Board of Commissioners:

Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism Commissioners

The mission of the Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism is to support and facilitate community developed service and volunteer activities through AmeriCorps programs to improve the quality of life for Georgians.

Georgia’s AmeriCorps program creates partnerships and opportunities to participate in service programs in education, the environment, public safety, human needs, and homeland security.

The Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism is governed by a board of commissioners who are appointed by the governor for three year terms. The board meets at least four times per year and has the responsibility of promoting national service and volunteerism in Georgia through programs and other initiatives. A major annual task of the board is to review and ratify decisions on awarding AmeriCorps grants to organizations and local governments in the state.

Upcoming Meetings: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 @ 1pm (dates are tentative) at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism Board meetings are open to the public. Contact the GCSV Board at Board@AmeriCorpsGA.org.

CHAIR

Laurie Hattaway Chandler, Rome, National Service Program Representative — Chandler is director of the Bonner Center for Community Service at Berry College. She is treasurer of the Georgia Association of Volunteer Administrators and secretary of the Georgia Campus Community Service Association. Chandler received her undergraduate degree from Berry College and a master's degree from Kennesaw State University. She and her husband, James, have one son and one daughter.

VICE CHAIR

Richard R. McIntyre II, Woodland, Labor Representative — McIntyre retired from the Meriwether County School System after teaching for over 30 years and is now a substitute teacher. Active with the Georgia Association of Educators, he serves as a representative, treasurer, vice president, and president at the local level. He is the head coach for the West Georgia Wolverines wheelchair sports team and serves as chairman of the State Spelling Bee Committee. He served as an officer in the United States Army and was awarded the Bronze Star and two army Commendation Medals. He is a former volunteer for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon. McIntyre earned a bachelor’s degree from Trinity University and a master’s degree from Columbus College. He and his wife, Bonnie, have one grown son and two granddaughters.

Rochelle Barry, Atlanta — State Officer for Georgia, Corporation for National and Community Service.

Semba Brittain, Brittain is currently an active duty Army service member and Sergeant First Class stationed at Fort Gillem. She has been in the Army for 25 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Howard University and her master’s degree from the University of Maryland. Brittain volunteers with American Cancer Society, Youth Force, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves, Parent Teacher Student Association, Association of the United States Army and Read America. She has two children.

Simon H. Bloom, Atlanta, At Large Representative — Bloom is the proprietor of The Bloom Law Firm, LLP – a real estate development and civil trial law practice boutique. He was previously an attorney with Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy, LLP and a commonwealth attorney for Albemarle County, Virginia. He is a member of the Atlanta Bar Association (Litigation section), the State Bar of Georgia (Litigation and Trial sections), and president-elect of the West End Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta.

Kathy Colbenson, Atlanta - Colbenson is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has been CEO of CHRIS Kids since 1987. CHRIS Kids is an innovative nonprofit that unlocks human potential. The CHRIS Kids mission is to heal children, strengthen families and build community. Over the years, Colbenson has served in a number of volunteer leadership positions with Leadership Atlanta, the Child Welfare League of America, the National Alliance to End Homelessness and various Georgia-based behavioral health and child welfare initiatives. Colbenson is involved in a variety of charities and philanthropic causes. She and her husband, Pete, live in East Atlanta and have two daughters. 

Cheryl DeLuca-Johnson, DeLuca-Johnson is executive director of Street GRACE, an alliance of churches, elected officials, community partners and volunteers dedicated to eradicating the commercial exploitation of children. Street GRACE currently has 71 church members, 58 community partners and more than 1,600 volunteers working in Georgia. Ms. DeLuca-Johnson is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Georgia with expertise in women’s issues and addiction. Her previous work experience includes working at the Women’s Recovery Center of MARR. She and her husband, Ernie Johnson, Jr., have six children.

Carol Ann Armbrust Fey, Marietta, Community-based Organization Representative — Fey is the Executive Director for Communities in Schools of Marietta/Cobb County, Inc. She is a VISTA volunteer and program coordinator for the Georgia Literacy Connection Program, and she is a consultant for The Hyacinth Group. She worked as the volunteer resources coordinator for Cobb Family Resources, Inc., and she received the GAVA June Sammons State Award in 2003. Fey graduated from Emporia State University. She and her husband, Alan, have two children.

Sandra K. “Sandi” Gentry, Flowery Branch, At-Large Representative — Gentry serves as administrative assistant to the manager of legislative affairs at Georgia Power Company. She has served as president and events coordinator of the Gwinnett Chapter, and operations committee chair of the State Board for Citizens of Georgia Power. She served as a member of the Metro North Employee Advisory Council. Gentry earned a bachelor’s degree from Shorter College and is currently pursuing a master’s degree. She is married to Scott Gentry.

Miranda Klein, Klein serves as director of constituent services in the office of Governor Sonny Perdue. She previously worked on local and statewide campaigns with the Georgia Republican Party in the 2004 election cycle and spent two years on the Governor’s reelection campaign. Klein earned a bachelor’s degree from Furman University. She and her husband, Marty, live in Atlanta.

