Meet Our Staff
Leslie Jordan
Executive Director & Co-Founder
Leslie Jordan is a Tennessee native who has lived and worked as an artist and songwriter in Nashville for the past 10 years, primarily in the band, All Sons & Daughters.
After AS&D adjourned in 2017, Leslie’s dream to create a safe space for writers & artists to gather and create became a reality. Alongside Co-Founder Chris DeTray, Leslie launched The Fold with a desire to see her friends and fellow songwriters recover their original voice and begin to create their most authentic work!
Leslie & her husband Thomas live in Franklin, TN with their son Judah.
Ashley White
Social Media & Program Coordinator
Ashley is a songwriter, freelance writer, and social media manager living in Nashville, TN. Her heart is always bent toward creating space for authentic connection and experiences.
If you have come across The Fold through social media, you’ve interacted with Ashley! With her vision for true connection, Ashley brings an energy to the team ready to see this community grow.
Meet Our Workshop Leaders
All of our workshops are led by AWA certified workshop leaders as described in “Writing Alone & With Others,” by Pat Schneider, Oxford University Press. If you’d like to know more about the AWA Method, please visit our workshop page, or www.amherstwriters.org.
Leslie Jordan - “I consider leading workshops to be one of the greatest gifts I have received. After attending a workshop at Pat Schneider’s home in 2016, I knew that I wanted to be certified in the AWA method to bring that gift back to Nashville to share with others!”
Sarah Macintosh
Matt Wertz
Melissa Fuller
Sarah Gerald - “I began my journey with The Fold two years ago when I attended my first workshop. I immediately fell in love with the technique and the art that is created in this space. I’ve seen firsthand how this practice unlocks creativity in a way I’ve never experienced.”
Meet Our Board
Chris DeTray - Co-Founder of The Fold, Chris is a Kansas native who has lived and worked in Nashville for 16 years, first as a touring artist and then as an artist manager. Chris' deepest passion is to help artists find their original voice so that they can create their most authentic art. He has worked alongside and shepherded many artists, bringing a sense of care and enthusiasm to everything he does. Chris is currently a manager at Reservoir Artist Management where he works with artists, Jordy Searcy, Sandra McCracken, & Tyson Motsenbocker.
Becky Nesbitt - “I love helping writers and artists find the right words to express their thoughts, their concepts, and their vision, clearly and authentically. I’ve seen what happens when an artist is given the space and permission to cut through the surface noise and mine something deeper. It’s pretty amazing. It’s the stuff life-changing songs and books are made of. The Fold is doing exactly that—helping artists find their true voice. And I’m thrilled to be a part of that process.”
Becky is an Editor-at-Large for Howard Books/Simon & Schuster. Her heart for writers is a force to be reckoned with and her mind is full of wisdom with her 20 years of experience in book editing and publishing. We're so honored to work with her!
Mark Nicholas - “Having spent my entire vocational life in the music business serving artists and songwriters, I see first hand the pressures that creators face when their art intersects with industry and how those external forces can change things. The work of The Fold is to create a safe environment where a writer’s honest expression is nurtured and their craft is honed in the context of kindness and community. This is an important work and I’m honored to serve on the board of The Fold. The world doesn’t need to hear just another song - we need each other’s embodied and truthful stories in both word and song. The Fold’s workshops and retreats are a place for those meaningful stories and songs to emerge.”
Mark is the head of Publishing at Integrity Music in Nashville, TN. With his years of experience in relationships with writers and songwriters, Mark brings a special depth and vision to our team and we're so honored to work with him!
Melanie Penn - “Music is our most precious natural resource! The Fold's mission gets right to the heart of making music, and helping songwriters do just that. But it's not only an organization that helps artists, it's an organization that brings concrete outcomes: new songs. I work as an independent singer-songwriter and I also work part-time for a non-profit based in New York City - For many years I've hoped to combine my experience in the arts and philanthropy worlds, and help others. So when Leslie and Chris asked if I would join the board of The Fold, I said YES!” ⠀
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Melanie is newest member of our board and is a total rockstar. With her heart for music and her experience in raising money for City to City, she keeps us fired up and confident about raising funds for The Fold. It’s a joy to work with her!