Mike Carpenter serves as Director of Marketing, Communications & Development for My Cup of Tea, a nonprofit with a mission to provide jobs for women living in the historic Black community of Orange Mound. He also works as a freelance writer and editor.

Mike has a diverse background that includes politics as an operative and former elected official; appointed government official responsible for a $30 million federal transportation project; lobbyist and advocate for education reform; president and CEO of a commercial construction trade association and executive director of a private, family foundation.

Mike has received awards for his work to curtail domestic violence and improve the lives of women and children in Shelby County. He was appointed by Tennessee’s governor to the Taskforce on Aging. Mike was tapped by the Mayor of Memphis in 2009 to co-lead his transition team and in 2015 to draft a comprehensive report on the city’s procedure for open records and transparency. In 2022, he served on the transition team of newly elected District Attorney General, Steve Mulroy and chaired the Restorative Justice working group.