Committed to the mission of providing support and resources to those in need.
At SOAR TN, we are passionate about helping others and creating a positive impact in our local communities. We believe that the power of collective action can bring about real change and make a real difference in the lives of people in need.
Our Board of Directors is made up of experienced professionals from different backgrounds, who are all committed to the mission of providing support and resources to those in need. Through our network of volunteers and partners, we are able to provide practical assistance and hope to those who need it most.
Charles F. Lomax Jr.
President
The Reverend Doctor Charles F. Lomax Jr. currently serves as the Senior Pastor of St. John Missionary Baptist Church located in Alcoa, Tennessee. As pastor of St. John, Dr. Lomax has been blessed to engage congregation and community since February of 2012.
A native of Knoxville, he pursued his higher education at the University of Tennessee where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Political Science. His academic journey continued in Atlanta, Georgia where he obtained a Master of Divinity degree from the Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center. Still committed to the pursuit of education, he was conferred a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 2018 with a focus on Leadership and Community Witness.
Dr. Lomax’s professional tenure includes impactful roles such as the President & CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League and the Director of Community Empowerment for the City of Knoxville. His leadership consistently aims to address systematic disparities and promote equity across the Metro Knoxville area. His desire has been to impact and transform lives, empower and equip leaders, and to uplift the collective community.
His community engagement is extensive, including having served as Moderator of the Knoxville District Baptist Missionary and Educational Association, Vice-President of the Knoxville Interdenominational Christian Ministerial Alliance, and as a Commissioner on the Knoxville/Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission. Currently he sits on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association and is a Chancellor’s Associate at the University of Tennessee. He is a member of the Beta Theta Boule Chapter of Sigma Pi Phi, Fraternity; the National Scholars Honor Society of Theta Phi; a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; and a member of the NAACP.
His contributions to his community and field have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the United Negro College Fund, inclusion in the 2020 Knoxville Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, being a 2021 graduate of Leadership Knoxville, and a recipient of the Diversity Champion Award from the Dr. Martin Lither King Jr. Commemorative Commission.
Outside of his professional and pastoral duties, Dr. Lomax enjoys spending time with family and friends, volunteering, traveling, and playing golf and pickleball.
Duncan R. Ross Sr
Duncan began his 35-year healthcare career in East TN in 1983 as a biomedical sales representative for the American Hospital Supply Corporation /Baxter Healthcare. In 1985 he was promoted to sales manger for the State of TN and from there held a number of positions of increasing responsibility including Region General Manager Pacific Northwest, Director of the Hematology Business Center based in Chicago and in 1993, he engineered the sale of the Business Center from Baxter to Sysmex America (a Japanese firm) and joined Sysmex as its VP of Sales and Marketing. In 1997 he was promoted to Executive Vice President Diagnostics. In 2000 he joined Apogent Technologies (later acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific) as President of its Barnstead Thermolyne business based in Dubuque and in 2001, he was promoted to Group President Laboratory Equipment.
In 2006 he joined Sydney based AtCor Medical (cardiovascular devices) as its US President and later that year was promoted to Managing Director and CEO of the global company-AtCor Medical Holdings, based in Chicago and Sydney. The company was traded on the Australian Stock Exchange, and he spent considerable time raising capital and managing investor relations. He retired in July 2018, staying engaged in consulting work. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Babson College in May 1980 with a BS in Finance and Economics. In 1980, he was awarded the Student Business Initiative Award for the founding and development of Ross Galvin & Co, a full-service landscaping firm, which was sold to another firm shortly after graduation.
Community: He currently serves as Director of Community Relations for the Knights of Columbus and is a board member of the Scenic Point Homeowners Association.
Personal: Born and raised in Wellesley Hills, MA. Married to Carol Harvey Ross since 1987. They have 4 adult children. Their eldest daughter Abigail is a SOAR resident. The family resides in Louisville.
Amy Harmon
Treasurer
Amy Harmon is a native of southwestern Virginia and obtained her bachelor’s degree Magnum Cum Laude from Virginia Tech.
She moved to Tennessee after graduation and remained in the Tri-Cities area for many years before relocating to the Knoxville area in 2011. She began pursuing her master’s degree in human resources at the University of Tennessee while starting a new career in baking.
As a top-performing branch manager for two-in-store branch locations, Amy became involved in many areas of the bank’s community service, including volunteerism and financial literacy education.
In 2020, Amy took the role of branch manager for the Maryville Main branch of U.S. Bank where she continues to serve her clients and community.
Amy lives with her husband, Erik, and their six-year-old daughter, Daphne, in the south Knoxville area just a short drive from Maryville.
Adam Posan
Adam Posan is the President of Posan & Company where he advocates on behalf of policyholders around the country on large property insurance claims. He devotes his time to helping others through volunteer work and ministry. Adam works at local schools as a soccer coach. He is a devoted father to his 5 sons and 1 daughter, one of which is autistic and supported by SOAR TN. In his free time, Adam enjoys time with his fiancé, Jennifer and his children.
Josh Jones
Josh Jones is a devoted husband to Kristin and father of three: Luke (11), Sawyer (10), and Johnnie (4). He enjoys family activities like sports, hiking, tubing, kayaking, and Top Golf, and has coached his children in baseball and basketball. After 41 years in Illinois and 18 years running his own insurance business, Josh moved his family to Maryville. During his first 2 years in East TN, he worked with senior leadership at Tennova & UT to spread awareness of an alternative health plan to help drive health care costs down. He has served on the Chamber board, helped with fundraising, and holds an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science from ITT Technical Institute.
Currently, Josh is an Ambassador for Blount Partnership, Farragut Chamber, serves on the Farragut Business Expo committee, and is a benefits advisor for 3to99 insurance brokerage. He also enjoys making mango/pineapple salsa, crafting homemade tallow products (soaps, lotions, lip balms, & deodorants), and foraging with his family to create medicinal tinctures and syrups.
Kelly Forster
Kelly Forster has a bachelor’s degree from Maryville College, is a certified Parks & Recreation Professional with the National Recreation & Parks Association and is the Superintendent of Recreation for the Maryville-Alcoa-Blount County Parks & Recreation Commission. She regularly volunteers for Blount County Special Olympics and has a passion for working with those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Kelly also has a close family member that shares in those disabilities, and she is eager to be a part of the process of helping support and secure happy and healthy independent living for those in need.
She and her family reside in Blount County, and she currently serves on the Leadership Blount Board, chairs “Blount BEneFITs” (a health team within the Blount County Community Health Initiative), and serves on the Tennessee Recreation & Parks Association Board and on the board for the Tennessee Recreation & Parks Education Foundation. She currently volunteers at the New Hope Children’s Advocacy Center, volunteers at the Support Outreach Services “SOS” days (sponsored by A Safe Place to Stay), assists the children at the annual “Shop with a Cop” program, and volunteers with the CommunityWorx – Christmas Wishes program held at New Providence Presbyterian Church. She is active in her church and has served in several roles there serving on the Children’s Council, Facilities Planning, Nominating Committee, Youth Sunday School Teacher, and was a member of the Youth Pastor Search Committee. She has also formerly served on the board for “Secret Safe Place for Newborns”, volunteered with Blount County Habitat for Humanity’s “Women Build” projects and fundraising luncheons, volunteered at the Community Food Connection of Blount County, and has served in several “Parent Representative” capacities with Blount County Schools by serving on several committees within the school system and served with Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO’s).