ABOUT IT STARTS WITH MOM
It Starts with Mom is a national movement to honor moms, highlight the current maternal health crisis, and spotlight our commitment to fighting for healthy moms.
The reality is motherhood is hard. From pre-term to postpartum. To infants and toddlers. To big kids and pre-teens.
We are utilizing our platform to bring together your community’s thought leaders and equip moms to become the best advocates in dealing with some of today’s biggest challenges – in her home, at her workplace, and during her doctor’s visits.
The It Starts with Mom LIVE Tennessee Series invites executives, who are also balancing motherhood, to share their story.
As a champion for moms during every stage of motherhood, March of Dimes stands as the backbone that so many women in the U.S. need, including today’s Millennial and Gen Z moms.
Maneet Chauhan
Chef Maneet Chauhan is the founding partner and president of Morph Hospitality Group in Nashville, Tennessee. She is a recipient of the 2012 James Beard Foundation Broadcast Media Award for her role as a permanent judge on Food Network’s “Chopped,” and sits on the panel of judges for Food Network’s “Wedding Cake Championship.” In addition to her television career, Chef Chauhan is the author of an award-winning cookbook, Flavors of My World, and her second book, Chaat: The Best Recipes from the Kitchens, Markets, and Railways of India, which hit shelves on Oct. 6, 2020.
Amy Tanksley
Amy Tanksley is originally from Omaha, Nebraska. She graduated from The University of Texas (Hook ‘Em) with a degree in finance. After a brief stint in Houston working in oil and gas, she moved to Nashville for a job with Asurion. Uncle Classic Barbershop was originally her husband’s brainchild; Kirk Tanksley was frustrated with his haircut options – the woman’s salon wasn’t a fit. Neither was the cheap walk in franchise. The first Uncle location was opened in 2008. It’s been hard work ever since. Today Uncle has 8 area locations. The barbershops focus on customer service and experience.
Gina Waters Miller
Gina Waters Miller, SVP and General Manager at Entertainment One, has been passionate about music and writing for as long as she can remember. A lifelong musician, music educator, and music industry veteran, her love for music and the arts has forged the way and proven to be a significant part of her life’s purpose and work. Gina uses her voice, influence and time to work, empower, illuminate, and bring action to the organizations she faithfully serves and community in which she lives.
Jennifer Robinson
Jen Robinson, Office Managing Shareholder at Littler, has favorably resolved business-critical litigation for her clients as lead defense attorney in dozens of complex class action lawsuits. Jen also devotes considerable time to mentoring young people. She serves as an advocate in Littler’s award-winning Career Advocacy Program (CAP), a mentorship and career development program started by the firm for diverse and woman attorneys. She is also deeply dedicated to mentoring attorneys in her local office.
MEET THE MODERATOR
Nikki Burdine is the morning anchor for Good Morning Nashville on WKRN News.
Nikki is an Emmy-award winning journalist and graduate of the University of Tennessee with a bachelor's degree in journalism with emphasis in political science. Before working at WKRN, Nikki was a reporter and fill-in anchor at WUSA-9 in Washington, D.C. She has also worked at WLEX in Lexington, KY and WHAG in Hagerstown, MD. Prior to that, she worked for Red Zebra Broadcasting/ESPN Radio and the Redskins in Washington, D.C.
Nikki and her husband, Justin are parents to a baby girl, Andi, who is a 17 months old. Nikki is passionate about March of Dimes' mission because Andi was born at 28 weeks, weighing just 1 lb 4oz. After 71 days in the NICU, Andi came home and is getting bigger and stronger every day. She is also a momma to two rescue animals, Louis the cat and Reggie White the beagle mix.
View our updated event acknowledgements and waivers here.
