Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Advertisement
    • Contact Us
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    Advertise With Us
    • Home
      • COVID-19 Resource Center
        • Dr. Henry Louis Gates’ PSA Radio
      • Featured
    • News
      • State
      • Local
      • National/International News
      • Global
      • Business
        • Commentary
        • Finance
        • Local Business
      • Investigative Stories
        • Affordable Housing
        • DCS Investigation
        • Gentrification
    • Editorial
      • National Politics
      • Local News
      • Local Editorial
      • Political Editorial
      • Editorial Cartoons
      • Cycle of Shame
    • Community
      • History
      • Tennessee
        • Chattanooga
        • Clarksville
        • Knoxville
        • Memphis
      • Public Notices
      • Women
        • Let’s Talk with Ms. June
    • Education
      • College
        • American Baptist College
        • Belmont University
        • Fisk
        • HBCU
        • Meharry
        • MTSU
        • University of Tennessee
        • TSU
        • Vanderbilt
      • Elementary
      • High School
    • Lifestyle
      • Art
      • Auto
      • Tribune Travel
      • Entertainment
        • 5 Questions With
        • Books
        • Events
        • Film Review
        • Local Entertainment
      • Family
      • Food
        • Drinks
      • Health & Wellness
      • Home & Garden
      • Featured Books
    • Religion
      • National Religion
      • Local Religion
      • Obituaries
        • National Obituaries
        • Local Obituaries
      • Faith Commentary
    • Sports
      • MLB
        • Sounds
      • NBA
      • NCAA
      • NFL
        • Predators
        • Titans
      • NHL
      • Other Sports
      • Golf
      • Professional Sports
      • Sports Commentary
      • Metro Sports
    • Media
      • Video
      • Photo Galleries
      • Take 10
      • Trending With The Tribune
    • Classified
    • Obituaries
      • Local Obituaries
      • National Obituaries
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    Featured

    Odom Leading Parks & Recreation Department

    Clint ConfehrBy Clint ConfehrOctober 12, 2017Updated:October 12, 2017No Comments4 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Pinterest Tumblr Reddit Email
    Promoted from deputy to interim director of Metro Nashville’s Parks and Recreation Department, and now director is Monique Odom of the Bordeaux area.
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    By Clint Confehr

    NASHVILLE, TN — It’s practically ironic that metro’s new director of parks and recreation was an academic rather than a sports-oriented student before starting her career.

    “I was not a student athlete,” Metro’s Parks and Recreation Department Director Monique Odom says. “I am now a parent of a student athlete.” In school, she was an academic honors student.

    In college, her counter clerk job at Whiteway Cleaners was where she acquired “transferrable skills.” Named parks director last week, Odom still uses those skills.

    She graciously declined to discuss Fort Negley, a controversial city property. “I have a personal opinion and a professional duty.” She and former Director Tommy Lynch “didn’t talk that much about it.”

    While she didn’t play team sports like soccer, she’s a team player. In 2009, “the department faced fiscal challenges.” Lynch became interim director when Odom was a finance officer, having been with the department since 2006, working on grants and other fiscal matters.

    She “didn’t really know” Lynch, but he asked her to lead the finance and administration division. They “worked hard” with metro’s central finance department and division heads to keep from ending over budget by $1.5 million. “We ended that year within budget.”

    Lynch and Odom developed a relationship of mutual respect. He listened to her ideas. She recognized he makes the decisions. After private discussion, they were a team to accomplish goals.

    She’s the first woman leading the department, but not the first African-American. “I was hired during Mr. Roy Wilson’s administration.”

    As for African-Americans’ employment by metro, Odom says, “There are some deliberate efforts” toward having the workforce reflect the residents of the city.

    A diversity study during Karl Dean’s administration reported “exactly what many of us in metro already knew,” Odom said. “There were underrepresented people in different demographic groups throughout…”

    She wants the department to reflect Nashville’s demographics, but, “We’re not interested in quotas. We’re interested in well-qualified teammates who look differently, think differently, and can roundup our team.” She wants relationships with various organizations to diversify the applicant pool.

    The parks board promoted Odom. Applicants were limited to city employees. Human Resources received applications. Five parks employees were interviewed. The board unanimously selected Odom over two other finalists: Planning and Facilities Development Assistant Director Tim Netsch; and Jim Hester, assistant director of natural resources, cultural arts and special events.

    Lynch recommended Odom as interim director and supported her as director. Before February she was deputy director. “Megan Barry has been very supportive of me … particularly since I’ve been deputy director and interim director.”

    Barry and Odom welcomed people Saturday to Centennial Park for Celebrate Nashville, a multi cultural and ethnic festival started at the Scaritt-Bennett Center. The festival offers food, cultural dance and art. “In its infancy it was called a celebration of cultures.” Odom was on the festival planning committee while working for the Metro Human Relations Commission. She’s participated in Scaritt-Bennett’s diversity and dialogues program for talks on racial and social justice, and economic and health disparities.

    Born in Nashville on Feb. 29, 1972, a leap year, Odom can claim to be 11 years old. She went to Whites Creek High School, earned a bachelor’s degree at Fisk University and and a masters in public administration at Tennessee State University.

    After 20 years, her husband, Brian, closed his music shop in 2010. He started working for Xerox that year and could participate in more family activities. Their son, Brian “BJ” Odom Jr. becomes a teenager Oct. 29. Monique is the clerk at Berea Baptist Church at Bordeaux. They joined 17 years ago, “the year after we married.”

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Clint Confehr

    Clint Confehr — an American journalist since 1972 — first wrote for The Tennessee Tribune in 1999. His news writing and photography in South Central Tennessee and the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area began in the summer of 1980. Clint's covered news in several Southern states at newspapers, radio stations and one TV station. Married since 1982, he's a grandfather and is semi-retired from daily news work.

    Related Posts

    Pope Leo XIV: A Chicago Native Makes Vatican History

    May 8, 2025

    Countless Memories for Her Family

    May 7, 2025

    Lighting the Path: Celebrating 18 Years of Les Gemmes’ Literary Luncheon

    May 7, 2025

    Trump’s student loan plans are an anti-stimulus for a struggling economy

    May 2, 2025

    Eyewitness Recounts Fire That Destroyed Memphis Civil Rights Landmark Clayborn Temple

    April 30, 2025

    Attorney Ben Crump Seeks Answers in Knoxville: “No One Can Explain Why They Killed Him”

    April 24, 2025
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Business

    Target Boycotts and its Effect on Both Sides of the Black Dollar

    May 6, 2025

    FedEx to Launch FedEx Easy Returns at 3,000 Locations Across the US, Supported by Blue Yonder

    May 2, 2025

    Best Lawyers® Names Bailey, Hargrove, Haynes, and Stakely Lawyers of the Year

    April 24, 2025
    1 2 3 … 382 Next
    Education
    HBCU

    TSU Honors New Generation of Leaders at Spring Commencement Celebration

    By Emmanuel FreemanMay 8, 2025

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (TSU News Service)– In a celebration steeped in legacy and hope, Tennessee…

    Fisk University Honors the Class of 2025 with Baccalaureate and Commencement Ceremonies

    April 26, 2025

    TSU’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies to Feature Inspiring Keynote Speakers

    April 24, 2025

    TSU’s Dr. Robbie K. Melton Named a 2025 Leading Woman in AI

    April 24, 2025
    The Tennessee Tribune
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Store
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact
    © 2025 The Tennessee Tribune - Site Designed by No Regret Media.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Our Spring Sale Has Started

    You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/