Staff
Ryan Smiley, Executive Director
Ryan Smiley is a seasoned nonprofit executive with more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience advancing mission-driven organizations and strengthening communities. Throughout his career, Ryan has served in executive leadership roles with respected organizations, including the YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs, where he successfully led multi-site operations, built high-performing teams, and expanded programs to meet the evolving needs of youth and families.
Ryan is particularly passionate about fostering opportunities for individuals of all abilities to reach their full potential. His leadership philosophy centers on collaboration, servant leadership, and mission alignment—values that closely reflect the core principles of GiGi’s Playhouse. In his role, he is focused on expanding access to free educational and therapeutic programs, strengthening community awareness, and building a culture of acceptance and empowerment for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.
A graduate of the University of Tampa with a degree in sports management, Ryan began his career with a focus on youth development through athletics and education, and he continues to believe strongly in the power of programs to build confidence, character, and connection. He has studied and earned certifications in nonprofit executive leadership from the Harvard Business School and the University of Notre Dame.
Ryan is the proud father of his daughter Jori and son Jack.
Tracie Michelson, Program Coordinator
Tracie grew up in Hollywood, Florida. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders from Emerson College in Boston, MA. Her career in the special education field began with working with children on the Autism Spectrum. After living in Boston for a few years, she decided to return to Florida to be closer to her family. Continuing with her love of working with students with disabilities, Tracie pursued her Master of Science degree in Varying Exceptionalities at Nova Southeastern University while working as a classroom special educator for many years. In 2007, her family moved to Tennessee for a better environment to raise children. Tracie has since been homeschooling her three children. Zachary is 20 and is pursuing a professional ballet career at Nashville Ballet. Austin is 23 and is a Producer for the local NBC affiliate in Savannah, GA. Her daughter Mackenzie is 11 years old and happens to have that extra chromosome we all love! GiGi’s Playhouse became a source of community for their family and is why Tracie is so excited to be a part of the GiGi’s family! She is very excited to be working with the volunteers to continue the vision of enriching and fun programming that GiGi’s is known for.
Emily Sheridan, Program Manager
Emily grew up in Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Special Education. After teaching an elementary life skills program in Urbana for 3 years, Emily felt she needed more training to better serve individuals with intense support needs. She moved to Nashville where she earned her Master’s degree in Severe and Multiple Disabilities from Vanderbilt University. After applying all her newfound knowledge and skills to a middle school functional skills program, she is excited to take a step out of the classroom and into the nonprofit world. Emily brings a wealth of knowledge and experience about supporting individuals with disabilities and their families. She hopes to bring creative, new ideas to GiGi’s Nashville to enhance the already amazing impact the programs have. In her free time, she loves to play games with friends, work in the garden with her partner, and explore new restaurants. Emily is so grateful for the opportunity to join the GiGi’s family!
Tara Patil, Operations Assistant
Tara grew up in Wisconsin and was one of eight children. She received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in Human Biology and a Master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse in Adult Fitness and Cardiac Rehabilitation. After getting married and moving to Tennessee in 2002, Tara moved on from healthcare and explored her passion for community service while working as a stay at home mom. She spent ten years volunteering for different nonprofits and serving as president, treasurer, and doing fundraising and communications on the PTO boards of her children’s schools. She also served on the Williamson County Schools PTO Leadership Council. Tara spent the last five years working as the Director of Operations for the Nashville Dolphins, a nonprofit providing aquatics programs for children and adults with disabilities. Tara is married with two children and enjoys traveling, reading, spending time with her family and watching the Green Bay Packers and Nashville Predators!
Carly Rivers
Born and raised in Chevy Chase, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C., Carly has always had a love for vibrant communities and dynamic experiences. While her roots are in the DMV area, Carly spent significant time in Western New York—now the place she proudly calls home. And yes, she’s a loyal Bills fan… Go Bills!
Carly graduated from Belmont University in 2021 with a degree in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, where she discovered and developed her passion for creative strategy and event design. That passion turned into a career as a wedding and corporate event planner, where she specialized in bringing large-scale visions to life and crafting memorable, one-of-a-kind experiences for clients.
Outside of work, Carly is always looking for new ways to stay inspired and active. You can often find her baking sourdough, unwinding at hot yoga, hitting the slopes, golfing, or exploring new restaurants with friends. She also loves to travel and seek out new places that spark creativity and connection.