Metro Councilman for Davidson County, Tennessee, serving the 9th District in the Madison area. Bill served Nashville as a Metro Police Officer for 33 years, working Homicide, Murder Squad, and Cold Case Units from 1984, until he retired in 2008. While solving many cases, two of his more prominent cold case murders were the Janet March and Marcia Trimble cases. His work on each of these cases has been chronicled in the books, A Season of Darkness by Douglas Jones and Phyllis Gobbell, and An Unfinished Canvas by Michael Glasgow and Phyllis Gobbell. His work on these cases has also been televised on 48 Hours and Court TV.
You don’t do this type of work unless you love it, and you don’t love it because it’s easy or because of the pats you get on the back. You love it because there is something deep within you that calls you to it, and that won’t let you do anything else. Bill was thus called by God, and he has served his community well as a Metro Police Officer, and is now serving as a Metro Councilman.
Bill and his wife, Denise, are active members of Hermitage UMC, where Bill serves as a Stephen Minister, has led small group studies, has served on the projection team for worship, and has been involved in several local mission projects. Bill has also served on the Nashville Emmaus Board of Directors, filling many leadership roles. His children are Jonathan and Christine, and son-in-law, Johnny.
Bill brings to the Board of Directors of Aspen Tree Ministries his integrity and strength of character, his wisdom and spiritual sensitivity, as well as his compassionate and faith-filled responses to life.
Treasurer - Robert (Corky) Jennings is a Certified Public Accountant who is the Managing Partner of Jennings and Clouse, PLC, in Gallatin, Tennessee. Corky oversees the firm’s operations and handles a wide variety of financial and tax planning and compliance work. He brings more than three decades of experience and expertise to the financial business. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Corky was born in Nashville and raised in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He and his wife, Diane, are members of Greenville UMC, in Joelton, where he serves as an adult Sunday school teacher, and has served in many areas of leadership within the church including Administrative Board, Pastor Parish Relations, Finance, and Witness. Corky and Diane were blessed with two children, Richard (who went to be with the Lord in 1994) and Daniel. In May of 2012, Daniel, and his wife, Katelen, blessed them with a granddaughter, Lily Kate.
Corky received a Bachelor’s degree (cum laude) from Austin Peay State University. He is also active in a number of community organizations, including Gideons International, Rotary Club of Hendersonville, Volunteer State Community College Foundation, COMPASS (Outreach Making Partnerships At Sumner Schools), and the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Corky brings to the Board of Directors of Aspen Tree Ministries his gift of administration and organization, particularly related to financial and tax expertise. He is sought out for his spiritual wisdom and insights, and respected for his integrity and leadership abilities. His love for the Lord seasons all that he does.
Board Member - Heather Bush wears the many hats of a “stay-at-home/on the go” Mom. She and husband, Jimmy, were both valedictorian graduates of their high school class of over 400 students in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. As a graduate of Asbury College with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Heather knew that her calling in this season of life was to serve her family. Besides lovingly supporting her husband in his endeavors, she is household manager, chauffer, classroom mom, baseball mom, cheerleader, spiritual director, dance and gymnastics trainer, teacher, Scout mom, encourager, and nurturer to their three children, Camden, Kaia, and Layna.
Heather and her family live in Lexington, Kentucky, where they are members of Christ United Methodist Church. At Christ Church she serves as the 3 & 4 year old Children’s Sunday School teacher and VBS coordinator. She leads a Women’s Bible Study group, is the Children and Family Coordinator, and is on the Council of Ministries. Her personal witness and outreach ministry has brought many new families to the church.
Exemplifying the characteristics of a Proverbs 31 woman in her personal and family life, Heather is also an Independent Consultant with Thirty One Company which offers practical, fashionable, and stylish bags, purses, totes, and accessories for today’s woman on the go. She combines business with ministry as this venue affords her additional opportunities to encourage and witness to women, offering fellowship, conversation and community building through home gatherings. Heather is also a professional cake designer and decorator which gives her an outlet for expressing her creative edge.
Heather brings to the Aspen Tree Ministries Board of Directors a strong commitment to faith and family, incredible gifts of organization and implementation, and spiritual wisdom and discernment as it relates to decision-making and direction.