Meet the Staff
Tonya Chandler
Executive Director
If you have been around FOCUS for the last few years you have likely already met Mrs. Tonya Chandler. She began volunteering in our Behind the Walls Program in 2018. Her heart for seeing the ministry grow stronger was noticed and she became the BTW Program Manager in January 2023. Since then, Mrs. Tonya has worn many hats to serve FOCUS, including Partner Engagement and the Reentry Program. She is now serving as the Executive Director.
She is a mother to everyone that she meets and is constantly pouring into everyone around her. Tonya and her husband Gary have twelve children and one grandchild.
email: tonya@focustn.org
phone: 865.661.4134
Kamryn Busby MSW
Case Manager
In 2020 I was getting my Masters Degree in Social Work. I needed to get practicum hours to finish my degree. This was right in the middle of COVID-19 and no one was taking interns. FOCUS was the only place that responded back to me. After my first day, I knew this was where I was meant to be. After my first semester, I was hired on as staff part time doing case management and then moved to doing case management and office management and now in full time case management. I have been with FOCUS through many seasons and God continues to show up and show out to improve and expand His ministry. I am coming up on five years of being with FOCUS and I know that being at FOCUS is not just my job, it’s the calling God has placed on my life. He has given me the privilege of proclaiming the good news to the poor, binding up the brokenhearted, proclaiming freedom for the captives, and releasing the prisoners from darkness in the name of Jesus and I could not be more honored to do this work.
Nicole Broesch
Behind the Walls Program Manager
Nicole grew up in Tazewell, TN, and holds a degree in Apparel Textiles and Design with a minor in Communication from Bob Jones University. During college, she discovered her passion for ministering to incarcerated women, spending three years holding church services at a detention center in Greenwood, SC. After graduation, Nicole began her career in the apparel industry as a designer while continuing to serve marginalized women.
In 2020, she married her husband, Justin, and together they felt God leading them to use her creative talents for His Kingdom. They launched an ethical apparel brand in 2023, dedicated to empowering women in recovery within her hometown. Shortly before the brand’s launch, God answered Nicole’s eight-year prayer to “go behind the walls again,” connecting her with FOCUS Ministries. After a year and a half of volunteering, God opened the door for her to become the Behind the Walls Manager.
Nicole is passionate about pointing others to Jesus and helping women develop a deep, intimate relationship with Him. She lives in Knoxville with her husband and their beloved cat, Boo Bear. When she’s not running her business or working with FOCUS, she enjoys hiking, concerts, and baking. Nicole also serves with a recovery ministry at her church, is an Appalachian Leadership Institute alumna, and works with local government partnerships to support her community.
Savannah Ford
Office Manager
Savannah's journey is a powerful testament to resilience. After 15 years cycling through addiction, rehab, and incarceration, she faced a double-digit prison sentence following her last arrest in October 2020. Despite feeling resigned to a life of drugs and jail, God had greater plans for her. While incarcerated, she heard a message that transformed her: “You’re worthy because I say you’re worthy.”
This revelation sparked a decision to change her life. In January 2021, God opened doors for her to join the FOCUS Reentry Program. There, she uncovered her true worth and realized her capability to stay drug and alcohol-free.
After graduating, Savannah stayed connected as a mentor and volunteered at the office, eager to give back to the program that restored her life. She is now pursuing a degree in Family Studies at Johnson University to better support other women in overcoming similar challenges.
By April 2023, she was offered a position as Administrative Assistant. Savannah takes pride in being part of an organization dedicated to empowering women to transform their lives. Her testimony reinforces the belief that with Jesus at the center, anything is possible.