Board of Directors

Sarah Roberts, President. Sarah graduated from the University of Memphis with a B.A. in Professional Studies and M.P.S. in Human Resources Leadership. She has a background in retail management –including with well-known brands such as Anthropologie– that moved her around the United States for several years. A native of Memphis, Sarah moved back to our home city in 2018 and is now the Organizational Development Manager at Monogram Foods, where she is a member of the Inclusion Council and Monogram Foods Loves Kids Gala and Grant Committees. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband Sam and cat Dude. In addition to her oversight responsibilities as President, Sarah also assists the organization in event planning and recruitment for our annual events.

Sara James, Secretary. Sara is a graduate of the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. She has worked in a leadership capacity on a wide array of justice and legal issues over the past several years, including working on our staff during our COVID transition. Sara serves as a staff attorney with Memphis Area Legal Services. When she is not on the clock, you can catch Sara cheering on Memphis Tigers basketball and enjoying the vibrant Memphis music scene. In addition to her responsibilities as Secretary, Sara also assists the organization in event planning and recruitment for our annual events.

Stephen Hackett, Treasurer. After earning a journalism degree from The University of Memphis, Stephen had a decade-long IT career, including time at Apple and The Salvation Army. In 2014, he co-founded the Relay FM podcast network, home to nearly 30 podcasts covering the technology industry at large. He currently hosts a handful of shows focusing on Apple and tech. In addition to his responsibilities as Treasurer, Stephen works closely with the organization on matters of technology, branding, and marketing. He is also involved at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, volunteers with The Forrest Spence Fund and serves as an elder at his church.

Anastasia Schwartz, Events Lead. Anya received her B.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications from the University of Mississippi with minors in Business and Art. She has always had a passion for people and worked in-store for several years at brands like Anthropologie. In 2021, she pivoted to digital sales and is now Director of Sales at Karen Adams Designs. As a board member, Anya focuses on event planning and volunteer management. In her free time, Anya enjoys sipping a brew (coffee or beer) and reading or going on a run with her husband and their crazy dogs.

Mark Hackett, Executive Director. Mark graduated from the University of Memphis with a B.A. in International Studies. He has held management positions since he was in high school in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, including with well-recognized brands such as Starbucks. He founded Operation Broken Silence in 2011 after years of volunteer activism around Sudan-related causes. In 2012, Mark led one of the first international teams into the Nuba Mountains since the latest war began. Upon returning home, Mark began building OBS up as an organization that focuses on empowering long-term, community-level solutions in the Nuba region through fundraising and movement-building.

Will you follow our lead?