Austin Moody
Founder/Chief Executive Officer

Austin Moody is perhaps Nashville’s best kept secret. A prolific professional singer/songwriter, Moody is bringing a writing and performing style that is reminiscent of a more traditional, authentic brand of country music. As a true farm kid from the hills of East Tennessee, Moody cites legends Don Williams and Alan Jackson as his most prominent musical influences. At the early age of 14, Austin penned his first song and took to the road touring the Tri-City region with a well-seasoned bluegrass and gospel band. Fast forward a decade later, Moody’s much anticipated debut record is in the final stages of completion and is being produced by Grammy-award winning producer and songwriter, Keith Stegall, whose production credits include Alan Jackson, George Jones, and Zac Brown Band.

A certified pilot and aviation enthusiast, Austin Moody is passionate about his support for the F.L.I.G.H.T. Foundation, one of 412's partner foundations. 412 Foundation shares in FLIGHT's mission to build character, discipline, and team-building skills to young people. Austin believes that the lessons instilled by the program and its founder, Lt. Col. Bill Powley, will serve as a solid foundation for success in any endeavor. Having benefited directly from F.L.I.G.H.T. as a youth, Austin relishes in the opportunity to give back. This experience has led to the formation of 412 Foundation.

Mark L. Mabry, MFA, Ed.D
Executive Director

Born and raised in Nashville, TN, Mark is a former a scholarship athlete who earned his BFA in Design Communications from Belmont University. He accepted a artistic scholarship to Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) where he earned his MFA in Graphic Design. He later earned his doctorate in Education with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership.

Professionally, Mark has been an art director at two separate organizations (five years at each) and currently owns and operates the design firm, Mabry Creative. He is also heavily involved in post-secondary education, serving as a college professor since 2009, teaching at Belmont University and full time at The Dream Center, a not-for-profit organization. He has served as Coordinator of the Graphic & Web Design department there since 2013. Mark has designed and advised for hundreds of clients including several nonprofit organizations. Among his many other associations, he is a member of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), sits on two separate non-profit advisory boards, and is ACSM-certified as a health and fitness instructor.

Diane Kruse
Chief Financial Officer

Diane Kruse is a highly respected Nashville business manager, accountant and tax preparer. She is the owner of Rashford Kruse & Associates, a successful business management firm located in Nashville. Rashford Kruse & Associates has been in business for over 20 years and manages the business affairs of many high-profile entertainers across the U.S.

Mark Ritter
Board Member

Mr. Ritter hails from Bloomfield, Iowa where he was born and raised. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Iowa State University and a Master’s Degree in Leisure Systems Management from East Carolina University. Upon leaving East Carolina, became a Coordinator of Intramurals at The University of Texas at Austin. He soon moved on to Texas A&M University in College Station. While with the Aggies, he was an Intramural Coordinator then moved to Assistant Director and later as an Assistant Director for Facilities. In 2001, Mark became the Director of Campus Recreation at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida opening a new student recreation facility. In this position he was able to create a comprehensive Campus Recreation Department comprised of Intramurals, Group Fitness, Sport Clubs, Facility Operations and Outdoor Recreation. Mark arrived in Spartanburg in the Fall, 2008 to open the Wellness Center and build a comprehensive Campus Recreation Program for the students, faculty and staff of USC Upstate.

Some of Mark’s hobbies include playing golf and officiating college baseball and he has also officiated college basketball and volleyball. Mark is married to Karen and has two step sons Christopher and Patrick who reside in Florida. Other interests include volunteer work with children’s charities through organizations such as The Exchange Club, The Space Coast Early Intervention Center and the Yellow Umbrella Center for Child Abuse Prevention. He is an avid motorcycle rider, owning a 2005 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic and he enjoys being outdoors as much as possible.