Small World Yoga’s Board of Directors is a diverse group of individuals passionate about increasing access to the physical, mental and emotional benefits of yoga. Through their professional expertise and experiences, including entrepreneurship, fundraising, and law, each board member brings a unique perspective to sustain and inform Small World Yoga’s growth.
Nielah Burnett
Nielah is a 500-hour RYT, owner and founder of InnerG Juice & Yoga, and dedicated mom to a bundle of three. She was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, but moved to Nashville in 2011 after graduating with her undergraduate degree from Clark Atlanta University in Georgia. Nielah opened InnerG Juice & Yoga in 2021, after spending many years in Nashville craving a wellness space that centered the specific diet and lifestyle needs of underserved communities. She has been a personal beneficiary of the healing power of yoga, and hopes to continue to be a resource to empower those seeking belonging and community on their journeys to living their best lives.
Weston Cowden
Weston was born in Nashville and raised in the suburbs of Hendersonville and Laguardo. He attended Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville before attending the University of Denver where he received an undergraduate degree in Business Management, BSBA, and a Master of Accountancy, MAcc. After college and working in an office environment, Weston discovered the physical benefits of yoga, during his wife’s teacher training. After several years of practice, Weston completed his 200 hour teacher training with Empower School of Yoga. For Weston, yoga has evolved into a way of being. He leans on his practice on and off the mat to show up the best he can each day, making decisions out of love not fear. Weston strongly believes in Small World Yoga’s mission of making yoga approachable and accessible, empowering individuals through self-inquiry and self-understanding.
Weston owns and operates several family businesses, including Santosha Yoga in Hendersonville with his wife, Kelly. Weston has a young son, enjoys being outdoors, and loves sharing food with family and friends.
Reggie Ford
Reggie Ford was introduced to yoga in 2016 by Hot Yoga of East Nashville after experiencing nagging aches from his days of playing college football at Vanderbilt University. Initially attracted to the benefits of the physical practice, Reggie quickly began seeing the deeper positive effects from a spiritual, emotional, and mental perspective.
After finding SWY as a student during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, Reggie completed his 200-hour yoga teacher training through Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville as one of our first DEIA scholarship recipients. Reggie joined the SWY board in 2021 after falling in love with the mission and larger community.
Reggie is the founder and president of RoseCrete Wealth Management, a financial services firm that provides investment management and financial planning strategies for affluent young professionals and athletes. He is also the author of Perseverance Through Severe Dysfunction (PTSD): Breaking the Curse of Intergenerational Trauma as a Black Man in America. Reggie serves on the board of a number of nonprofit organizations including Backfield in Motion, Communities in Schools, and Monroe Harding.
Cody Mitchell
Cody is a middle TN native, having grown up in Fairview about thirty minutes outside of Nashville. He graduated with a degree in computer science from the University of Tennessee in 2016. He first found Small World Yoga in 2018 and was immediately hooked on the movement and mission. He became a practicing regular, then a teacher, and now he helps by training new yoga teachers with Small World. He works as a software developer at Optum Tech and loves music, the outdoors, and solving puzzles. He is excited to be a part of the board and to help further the mission of Small World to serve as many people as possible.
Anna Myint
Nashville native Anna Myint grew up in the city’s first Thai restaurant and Asian grocery, International Market, opened by her parents in 1975. After it closed in 2019 she reopened the local institution with her brother, where she oversees the front of house, finances, and communications for the business.
She attended University School of Nashville (‘04), received her BA Communications from The University of Tennessee (‘08), Fashion Design Certificate from Parsons School of Design (‘11), before receiving her MBA from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management (‘20).
In 2022, the Nashville Business Journal recognized Anna in their 40 Under 40 awards. In 2023, she was part of Nashville Emerging Leaders as well as Leadership Connect through the Nashville Chamber of Commerce and was recognized as a finalist for the Nashville Emerging Leaders Awards for hospitality. Anna plans to join the Small World Yoga board this winter and The University of Tennessee has recently announced Anna as a recipient of the 2024 Alumni Volunteer 40 Under 40 Award.
Tim Netsch
Tim Netsch is the director of planning for the Metro Nashville Parks Department and has had the pleasure of planning, protecting and building some of Nashville’s most beloved parks and open spaces over the course of the last 25 years. Originally from Alaska, Tim is a runner, a lover of all things outdoors and an amateurish yogi. He and his wife Elizabeth (RYT-200) have two teenaged daughters.
Steve Ryan
Steve Ryan is a native of Franklin, Tennessee and has worked for HCA in Capital Asset Management for over 27 years. He discovered yoga around 10 years ago through classes offered at work and enjoys both its physical and mindfulness aspects. Steve enjoys travel, working out, and building furniture in his shop when he can find the time.
Dennis Skarvan
Dennis Skarvan retired as Chief Intellectual Property Counsel for Caterpillar Inc. During his 25 year career at Caterpillar, Dennis also held positions as General Counsel for Caterpillar’s Solar Turbines subsidiary in San Diego, and as International Counsel for Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation in Nashville and Singapore.
Dennis is past president of the Association of Corporate Patent Counsel and served on the Board of Directors for the Intellectual Property Owners Association. Dennis represented Caterpillar on the Steering Committee of the Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform in support of Congress and the Executive Branch, and he has testified on patent demand letters in the House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
Dennis is married to Kari with three adult children, Jennifer, Kate and Todd. Dennis enjoys the practice of yoga and has completed his RYT 200 hour yoga teacher training certification. Dennis also enjoys boating, tennis, and classic autos.
Mitch Walker
Mitch Walker joined the board of Small World Yoga in early 2021. He is the father of four amazing kids, two girls and two boys, ages 13 to 24. Mitch has been practicing yoga for 10 years, and appreciates how the practice helps ground his life. He strongly supports the SWY mission of extending yoga’s outreach in our community.
Mitch practices law at Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, where his practice focuses on the representation of publicly traded companies. He also serves on the board of trustees of University School of Nashville, where his youngest son attends. Mitch loves attending his kids’ sporting events, any kind of working out and the beach.
Deanna Wantz
Deanna Wantz joined The Onsite Foundation in 2015 and now serves as the Executive Director. She is a lifelong student of yoga and currently teaches weekly yoga classes at Santosha Yoga and Crunch Fitness in Hendersonville, TN. She is also a graduate student pursuing a Masters of Integral Health with a concentration in Yoga Therapy.
Regine Webster
Regine as our Board Chair is an avid yogi who can be found regularly at our Community Studio and joined the Small World Yoga Board of Directors in 2019. She is the Vice President at Center for Disaster Philanthropy and utilizes her incredible experience to head Small World Yoga’s Fundraising Committee. Regine brings a keen sense of adventure, discovery, and compassion to all she does.
Michael Winter
Mike is a Principal and Chief Operating Officer of Diversified Trust’s Nashville office, an employee-owned comprehensive wealth management firm based in the Southeast.
Mike graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree where he majored in finance and minored in communication studies. He is a CFA charterholder and member of the CFA society of Nashville. He is a former board member and treasurer for Hands On Nashville. Mike is originally from Hershey, Pennsylvania, is an avid golfer and sports fan (go Hokies, Titans, and Preds), has three teenage children, and is looking forward to getting more engaged with the yoga community in Nashville.