The Alliance Theatre Welcomes New Advisory Board Members

Shauna Celestine Grovell

As founder/Principal of The Customer Experience Unleashed!, Shauna C. Grovell formulates customized solutions concerning the employee experience specifically related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging - infusing the concepts, philosophy and best practices of DEI&B into the employee life-cycle. With over 25 years of experience gleamed from her leadership roles at Walmart, Pulte Homes and BellSouth, Shauna recently has taken her expertise to the healthcare industry, where she is currently head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Humana’s Home Solutions business. In addition, Shauna is invited to speak/lecture nation-wide at conferences/events conducted by various organizations, conference boards and institutions of higher learning including Carnegie Mellon University & Georgia State University.

Believing in the strength of education, Shauna has remained an active alumna with Carnegie Mellon University where she is a member of the Tartan Athletic Board and serves as the chair of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion sub-committee. To feed her passion for theatre and community service, Shauna volunteers at various schools in the Atlanta metro area providing assistance to theatre departments & drama students.

Brian Stoltz

After graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in Finance, Brian thought it would be a good idea to avoid using his degree by working as a ride operator in Disney World, and it was just as magical as it sounds. He then attended the University of Georgia School of Law and became an attorney, which was also just as magical as it sounds. Brian is a litigation attorney who focuses on intellectual property and business disputes, including those involving trademark infringement, trade secrets, and breaches of contracts. Brian also wrote, directed, and starred in a one-act play titled Over-Share with RoleCall Theatre (formerly known as Atlanta Micro-Theater).  You might recognize him from his starring roles in the background of various television shows, including “Restaurant Patron” in Law and Order: SVU (uncredited), “Hipster Party Guest” in Gossip Girl (uncredited), or “High School Student Who Wouldn’t Stop Staring Directly Into The Camera” in Vampire Diaries (uncredited).

Theodore Lowe

A film enthusiast at heart, Theo brings a diverse background of experience in the film and media industry. His skill sets have focused on production and operations, providing support for hit shows like Stranger Things and motion pictures like Just Mercy, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. His career began as a volunteer for the Atlanta Film Society before becoming the organization’s first operations manager. In that role, he led logistics for the 40^thAnnual Atlanta Film Festival and pioneered the Black Movies Matter film series. Before his departure, Theo was promoted to operations director, executing sponsor partnerships, screening strategies and audience analyses. His most recent experience includes managing, maintaining and providing equipment for MBS Equipment Company at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. 

In addition to hands-on production and operations work, Theo has built and nurtured his international filmmaking knowledge and experience as a study abroad student visiting set locations for Game of Thrones in Iceland, Ireland and Croatia. Theo has an associate’s degree in graphic design and animation and a bachelor of arts degree in film and media studies with a minor in media analysis. He is currently pursuing a master of philosophy in film studies with a concentration in screenwriting from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.

Kyle J. Rossilli

A native of Providence, Rhode Island, Kyle moved to Atlanta about four years ago. He immediately fell in love with the theatre and arts scene here in town, and is absolutely thrilled to be joining the Advisory Board with the Alliance Theatre. By day Kyle is a local home stager, Decorator and Realtor with Keller Williams. During his free time, Kyle enjoys volunteering and being involved in the community. He is an active member of the Buckhead Heritage Society and the Atlanta Preservation Center. He is a parishioner of St. Philips Episcopal Church and a proud supporter of Love Thy Neighbor, a local non-profit that serves the homeless community.

Kyle is also an avid foodie and antique collector. He often can be found scouring the Georgia coast for the next antique score or checking out the hottest restaurants in town.

Maria Storts

Maria Storts is an Assistant Director with the Government Accountability Office (GAO). She joined the agency in 1989 and has generally led work on national defense issues. She has been a theater fan since she was a little girl and, growing up, saw lots of outdoor dramas and touring companies in Ohio, and then several unique takes on popular shows when she was at school in Miami. When she came to Atlanta, she expected to travel a lot for work, and listened very closely when one of the folks in her office said that, if she liked theater, she should check out the Alliance because the Alliance had shows that were different and a very flexible policy on ticket exchanges. She became a season ticket holder when Angels in America came to the Alliance, and never looked back! She has loved seeing different takes on familiar stories, like Hot Mikado and Moby Dick; watching amazing new things be born, like The Lion King and Aida; seeing uniquely Atlanta things, like how the Alliance does A Christmas Carol, and the works of Pearl Cleage and August Wilson; and being part of shows that have their own amazing stories of how they even came to be, like Maybe Happy Ending and DATA.

