National Civics Bee ®

Kaneisha Dotson is a Gallatin, Tennessee native born, bred, buttered, and toasted right here in the city she still calls home. A proud Green Wave, Kaneisha graduated from Gallatin High School in 2008 before going on to earn her degree from Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee. She came back to Gallatin with purpose, and she has never looked back.

She is a proud boy mom to two amazing sons KeShaun, a Gallatin High senior in a full circle

moment that does not go unnoticed, and Nicholas, her sixth grader who keeps life exciting.

They are her why, and they show up in everything she does.

That everything includes popcorn. Kaneisha is the founder of Southern Kettle Co., a gourmet popcorn company built on bold flavors, wildly creative combinations, and a deep love for sharing something special with her community. What started as KB Popcorn in 2018 became a full rebrand in 2025 , because when life brings change, you don’t fold, you adapt and grow. And community? That is where Kaneisha’s heart lives. She serves as Board Chair for Gallatin Shalom Zone, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit, showing up every day for the belief that carried her this far “we should be the people we need”. A glitter enthusiast and a self-proclaimed barefoot girl at heart, Kaneisha is rooted in all things Gallatin.

Jacqui is the co-owner of Evergreen Salon, located on the Square in Downtown Gallatin. She specializes in precision cuts, blunt bobs, shags, and all types of alternative cuts. As a former high school English teacher, she enjoys thinking outside the box and educating her clients to help them solve their hair problems. She and her business partner created Evergreen Salon because they noticed a consistent and growing desire from their clients– to have more time between appointments, to be able to recreate their styles at home, and to have more options than the standard 4-6 week salon appointment. In her down time, Jacqui enjoys knitting, travelling, eating good food, and sitting on her porch with her husband and trusty silver poodle, Fletcher.

Jennifer Peyton is a business owner, community leader, and advocate for empowering women and families in Sumner County. Alongside her husband, she owns and operates a family of businesses, including Fitness 1440 Gallatin, Crown & Iris, and Twirls Bridal & Formal. With a passion for creating welcoming spaces and meaningful connections, Jennifer has built her businesses around service, community, and impact.

Beyond her professional work, Jennifer is deeply involved in local leadership and nonprofit efforts, founding initiatives that connect individuals to resources and mentorship opportunities. As the current Mrs. Sumner County, she uses her platform to champion community engagement, personal growth, and the importance of supporting one another.

A devoted wife of 16 years and mother of three, Jennifer brings a relatable, real-world perspective to balancing business, family, and service while encouraging others to lead with purpose and make a difference where they are.

Lauren is the founder of Earth First, a community-focused retail store offering houseplants, pottery, giftables, and more. She started the brick-and-mortar with a passion for entrepreneurship and a mission to operate as sustainably as possible. The business has recently grown into a two-sided shop co-owned with her best friend, bringing together houseplants, vintage clothing, and home goods under one thoughtfully curated roof.

Dr. Whitney Buck graduated from University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in Physiology in 2015 and received her Doctor of Medicine from Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, West Indies in 2019. She completed her Obstetrics/Gynecology residency at Ascension Providence Hospital in Southfield and Novi, Michigan Summer 2024. Whitney and her husband love spending time outdoors, playing with their two lab mixes, Olive & Penny, and are thrilled to be moving back to Tennessee and joining the Sumner County community.

Kaitlyn has been ER physician for 10 years, trained at Vanderbilt, and owner of Iron Tribe Fitness. She has three kids, love to get outside, and are proud chicken and sourdough parents!

Dr. Whitney Buck graduated from University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in Physiology in 2015 and received her Doctor of Medicine from Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, West Indies in 2019. She completed her Obstetrics/Gynecology residency at Ascension Providence Hospital in Southfield and Novi, Michigan Summer 2024. Whitney and her husband love spending time outdoors, playing with their two lab mixes, Olive & Penny, and are thrilled to be moving back to Tennessee and joining the Sumner County community.

Emma Holland is a creator, guide, wardrobe stylist, and a connector of women.

She grew up playing dress up and always trying out a trend (Oh, the early 2000s).That love of clothing and self-expression stayed with her. She’s been in the modeling industry for over 14 years, learning self-trust, confidence, and style along the way. Alongside that, she’s built a career in marketing, spending over a decade helping businesses plan, grow, and communicate clearly. She also created The Collab, a space for women to build community.

Recently, Emma has returned to herself – more authentically and with much quieter inner critics. She works with women who feel a little disconnected from themselves. Guiding them to reconnect with what brings them true, inner joy and to express themselves without limits. Sometimes that looks like a coaching session to shift a personal belief. Sometimes it looks like making connections + resource sharing. And sometimes, it’s simply giving women the permission to dress how she desires.

Emma is a creator, guide, and encourager. She sees people clearly and helps them step into themselves with more confidence and ease.

Dr. Michele Slabaugh has transformed the challenges of a difficult childhood and early adulthood loss into a passion for helping others flourish. With 40 years of combined nursing and behavioral health experience, she is dedicated to empowering women and any individual across the lifespan in need of overcoming trauma and loss through counseling services at her private behavioral health practice, Flourish Behavioral Health. Additionally, Dr. Michele enjoys leadership and teaching and recently joined Allied Behavioral Health as the Middle Tennessee Clinical Director, where she serves in a supportive leadership role.

Pam is the founder of Be Connected Coaching, LLC, established in 2021 with a mission to help individuals, teams, and organizations build deeper, more meaningful connections that support growth, resilience, and fulfillment. With over 33 years of experience spanning leadership, human resources, coaching, and organizational development, she brings a powerful blend of strategic insight and human-centered guidance to her work.

