Board Spotlight: Clay Petrey

By: Emily Konouchi | 2021 Board Member

Clay Petrey spent a dozen years in private practice before going to work for a family of companies controlled by entrepreneur Jim Ayers, eventually becoming the General Counsel of the family office and investment platform, Ayers Asset Management. He’s committed significant time to multiple state and local boards and nonprofit entities in Nashville, and in 2016, when his legal career was winding down, we were lucky enough to have Clay join TNJFON’s Board of Directors.

Clay has served the board in several capacities, but he’s currently serving as secretary. It’s been a joy to attend quarterly board meetings with Clay, whose attention to detail always keeps us on track and and whose friendly, optimistic demeanor always keeps us smiling.

I recently caught up with Clay to learn more about him.

Q: How did you become acquainted with TNJFON?

A: As I was coming to the end of my career in commercial and corporate law, I wanted to use my legal training to work with people directly. I had been on several nonprofit and government boards, so I had a commitment to public service. But I wanted to help people in a personal way. Shortly after President Obama announced the DACA program, I saw a small note asking for volunteers to help with the applications. This may have been in the Nashville Bar Journal. It sounded like just what I was after.

My first clinic was in Madison. My very first clients at that clinic were a brother and a sister who had amazing backgrounds – graduates of a Middle Tennessee high school; the brother was on a soccer scholarship at a small Tennessee college; and they both were so personable and polite. Very deserving of participation in our economy. After we finished with their applications, I almost had to go into the restroom to cry I was so overwhelmed by the injustice of their situation. I had fulfilled my wish to help people but I was not ready for the depth of the need.

Q: What’s your favorite memory of serving on this board?

A: There are two. At my very first TNJFON board meeting, and I was only an observer at that fall meeting until my term started in January, the board voted to return a sizable gift from a for-profit prison operator. In all my board service I had never experienced a board ethic of such a standard as to return funds since the donor did not align with the organization’s values.

Second, sometime in my first year, I saw one of our board members on the television news making a speech at a protest rally with her newborn in a carrier on her chest. Between those two experiences, I knew these TNJFON board members were more passionately committed to the mission of JFON than the commitment of any other board on which I served.

Q: How has serving on the board of TNJFON changed you?

A: It has made me much more compassionate about those who have had a more difficult path in life than I have.

Q: What was your first job?

A: My very first job earning money was an egg route. A family friend had a chicken farm, and I had 20-30 neighbors to whom I delivered eggs weekly from that farm. My first job that was full time, paid well and had accountability was on the senior staff at our Boy Scout camp in the mountains of East Tennessee. I was the trading Post Manager, so I had to do manage inventory and do the books for a whopping $50/day in sales. A good experience for a 16 year old.

Q: What’s your favorite activity or hobby?

A: I love to play tennis. I must have some retriever in my blood. If you hit the ball into the court I will chase it.

Q: What’s something you've worked on that you’re really proud of?

A: My abs? Ha. Worked on, yes; proud of, no. I am proud of my participation on the TNJFON board and what support to the mission I can give. Forgive me if this is a wonky answer, but I served on the Metro Board of Zoning Appeals for twelve years. When I first started our BZA meetings were always five or six hours long. I initiated some procedural changes that are still in use today that make the board meetings more streamlined.

Q: What inspires you?

A: My fellow TNJFON board members.