Community planning, grant writing in West Tennessee


Randall A. Nelson	Randall A. Nelson, AICP Randy Nelson is the President of Nelson Thornton, P.C. His education consists of a Master of Science degree in Planning from the University Tennessee and a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of Arkansas. Randy is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. Randy has over 26 years experience in Community Development. He has worked for a regional planning agency in South Carolina, the state of Tennessee Local Planning Office, and was the Community Development Director for Jackson, Tennessee for nine years. He left the City of Jackson to create Nelson Thornton, P.C with Bob Thornton in 1996, and has since been a private consultant. Randy provides technical assistance to non-profits through HUD programs administered by West Tennessee Legal Services of Jackson, TN, Douglas Cherokee Economic Authority of Morristown, TN, and Collaborative Solutions, Inc. of Birmingham, Al. He is a HUD-certified technical assistance provider for the HOME program. Randy is a founding Board of Directors member for Affordable Housing Community Development Corporation; a non-profit housing developer in existence since 1995. In 2006, Randy joined a FEMA team to develop a Recovery Plan for Vernon Parish, LA as a result of Hurricane Rita. He remains on the cadre list of disaster planning responders for Dewberry, Inc. Randy grew up in the Midwest - divided between St. Paul MN and Nixa, MO. He served in the U.S. Army from 1974-1976 and was stationed in Germany. He has lived in Jackson since 1985. He and his wife, Nancy, a private attorney, have three children: Maxie (23), Spencer (21), and Graham (18). Randy’s hobbies include reading, canoeing and hiking, swimming, guitar pickin’, travel, and rooting for dem Hogs!
Robert Thornton	Robert L. Thornton Bob Thornton continues the Thornton family's commitment to Tennessee as a sixth-generation West Tennessean. His roots in Tennessee were planted even before the state was admitted into the Union. He was born in Union City, Tenn., in 1949, and attended high school at the Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, Tenn. He received his BS from the University of Tennessee at Martin. Bob joined the United States Army in 1968 in Memphis and served in Vietnam with the 25th Infantry Division, earning the Combat Infantryman Badge, as well as numerous unit citations. Bob has worked for the Tennessee Department of Transportation as a transportation planner. He has also held positions in the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development as a community planner, and the City of Jackson, Tennessee's Community Development Office as a community development specialist. His hobbies include taking pictures of West Tennessee churches and the study of the Civil War, especially Tennessee's involvement. Many of his ancestors fought in the Confederate 5th Infantry Division throughout the War of Northern Aggression. Bob is married to the former Jeanie L. Burgess of Union City, Tenn. Jeanie attended the University of Tennessee as well, earning her BS as a registered nurse. She is currently employed at Regional Hospital of Jackson, where the family now resides. Bob and Jeanie have two sons, William and Robert. Robert Lee Thornton II, Bob's oldest son, is also employed at Nelson Thornton, P.C.. Lee is married as well, to the former Lisa Carol Vincent, and they have two sons, Andrew and Matt. William Thornton is a honor student in Biology at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Resume Education University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, Tennessee, Bachelor of Science in Sociology, May 1986. Work Experience Robert (Bob) Thornton has over fifteen years of government and private experience in community development at the state and local levels. Mr. Thornton has a professional affiliation with Southern Building Codes Congress, Inc. (SBCCI). The following is a brief profile of Mr. Thornton's work experience from 1987 to 2002: Officer, Nelson Thornton, P.C. March 1996 to Present. Provide consulting services to local governments, non-profit organizations, and private developers in strategic and city planning, housing, grant-writing, and community development Rehabilitation Specialist, Community Development Specialist and Economic Development Specialist, City of Jackson, Tennessee. June 1992 through March 1996. As Rehabilitation Specialist oversaw over $3,000,000 of federal and state housing rehabilitations. As Community Development Specialist was project manager of public works projects which included utility relocations, street improvements and construction of drainage improvements. As Economic Development Specialist was Program Coordinator for the City’s Small Business Loan Program. Community Planner, Tennessee Local Planning Assistance Office, Jackson, Tennessee. October 1990 through June 1992 As Community Planner for six towns and two counties administered the zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations and made recommendations to zoning commissions. Transportation Planner, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Nashville, Tennessee, January 1987 through October 1990. As planner in Small Cities Planning Office provided urban studies and transportation planning for cities under 10,000 and managed the state wide Regulatory Sign Program.
	Lee Thornton Lee is married to Lisa Vincent Thornton, and they are parents to two children: Drew and Matt. Lee received a BA Degree from the University of Tennessee-Martin in History. He is a member of the American Historical Association. While attending college, Lee worked part-time at Nelson Thornton, P.C in the areas of financial administration and information technology. After graduating, Lee has assumed a full-time role at Nelson Thornton, P.C. He has now accepted additional duties as a CDBG grant writer and administrator. Lee’s interests include reading and playing board & video games with his boys.
Karen Holder	Karen Holder Karen Holder joined the team of Nelson Thornton, P.C. in August of 2009 as a grant administrator in the housing department. Karen is married to Dwain Holder, who works at AT&T, and they have four children: Amber, Harley, Elise and Tessa. Karen grew up in rural north central Nebraska seven miles north of Newport. Her family farmed and her father was also a carpenter, giving her an early appreciation for construction. After high school she went to college in Lincoln, NE, where she earned a degree in Court Reporting, and for the next 20 years, Karen owned her own freelance court reporting agency and worked throughout West Tennessee as a court reporter. Hobbies and interests that are enjoyed by Karen are wood working, reading, cooking, and almost anything that has to do with art. She and her husband have enjoyed remodeling three different homes and gardening together.
Sam Fischer	Sam Fischer Education High School: Ignacio High School, Ignacio, Colorado. College: Attended courses in computer programming, criminal justice, and general studies at the Miller Institute, Central Texas College, and Big Bend Community College. Work Experience Sam Fischer has over sixteen years’ experience in residential construction. He has worked in companies and on his own in custom commercial and residential millwork, framing houses, general carpentry, and apprenticeship electrical and plumbing work. He was hired in September of 2010 to be the housing inspector for Nelson Thornton, P.C. for their numerous housing programs. Certifications International Code Council certification for residential one and two family dwellings. Military Service U.S. Army. 1983-1995. Military Police Corps. Overseas duty included Germany and Turkey (during Desert Storm). Awarded the Army Commendation Medal with “H” Device for heroism. Honorably discharged in June of 1995. HOME

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