Meet Our Board
Kolby McGee, President
Kolby is the founder of Spectrum Friends. She is a native of Bedford County, TN and has 3 children, one of which is diagnosed with autism. She has a Bachelor's of Science in Accounting and a Master's of Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University and currently works as an accountant for an automotive manufacturing company.
Kolby first saw a need for autism education in her community after her daughter was formally diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2021. She began a support group within her local community to help parents accept their childrens' diagnoses. Since then, her passion has grown, and she decided to found a nonprofit that would focus on providing education on autism to Tennessee communities in the hopes that it would bring about a societal acceptance and inclusion of neurodivergent individuals. Kolby's vision is a world where her daughter and neurodivergent people will be embraced for all of their differences and not ever be made to feel as if they don't belong.
Lynna Miller, Vice President
Lynna is an elementary school teacher who has spent over 30 years working with children in a variety of settings, including her passion- special education. She graduated from David Lipscomb University with a B. A. in Elementary Education and from MTSU/TTU with a B. S. in Special Education. Her strongest belief is that ALL children can learn, and she strives to make that happen every day in the classroom. She is proud to be a part of Spectrum Friends and the work they are doing to promote inclusivity and acceptance in the school setting, the community, and beyond.
Katie Whisenant, Secretary
Katie was raised in Fayetteville, TN. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Harding University in 2013 and a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Alabama in 2015. Since then, Katie has worked in a variety of settings including inpatient hospital, outpatient clinics, and home health. Her passions include early intervention and facilitating successful communication with individuals diagnosed with autism and their families. She is honored to be a part of Spectrum Friends to work to promote inclusion for neurodivergent individuals in all areas of life.
Katie Whisenant, Secretary
BJ Saylor is the newest director on the Spectrum Friends Board! He is a native of Clay County, Kentucky but has lived in Shelbyville, Tennessee, for over 20 years. He is a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor's in Mathematics. BJ is currently a pet parent to a wonderful Shih Tzu named Sybil Sophia and a Turtle named Iris. He also has over 30 years experience living with Autism, originally diagnosed with Asperger's Autism.
His interest in autism advocacy began slowly because of issues and difficulties in understanding other people and being frequently misunderstood. His main focus is on bringing awareness to the impact of early childhood intervention with the arts, particularly the performing arts, as a way for autistic children to develop skills and strategies to be able to live a more fulfilling and engaging life and also a tool to better know themselves. He has a history as a vocalist and an actor in community-based productions and has also been a paid speaker at Middle Tennessee State University on this very topic and wants to try to expand this awareness of the arts as a tool for autistic parents and caregivers and especially for the children themselves.
BJ is honored to be a part of Spectrum Friends and the work that they are doing to not only promote the inclusion of people of all ages with autism, but also celebrate who they are.