Honorable Ceasar Mitchell, Atlanta, At Large Representative – Mitchell is currently serving as the 7 th President of the Atlanta City Council. He is a Senior Attorney for Epstein, Becker & Green, P.C., where he practices commercial real estate. Mitchell has served as a citywide Councilmember, facilitates an annual college admissions exam preparation program, chairman of the Board of Directors for Hands In Atlanta, president of the Gate City Bar Association, the board of Outward Bound Atlanta and Outstanding Atlanta and serves with many civic organizations.

Cassidy L. Moody, Atlanta, At Large Representative – Moody is special events manager for Special Olympics Georgia. She previously served as a wish coordinator for the Children’s Wish Foundation International and completed an internship with the Georgia Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Project where she helped educate the community. Moody earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.

Elaine B. Oakes, Monroe, At Large Representative – Oakes is executive director of Keep Walton Beautiful and Walton County Recycling Center. She is a member of the Walton County Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Recycling Coalition and Keep Georgia Beautiful Executive Directors Association. She serves on the Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center Solid Waste Authority and the Governor’s Basin Council Advisory Committee for Ocmulgee Water Basin. She is a former board member of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, Governor Perdue’s Litter Prevention Abatement Team and the Walton County Historical Society Board of Trustees. Oakes earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia. She has two grown children and one grandchild.

Elaine S. Pritchard, Warner Robins, At Large Representative - Pritchard is the vice president, business development director and chief financial officer of Donaldson, Garrett & Associates, Inc. She is a member of Leadership Macon, the Georgia Employers Association and the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce. She serves on the executive board of the International Right of Way Association, as well as program chair of the Society of American Military Engineers. Pritchard and her husband, Ken, have seven children and eleven grandchildren.

Jim Reese, Atlanta, - Reese is the President and CEO of Atlanta Mission, previously, he served as CEO of Randstad North America, Chief Operating Officer of both the Honeybaked Ham Company and CCCi, and Division Vice President of Frito Lay.  He also managed General Food's Maxwell House Coffee Plant, and co-founded First Coast Manufacturing Association, which today consists of over 300 Florida manufacturers.  Reese was also a member of the Board of the American Staffing Association and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.  He is currently a board member of both the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and Carter Center Board of Counselors.  In addition, he is the Chairman of the Elders at Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, GA.  He graduated from Western Michigan University in 1980 with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing and Business.

Deborah D. Silcox, Atlanta, At Large Representative - Silcox works as a community volunteer and charity fundraiser. She is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia and previously practiced for the law firm of Parker, Johnson, Cook and Dunlevie. Ms. Silcox also worked for former Insurance Commissioner Robert P. Constantine, Jr. She is a member of the executive committee of the Chastain Park Conservancy and served on the board of Georgia's Department of Human Resources. Ms. Silcox earned a bachelors degree from the University of Georgia and a law degree from Emory University . She and her husband, Hal, have two children.

Molly Stofko, Stofko serves as deputy scheduler for Governor Sonny Perdue. She previously worked for Executive Security at the Department of Public Safety. She is actively involved in an Atlanta Lawn and Tennis Association team. Stofko earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.

Lillian A. Sullivan, Columbus, At Large Representative — Sullivan is chapter chairman of volunteers for the American Red Cross. She has received multiple American Red Cross awards, including the Exceptional Volunteer Service Award, the Clara Barton Award, the Cynthia Wedell Award, and the Georgia Volunteer of the Year award. Sullivan is a member of the American Business Women's Association and the Optimist Club. She and her husband, Guy, have three children.

Heather H. Teilhet, Smyrna - Teilhet is a government relations representative for the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation. She is a member of the Cobb County Public Schools Educational Foundation. She was selected “Top 20 under 40” by Cobb Life Magazine in 2007, and served as primary strategic communicator for Governor Sonny Perdue. Teilhet earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree from Georgia State University. She and her husband, Rob, have two children.

Dr. Myra D. Tolbert, Decatur, Department of Education Representative —Dr. Tolbert serves on the Metro Atlanta Alliance of Black School Educators, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, and the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Advisory Board. Tolbert is a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia. Tolbert received her master's degree in social, historical, and philosophical foundations of education from City College of New York and her Ph.D. in guidance and counseling from The Atlanta University.

D. Glen Wilkins, Lawrenceville, At Large Representative – Wilkins is the senior manager of public affairs for Wal-Mart, Inc. in Alabama , Georgia and South Carolina . He is the vice chairman of Hands on Georgia and a member of the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce. He served on the board of the Georgia Retail Association. Wilkins earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico . He and his wife, Nicole, have two children.

Vickie Williamson, Williamson works with a variety of organizations including the Cub Scouts and the Boys and Girls Club of America. She served on the Children and Youth Coordinating Council, the boards of the McDaniel Tichenor House and the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. She received the Leadership Georgia Frederick B. Kerr award in 2010. Williamson earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia. She and her husband, Bruce, have four children.