Parents
David Bakelman, Chair, Strategic Planning
David is Executive Director of the Georgia Transplant Foundation. His expertise is in fundraising and strategic planning. For the past year he has led High Meadows through a comprehensive strategic planning process. He and his wife Tracy are the parents of a 7th grader at High Meadows.
DBakelman@gatransplant.org
Angie Bridges, Board Secretary
Angie served as treasurer of S.H.A.R.E. and as the S.H.A.R.E. Liaison to the Board. She served as Development Chair for the Board for two years. Angie also works for the YMCA as an exercise instructor. She and her husband Roger are the parents of a 1st grader and a 6th grader at High Meadows.
treabig@bellsouth.net
David Craig, Annual Fund Co-chair (together with his wife, Carol)
David is Sr. Vice President of Sales for Servigistics Corporation. He is an active volunteer who led a $1.5 million capital campaign for his church, and together with his wife Carol, organized High Meadows’ Tsunami relief effort generating over $10,000. Last year, they chaired the most successful annual campaign in High Meadows’ history, raising over $250,000. He and Carol are the parents of a kindergartener, a 5th grader, and a 7th grader at High Meadows.
dcraig@servigistics.com
Carolyn Fish, S.H.A.R.E. Liaison to the Board
Carolyn is a chiropractor in her family-owned practice, Fish Family Chiropractic. She has volunteered in numerous capacities for High Meadows, and was appointed by S.H.A.R.E. to serve as its liaison to the Board. In addition to volunteering at High Meadows, she is an active member of numerous professional and religious organizations. She and her husband Gary have a kindergartener and 4th grader at High Meadows.
carolynfish@comcast.net
Garrett Hale
Garrett is Vice President of Operations for Matria Women's and Children's Health, LLC. He oversees 1,200 employees and operations at 38 locations. He has in-depth experience in change management, process re-engineering, organization design, and complex project management. He and his wife Jennifer have a preschooler, kindergartener, and 1st grader at High Meadows.
garrett_hale@matria.com
Tim Hannon, Finance Committee Chair
Tim has more than 20 years of diverse finance and accounting experience including mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, financial systems, treasury management, and turnaround and crisis management. He is a CPA and currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of Nationwide Furniture, Inc. He and his wife Andrea have a 1st grader at High Meadows.
timothyghannon@comcast.net
Rich Hoyt
Rich is a corporate attorney with the Atlanta law firm of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP. He is a member of the Atlanta Bar Association, and also the American Bar Association, of which he is an active task force member. He and his wife Diana are the parents of a 3rd grader at High Meadows.
rich.hoyt@sablaw.com
Laurie Kirkegaard
Laurie Kirkegaard, president and founder of Non-Profit Leadership, LLC, has 22 years experience working with private schools, healthcare institutions and cultural organizations in strategic planning, board development, capital campaign fund raising and marketing for not-for-profit organizations. In leading trustees and staff in large campaigns, she has helped raise over a billion dollars, and has recruited high profile leaders and CEOs to volunteer boards. She and her husband Jim have a preschooler and 2nd grader at High Meadows.
npli@aol.com
Pam Lopez, Marketing and Community Outreach Chairman
Pam has more than 20 years of executive-level sales and marketing experience. She currently co-owns a telecommunications consulting firm, specializing in product development and marketing for the wireless industry. She has been actively involved in the school’s marketing efforts for the past five years. She and her husband Ozzie are the parents of a 1st grader and a 5th grader at High Meadows.
pamlopez@mindspring.com
Scott McDonough, Board Chairman
Scott is the Regional Vice President for Hartford Insurance, where he has worked for 20 years. His region includes five states with annual sales of $400 million. He is a Certified Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) who specializes in marketing and strategy. Scott and his wife Cindy are the parents of 1st and 6th graders at High Meadows, and a graduate now in 9th grade.
scott.mcdonough@thehartford.com
Dana Rawls, Development Chairman
Dana has 11 years experience in fundraising, marketing, and public relations for non-profit healthcare organizations. As a High Meadows volunteer, she has assisted with marketing and development efforts, and most recently helped organize the schoolwide initiative to rewrite the school’s mission, beliefs, and vision statements. She and her husband Jim have a 1st grader and a 4th grader at High Meadows.
Joe Santifer
Joe has more than 15 years experience in computer consulting. In 1996, Joe and his wife Leiana started NetWise, Inc. to provide outsourced technology support for the small to medium business market. He is an active member of the technology committee that serves as a resource to High Meadows’ Director of Technology. Joe and Leiana have triplets in kindergarten at High Meadows.
joe@netwiseinc.net
Friends
Jeff Bell
Jeff is a Director (Project Management-Merger and Acquisition) for BellSouth Corporation. He is an active civic volunteer whose experience includes service as a member of numerous boards. His volunteer experiences have included program design, community outreach, and fund raising. He has been a big brother through the Big Brother/Big Sister program for 15 years.
Jeff.Bell@BellSouth.com
Jody Holden
Jody is one of four founders of High Meadows. She was one of the principal voices in developing the educational philosophies that have shaped our school. She is currently a teacher employed by the Decatur City Schools.
Jodyholden@speakeasy.net
Bill Kolbrener, Vice Chairman
Bill Kolbrener is President of JEBCO Ventures, Inc., a real estate development firm. JEBCO Ventures has developed over $500 million of real estate and real estate improvements during its 25 years of operation. He is also the president and owner of KMC Management, a property management and construction company. Bill has served in integral role providing expertise and manpower for a multitude of High Meadows facility-related projects. His most recent contributions are the improvements and expansions to the preschool, 3rd grade, and EEARTH classrooms; the middle years renovation; the CST building enhancements; and more.
BillKolbrener@bellsouth.net
Kim McConkey, CPA
Kim is a certified public accountant with Habif, Arogeti, & Wynne, LLP, the largest independent certified public accounting and business advisory firm in Georgia and one of the top 100 firms in the country.
KimMcConkey@comcast.net
John Restler
John is the Southeastern Sales Manager for Rymax Marketing Services, the largest national factory representative in the incentive industry.
jkr227@yahoo.com
Head of School
Liz Gembecki
Liz has served as Head of School since 2004. Involved in education for over 25 years, she has extensive experience in progressive education as a teacher, administrator, mentor, and curriculum coordinator. Since she has been head of school, enrollment has reached its highest point; the Southern Association of Independent Schools and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has reaccredited the school; annual fund giving more than doubled; curriculum has been enhanced and strengthened; and countless facility improvements and expansions have been completed. Liz and her husband Richie have one grandson in preschool at High Meadows.
lgembecki@highmeadows.org
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