Deborah Balthrop is the Vice President and one of three founding members of the We Are Hope Foundation. She works as a HUD Certified Housing Counselor providing program management, grant oversight, federal, state and local program reporting. Deborah counsels consumers in need of rental, homeless, pre-purchase, foreclose prevention, financial and home buyer education classes.
Deborah joined the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce in 2011, where she worked as an ambassador at the La Vergne City Hall. Deborah has worked more than 25 years in the restaurant industry as a general manager, management trainer, new restaurant opening training team and assistant manager. Deborah also has worked at a statewide non profit as a disability advocate. Deborah has volunteered with Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee. Deborah has also served on several committees, Disability Coalition on Education, TN Special Education Task Force, MNPS Exceptional Education Families Advisory Committee, The Arc of Rutherford County, City of LaVergne Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee, Rutherford County Foreclosure Prevention Task Force and Life of Victory. An active board member of the City of LaVergne Housing Authority, State of Tennessee Rehabilitation Center at Murfreesboro and Vice-President of We Are Hope. She also is a graduate of the Partners in Policymaking Program. In 2012 Deborah earned designation of 'Mother of the Year' from the Tennessee Justice Center. Deborah is also a strong community activist. Deborah advocated for the Lake Forest Park, LaVergne Farmers Market, LaVergne Veterans Wall and helped write disability legislation that passed into Tennessee State Law.