As a Leadership and Life Coach, Pam supports participants in reacHire Aurora women’s development programs, partners with small businesses to enhance team effectiveness, and works privately with clients as a Positive Intelligence Coach and motivational speaker. Her passion lies in helping people strengthen their connection to themselves and others so they can thrive both personally and professionally.

Prior to founding her business, Pam served as an HR Director and strategic business partner, where she coached executives including Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Directors, along with their leadership teams. She has deep expertise in organizational strategy and design, change management, conflict resolution, employee relations, and leadership development. Her work has consistently focused on aligning people strategies with business outcomes while fostering healthy, collaborative cultures.

Pam is also a certified practitioner and Master Trainer in personality type methodologies, with more than 13 years of experience using tools such as TypeCoach®, MBTI®, and From Stressed to Best™. She has trained hundreds of individuals and teams to improve self-awareness, communication, and collaboration, ultimately driving stronger team performance and business success.

Earlier in her career, Pam held senior leadership roles in HR, public relations, engineering, and project management. She led large-scale initiatives including organizational restructuring, conflict resolution training for a 300-person organization, employee retention strategies for R&D teams, and the implementation of complex logistics and operational systems across multiple corporations.

Pam holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University and a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Capella University, where she graduated with a 4.0 GPA.

Amy Gleaves is a Life and Success Coach who helps women stop performing a life that looks good and start living one that actually feels aligned.

Known for her direct, grounded, and powerful approach, Amy works with women who are ready to reconnect with themselves, trust their intuition, and step into a new level of confidence and clarity. Her work focuses on self-confidence, goals, burnout, and relationships, helping women create real change from the inside out.

She is the creator of The Purpose Filled Life Program and host of the Unquiet You podcast. Amy’s message is simple: you don’t need to become someone new, you need to come home to who you already are.

Keiara Marsh, LMFT, ACS, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and AAMFT Supervisor Candidate passionate about supporting individuals, couples, and families. Born and raised in Nashville, TN, she earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and her Master’s in Family Sciences from the University of Kentucky. With experience in both community mental health and private practice, Keiara tailors her approach to each client’s needs. She is trained in Brainspotting and also conducts Bariatric Assessments. Outside of work, Keiara enjoys spending time with her husband and son and exploring new restaurants.

Erica (Herron) Twidle, a Gallatin native, is the owner of Black Tie Floral Design and Events. She holds a degree in Business Administration from Maryville College, where she was also a collegiate soccer player. A devoted mother of two and co-Girl Scout troop leader, she is a passionate sports enthusiast and the proudest supporter of her children’s athletic and creative endeavors.

Danielle Whitworth Barnes is the CEO and President of the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, where she leads one of the region’s most influential youth-development organizations serving more than 11,000 girls and 4,000 volunteers. A lifelong champion for women and children, Danielle is driving a bold vision to elevate the Girl Scout experience, expand access in underserved communities, and cultivate the next generation of purpose-driven leaders. Under her leadership, the council is strengthening program quality, deepening community partnerships, and opening doors to new opportunities for Girls across Middle Tennessee.

Danielle’s passion for service has shaped every step of her career. Before joining the Girl Scouts, she led the U.S. Human Services practice at Ernst & Young, partnering with government leaders across the country to tackle complex issues such as homelessness, food insecurity, mental health, and gun violence. Her expertise lies in helping organizations translate data into strategy—and strategy into tangible, measurable outcomes for families.

Earlier in her career, Danielle served as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services under two different governors. Overseeing a $2.1 billion budget, more than 4,000 employees, and 113 facilities, she delivered services to approximately two million Tennesseans annually. Danielle reshaped the agency around a Two-Generation framework, expanded access to essential services, modernized technology systems, strengthened customer experience, and increased economic mobility through targeted employment pathways. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she successfully launched and operationalized statewide initiatives to support families through unprecedented disruption.

Danielle previously served as Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel for the Tennessee Department of Human Resources, where she co-authored and implemented the Tennessee Excellence and Accountability (T.E.A.M.) Act. This landmark legislation modernized the state’s civil service system, established a statewide mediation program, revamped performance management, and advanced pay-for-performance for state employees. She began her career in private legal practice as a general civil litigator and government relations specialist.

A graduate of Spelman College and the University of Tennessee College of Law, Danielle holds an SPHR certification and a law license. She is also deeply engaged in community work through organizations including the Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Tennessee State Museum, Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation, the Tennessee Adoption Project, and MLB Music City. She also serves as a Board Member for Truxton Trust, contributing expertise in strategy, risk management, and organizational leadership as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.

She has been named one of Nashville NFocus Magazine’s Most Powerful Women and Nashville Business Journal’s Nonprofit Leaders In Charge.

Whether she is speaking to corporate leaders, public officials, or the next generation of changemakers, Danielle brings a clear message: invest in people, especially our youth, to create stronger families, stronger communities, and a stronger future for all.

Rosemary Bates is the Director of the Gallatin Economic Development Agency, leading efforts to attract businesses and drive growth. With a background in journalism, business management, and government service, she has spent nearly two decades serving the city. A proud Volunteer State and MTSU graduate, she’s passionate about community development, including her recent project to transform a condemned school into a non-profit daycare. Her greatest feat? Keeping a plant alive for 37 years—against all odds.

Paige Brown is serving her third term as Mayor of Gallatin, Tennessee, elected in 2014. A Florida State University graduate, she previously worked as a news reporter, anchor, and Executive Producer at NewsChannel 5 in Nashville. Paige has served as Executive Director of the Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce and is currently President of the Tennessee Municipal League and Vice-Chair of the Regional Transit Authority. She received the Tommie Goodwin Mayor of the Year Award and is an advocate for oncology research, serving on the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Board of Governors.