Board Spotlight #8: Hagan Stone
Our new Vice Chair brings delightful positive energy
One of my favorite parts of life is following the “Slender Threads” that Spirit uses to guide us . . . we never know when a person or place from our past might show up again in an unexpected, synchronistic way. I first met Hagan Stone back in 2001 when we both participated in a musical mission trip to Ukraine (a journey he would repeat several times). At the time, I was a Belmont student, and he was an alum. I remembered him as kind, fun, and enthusiastic, but since it was a large group, there was no particular reason to stay in touch.
Fast-forward 24 years, when a mutual friend recommended him as a new potential board member for us. Hagan’s warm personality was just as I remembered—what I didn’t know is that he had come to care deeply about mental health issues, and would bring to the table not only a philanthropic heart, but myriad community connections and a wealth of experience in development. We are thrilled to welcome him as our first non-HSP board member, providing a balance to our personalities and adding to our skill set as well as bringing both leaven and levity to our meetings!
Tell us a little about yourself . . .
I was born in Nashville and raised in Clarksville, TN and ended up back in Nashville to attend Belmont University graduating there in 1996. I have been selling real estate in the Middle Tennessee area since 1999 and I am the managing broker of a large real estate office in Green Hills. This job is the best of both worlds for me, outward facing and inward nurturing with some of the best people on the planet. I was president of Greater Nashville REALTORs in 2014 and Tennessee REALTORs in 2020. I’m also the dad to two college age kids, Catherine and Dawson.
What excites you most about CATHARSIS?
I think what excites me most about the organization is establishing a place where everyone feels welcome and that real progress can be made emotionally, spiritually and mentally in a person’s life. This is a tough world that we live in and if we can make this world a better place, even for a small subset of people, that small subset will multiply out further than we ever know. I think CATHARSIS is really like building the future.
Why did you decide to serve on the Board?
I decided to serve on the board because I felt the nudge of “future building” paired with the gifts and talents that I specifically possess. It’s fun to feel like you are gifted in an area and able to use those gifts in a way that brings meaning and healing to others.
What are you most looking forward to about our journey this year?
I’m most excited about bringing awareness of CATHARSIS and the people that we hope to serve. The more we bring them to the forefront, the more I believe we will see in response from our community. This is a marathon and not a sprint and we as a board are in it for the long haul!
Bonus Answer:
And just for fun, my favorite ice cream is Bluebell Cherry Vanilla, and I eat a bowl of it every night! ;)