Company Name:
Center for Nonprofit Excellence of Middle Tennessee (CNEMT)
Industry:
Nonprofit Support & Capacity Building
Location:
Middle Tennessee
Services Used:
PEO
The Client
For nearly four decades, the Center for Nonprofit Excellence of Middle Tennessee (CNEMT) has served as a cornerstone for nonprofit leaders across the region. Founded in 1986 by the HCA Foundation and United Way of Metropolitan Nashville, CNEMT was created to strengthen the skills and leadership capacity of nonprofit executives.
Over time, CNEMT’s mission has expanded to include a wide range of training, consulting, and support services for nonprofit boards, staff, and executive teams. Today, CNEMT continues to provide nonprofits in Middle Tennessee with the tools, resources, and relationships they need to deliver greater impact in their communities.
With a small but highly effective team supporting a growing nonprofit network, operational efficiency is critical to CNEMT’s success.
The Opportunity
As CNEMT continued to grow and evolve, leadership recognized the need for a strong HR partner to manage payroll, benefits, and compliance, allowing internal staff to remain focused on mission-driven work.
“We began working with LBMC Employment Partners in January of 2025,” said Meagan Flippin, CEO of CNEMT. “With them taking on responsibilities like payroll, HR, and benefits, I’ve been able to focus on the work that only I can do in my role. That’s been a game changer.”
For Meagan, the decision to partner with LBMC EP was also rooted in past experience.
“I’ve worked with several groups like LBMC EP over the last 15 years. But there’s a reason I returned to them. Their customer service truly stands out.”
The Impact
As a lean team supporting an ever-expanding network of nonprofits, every hour of staff time at CNEMT is precious. Meagan shared how LBMC EP’s support has created space for CNEMT to stay focused on what matters most:
“Partnering with LBMC EP has removed a huge administrative burden,” Meagan explained. “We’re now able to be more forward-facing with our members, stakeholders, and programs. That’s where our energy needs to go.”
As CNEMT prepares for continued growth, LBMC EP is already helping lay the groundwork by simplifying onboarding and HR processes.
“That allows us to focus on what really matters: training new staff in the areas that support our mission. We have an ambitious plan for the next few years,” Meagan added. “From relaunching initiatives to transforming how we serve our members, we’re moving forward in big ways. Having LBMC EP as a partner frees up the capacity we need to do that.”
Access to competitive benefits has also strengthened CNEMT’s ability to attract high-quality talent.
“The benefits we offer through LBMC EP increase our compensation package considerably. That added value makes a big difference when we’re trying to recruit top candidates.”
“LBMC Employment Partners’ customer service truly stands out. My account manager is extremely responsive and proactive—always checking in and making sure we have what we need. It’s not a transactional relationship. It feels like a partnership. With LBMC EP, our role is more oversight, and that’s made a huge impact.”
– Meagan Flippin, CEO, Center for Nonprofit Excellence of Middle Tennessee
