»Team

KRISTIN STARLING
President

Kristin’s passion for music, service and the power of the arts led her to SongwritingWith:Soldiers in the fall of 2017. Her career spans more than 30 years across arts and culture, nonprofit grantmaking and advancement. Kristin has led the transition of SW:S from a founder-led organization into a sustainable nationwide organization that has offered thousands of veterans and their families ways to find hope in the face of challenges and bridge military and civilian understanding and communities.

During her tenure at the Recording Academy’s GRAMMY Foundation/Museum, she drove grant-making in the areas of music preservation and music research working with leading research and cultural institutions. She also managed development initiatives and campaigns for both the GRAMMY Foundation/Museum and MusiCares. Ms. Starling’s experience also includes the Nashville Opera, as Director of Development and the flagship Los Angeles NPR affiliate KCRW where she supported a wide range of membership programs as it anchored its preeminence in the greater Southern California and global market.

Daryl Evans
Vice President, Operations

Daryl Evans is an accomplished and versatile leader with a proven track record of success in diverse environments. He thrives in dynamic, challenging, and fast-paced settings, demonstrating assertiveness, enthusiasm, and a strong business acumen. Daryl’s career has spanned the for-profit sector, where he has worked with a wide range of organizations, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. In 2018, he earned his MBA from the University of Alabama, which marked a pivotal shift in his career trajectory as he transitioned into nonprofit leadership. Driven by a passion for making a positive impact, Daryl is committed to leveraging his extensive knowledge and skills to support organizations focused on helping others.

Jay Clementi
Music Director

Music brought Jay to Nashville, where he found songwriting chemistry and friendship with acclaimed artist/writer Radney Foster. His songs and voice have been featured on five Foster records. They also worked together singing harmony on Willie Nelson’s Grammy-nominated album The Songs Of Cindy Walker. Jay was the lead singer of The Lucky Bucks signed by Warner Brothers Records and produced by Paul Worley in 2006. Since 2008, Clementi has been a full-time songwriter/producer on staff first with Warner Chappell and now Sony ATV in Nashville. He had a Billboard #1 with Luke Bryan’s “Move” in 2017 and has had songs recorded by Dierks Bentley, Sara Evans, Martina McBride, Darius Rucker, Sunny Sweeney, The Josh Abbott Band, CB30 and a song featured on the hit show Nashville, totaling over 5 million records sold.

Jordyn Hay
Program Director

Jordyn was raised in a military community which included members of her own family. She has a heart for helping others and has diverse experience in event management, content creation, and brand campaign management. After graduating with a degree in Film Production and Event Management, she began managing productions for Caesars Entertainment. She has developed and managed more than 300 events across 23 countries for brands such as the Cannes Film Festival, Super Bowl Music Festival, EA Sports, NFL, and Bud Light. In 2019, Jordyn worked with Microsoft and the band MUSE and developed award-winning experiential events for their world tour. From small intimate events to multi-city music tours, Jordyn takes pride in bringing each piece of the puzzle together to create an exceptional experience.

Nancy Gibbons
Development Director

Nancy brings more than 20 years of experience in philanthropy and development, with a career spanning healthcare, human services, education, the arts, and professional sports. Her work includes pivotal roles within the NBA supporting the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, where she deepened her commitment to people-centered philanthropy and community impact. Known for cultivating authentic relationships and aligning generosity with purpose, Nancy has helped generate philanthropic investment through major giving, grants, and signature initiatives. She also brings a strong governance and leadership perspective through longstanding board service in the performing arts and advocacy spaces, along with a deep commitment to mentorship and community leadership.

Meredith Krygowski
Development Manager

Meredith has diverse experience in community development and civic engagement through the arts. She graduated from Michigan State University’s Residential College of Arts and Humanities with a BA in Arts and Humanities with a focus on Art and Public Life. Post college she honed her programming and development skills with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra. She has been in Nashville since 2015 and has worked with festivals and organizations such as Defy Film Festival, Mile of Music (Wisconsin), and Girls Write Nashville.

Kelsey Phillips
Community Coordinator

Kelsey is from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and is a proud alumna of the University of South Carolina (USC), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education. She served in college ministry for seven and a half years at USC as the Assistant Director of BCM, gaining extensive experience in supporting students, organizing retreats, and cultivating strong, welcoming communities. More recently, she worked with Trew Friends, a nonprofit student organization across five college campuses in South Carolina and Kentucky, where she focused on registering students and educating them about the importance of organ donation. Kelsey looks forward to the opportunity to serve veterans and alumni of SW:S, bringing her natural inclination toward care and presence, along with her creativity and hospitality, to her role as Community Coordinator.

Katie Sinsheimer
Program Coordinator

Katie serves as the Program Coordinator and has a love for all things organization, coordination, and logistics. Born and raised in a military family, she is now married to an active-duty Marine and is raising two children within the military lifestyle. Though she has moved throughout her entire life, Tennessee will always be home. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in English from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, with a background in event coordination and administration. Katie now enjoys supporting meaningful work behind the scenes and is grateful to be part of an organization whose mission she truly believes in.

Kevin Reeder, PHD
Program Facilitator / Special Advisor

Kevin currently serves as the Program Manager for the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Team at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. He specializes in post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and readjustment issues of returning Veterans.

Becki Davis
Retreat Facilitator

Becki holds space where storytelling, deep listening, and shared experience can foster connection and growth. Drawing on her background in public service, including roles in state government and the White House, along with her training as a coach and experience as a singer-songwriter, she supports veterans and their families by helping them feel seen, heard, and less alone. Becki feels most aligned with her values of contribution and growth when tending environments where transformative creativity can take root.

Candice Spradlin
Executive Assistant

Candice grew up in Austin, Texas, and graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. Her husband is an active duty Marine, and they are the proud parents of two children, Kara and Landon. Serving as Songwritingwith:Soldiers Executive Assistant, she is a helper by nature, and her experience as a military spouse has deeply connected her to this work, shaping her commitment to service, adaptability, and meaningful support.