PENCIL
Laura Ross is an experienced professional in human resources and finance. Currently serving as a Human Resources Business Partner at HCA Human Resources Group since August 2017, Laura has been the Finance Director at PENCIL Foundation since September 1990, where responsibilities include managing financial operations, ensuring compliance with regulations, and overseeing program budgets and performance reviews. Previous roles include Director of Community Relations at The Renaissance Center, where strategic planning for the grand opening and volunteer recruitment were key focuses, and Communications Assistant at First American Corporation, tasked with internal communications. Laura holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Finance from Middle Tennessee State University.
PENCIL
PENCIL is the premier organization linking community resources to Metro Nashville Public Schools. Thanks to dedicated PENCIL Partners, students work in state-of-the-art laboratories alongside teachers and industry professionals. Teachers design lesson plans that cross the traditional boundaries of education - like linking data points in algebra with students' Agricultural Science classes. Dedicated volunteers regularly donate one lunch hour a week to help a child improve his or her reading comprehension. Businesses work to create an engaged and excited student pipeline interested in their industry through internships and job shadowing. PENCIL also operates free teacher resource centers where Metro Nashville Public School teachers can shop free once a quarter to help supplement their classrooms.