by Allison Fomby
Two members of the Belmont community were recently named Leaders in Diversity by the Nashville Business Journal. Joyce Searcy, director of Community Relations, and 2001 alumna Dimeta Smith Knight were both among 25 honorees chosen from a group of local leaders nominated by the public for spearheading change in Nashville.
The inaugural class of NBJ’s Leaders in Diversity is made up of individuals and companies who are leading the charge to advance diversity and inclusion practices in the workplace, showing progress over perfection and speaking out for others in the business community.
Joyce Searcy is a well-known leader across the Nashville community as the first elected Black president of the Nashville Public Library, board member of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and recipient of the Tennessee State University Women of Legend and Merit Award, the ATHENA award and Metro Nashville Community Service Award.
As the founding director for the Office of Community Relations, Searcy works to identify and cultivate alliances with neighborhoods, community groups, nonprofits, for-profits, businesses and governmental authorities in Nashville to increase the effectiveness of Belmont’s outreach and service initiatives.
CEO/President of Dimeta Smith, CPA, LLC, Smith Knight is known for lending her resources and professional skillset to increase exposure and create opportunities for Black CPAs. Through her firm, she founded the Connect to Collaborate event, bringing African American CPAs together from across Tennessee for networking, relationship building and professional growth opportunities.
Smith Knight was recently recognized by the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA), receiving the 2023 TSCPApex Special Recognition Award for her commitment to furthering diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within the society and the accounting profession. She serves as the chair of TSCPA’s DEI Committee, Board of Directors, TSCPA Council and Board of Trustees.
Honorees will be recognized at a celebration and reception at the W Nashville Hotel on Thursday, Oct. 19.
