BetterFi is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and certified Appalachian Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Our primary service is affordable credit designed to help individuals get out of a predatory debt trap, but we also offer complementary financial programing like coaching and free income tax filing.

By structuring our loans to prioritize affordable and successful repayment, BetterFi works with our borrowers to meet their emergency liquidity needs, strengthen their financial fitness, improve their credit scores, and increase their future ability to utilize conventional financial services. To date we have disbursed more than $530,000 which equates to well over $1,300,000 in savings for our clients when compared to what they would pay with typical flex or title loans.

Read more about us in our newsletters or in news from elsewhere online.

Our Mission

Our mission as a non-profit economic justice enterprise is to provide equitable financial services and programming as a pathway out of dependence on predatory loans.

Our Goals

1. Provide affordable installment loans structured to make repayment as easily as possible.

2. Provide financial coaches who help our borrowers wrangle their financial lives and improve their credit score.

3. Enable our clients to graduate to conventional financial services.

4. Grow to create a sustainable economic justice enterprise model that others can emulate across the United States.

Bill Titus
(Chair)

Bill combines a BS in Accounting (Butler University), MBA (Ashland University) and MFP (College for Financial Planning) with 34 years experience in audit and banking. After 11 years in public accounting focusing on financial institutions at EY, Bill worked in auditing, risk management, corporate accounting, and finance roles at Bank One/Chase, Union Planters/Regions, Avenue Bank/Pinnacle and recently retired in 2021 from his position as Audit Director at First Bank/FB Financial Corp, though he continues to maintain his CPA certification.

John Goodson

John began his financial career in 1992, combining a BS in Business Management from Louisiana State University with an MBA from University of Dallas. He has since applied his expertise in financial planning, asset management, private banking, and private trust support as a Registered Investment Advisor and as Founder and Managing Principal of Goodson Wealth Management.

Jay Fisher

Jay combines a BA in English from Sewanee with a JD from the University of Georgia. Since 2000, Jay has served Sewanee in various roles including as a vice president of advancement and relations, and as the Executive Director of the Associated Alumni, interfacing between the administrative side of Sewanee, the community, and the governing boards.

Jayna Johnson

A native of Nashville, Jayna holds a bachelor’s in Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University. Jayna has worked with the Tennessee Housing Development Agency for more than 15 years and manages a team overseeing housing education providers across the state, enabling residents of Tennessee to access housing funds that require pre-purchase education.

Dede Clements
(Vice Chair)

Dede combines a BA from the University of Arkansas with a wealth of banking, legal assistant, and nonprofit experience. After 4 years as a legal assistant at Vinson and Elkins, Dede spent 15 years in corporate banking and served as SVP in Real Estate Administration at Wells Fargo, Citicorp Real Estate, and at Fleet Bank overseeing the acquisition of the Bank of New England. Before coming to Tennessee, Dede retired to Princeton, NJ where she bought and sold farms and protected lands in permanent easements. Besides owning and operating the Edgeworth Inn in Monteagle, Dede chaired the Mid-Cumberland Mountain Ministry before divesting its low-income loan portfolio back to the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee, spent 6 years on the board of the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly, and has served as treasurer to the Mountain Goat Trail Alliance since 2010.

Jerry Adams

After 34 years in a variety of senior roles at the data and technology company Axciom Corporation, Jerry served as the President and CEO of the Arkansas Research Alliance until 2021. In addition to involvement in organizations and groups focused on 21st-century jobs, STEM, and entrepreneurship in Arkansas, Jerry also sits on numerous boards, including that of Winrock International.

Andy Anderson

In roles as rector of churches in Alabama, South Carolina, and Virginia in addition to serving St. Mary’s in Sewanee as executive director, Andy’s experience lies in long-range visioning and capital campaigns to expand facilities and programs. Andy studied at the University of Georgia, received an MBA at Georgia State, and holds a Doctor of Ministry and Master of Divinity honoris causa from Sewanee.

John Solomon
(Treasurer)

John combines a BA in Economics (Sewanee) and an Master’s of International Management (Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management) with 34 years in the banking industry. John spent the majority of his career working in international banking, commercial lending, and credit risk administration, finishing his banking career as a senior credit officer for a Missouri-based savings bank before accepting a job teaching Spanish at the University of the South's School of Theology.

Nicky Hamilton

Nicky has spent almost 20 years working in higher education and local community development, combining a BA in Psychology from Sewanee and a MPS (Master of Public Service) from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service. Nicky was instrumental in both the establishment and development of Sewanee’s Office of Civic Engagement and the South Cumberland Community Fund (SCCF), bringing her leadership and talent for community development to her roles within Sewanee as Community Development Director of SCCF and as Assistant Vice President of Government & Strategic Partnerships. She currently serves as the Chief of Staff in Sewanee's Office of the Vice-Chancellor and President.

Barry Rollins

Barry has 15 years of experience in community, consumer, and mortgage lending right near BetterFi’s offices, where he currently serves as the branch manager for Tower Community Bank in Monteagle. Barry previously worked over 17 years as a supervisor for the Department of Human Services.

Tina Williams

After spending nearly 30 years working with The Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults in Chattanooga as a housing and credit counselor, Tina now serves as Northside Neighborhood House’s Empowerment Coach. Tina plays a pivotal role in linking beneficiaries with social services and understands intimately the issues that BetterFi’s clients face.