Elizabeth Hollister

Elizabeth Hollister Executive Director, Upper Westside Improvement District

Elizabeth currently serves as Executive Director of the Upper Westside Community Improvement District (CID), a position she has held for 5 years. The Upper Westside CID works to improve the quality of life for everyone in the district through advocacy and investments in transportation and public space. Elizabeth is in charge of the CID’s daily operations and infrastructure investments.

Elizabeth is a native of Atlanta with an undergraduate business degree from the University of Virginia and a masters degree in City and Regional Planning from Georgia Tech.

Joe Alterman

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Joe Alterman studied music at New York University, where he received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Jazz Piano Performance. In addition to performances with Houston Person, Les McCann, Dick Gregory, and his own trio, among others, Alterman has performed at many world renowned venues including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Birdland and New York’s Blue Note, where Alterman has opened, many times, for Ramsey Lewis. 32 years old, Alterman has released four critically-acclaimed albums, his most recent being 2018’s “More Cornbread”. He was profiled three times by iconic journalist Nat Hentoff and was the subject of Hentoff’s very last piece on music in March 2016. Dick Cavett has referred to Alterman as “one fine, first class entertainer” and Ramsey Lewis has called Alterman “an inspiration to me” and his piano playing “a joy to behold”. Les McCann calls Alterman “tiny, but only in stature. As a man and a musician he is already a giant.”

In addition to his piano work, Alterman is Executive Director of Neranenah Concert & Culture Series, which celebrates Jewish contributions to music and the arts. Also a budding journalist, Alterman has written liner notes to three Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra w/Wynton Marsalis albums. Nat Hentoff called one of Alterman’s columns on jazz “one of the very best pieces on the essence of jazz, the spirit of jazz, that I’ve ever read, and I’m not exaggerating.”

Stuart Wilkinson

Stuart Wilkinson is a vice president with McGuireWoods Consulting in Atlanta. Over the past decade, he has earned extensive experience working with both the Executive and Legislative branches in Georgia.

Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Stuart served as a top advisor to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, most recently as his Deputy Director of External Affairs. In this role, Stuart helped craft and advance the Governor’s legislative agenda. Additionally, he has held a number of other key positions with Governor Kemp including Deputy Director of the Gubernatorial transition team, as well as managing then Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s legislative and external affairs team.

Stuart began his career in Governor Nathan Deal’s administration for six years where he managed the Governor’s local government relations program before joining the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities government relations team.

Stuart has been recognized as a Rising Star lobbyist in James magazine. An avid runner, Stuart currently serves as a Board Member of the Atlanta Track Club. Previously, he was appointed to the Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism by Governor Deal. He is a native of Sandy Springs, Georgia and a graduate of Georgia College. Stuart currently lives in Atlanta with his wife Kathleen.

Monica McLary

Originally from Iowa, Monica has called home anywhere from Chicago to Singapore and now resides in Atlanta with her husband, Michael; and their two boys, Caden and Beckett. She is a long-time patron of the arts including theatre and opera.

During her family’s six-year stint in Singapore, she traveled extensively throughout Asia while spending time absorbing foreign arts during their vacations. She has a reverence for nature and love of the outdoors. Her activities include Asian Culture Club, book club, cooking, cycling, running, and skiing all of which have opened her eyes when viewing art exhibits.

When she is not teaching Pilates, she is engaged in fundraising for the Atlanta International School, working on improving her French or planning her next travel adventure. Over the past several years she has been heavily involved in local and state political campaigns. She actively enjoys entertaining, event-planning and finds time to play tennis and the piano. Recently she became licensed in real estate and is now organizing the parent book club for AIS.

Anjali Enjeti

Anjali Enjeti is a former attorney, organizer, and award-winning journalist. She is the author of Southbound: Essays on Identity, Inheritance, and Social Change, and the novel, The Parted Earth. Her essays and articles have appeared most recently in The Oxford American, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, USA Today, and Harper's BAZAAR. She teaches in the MFA program at Reinhardt University and lives in Johns Creek with her family.

Alexis Rainey

Currently serving in the non-profit sector as a Director of Account Strategy & Corporate Development on the Corporate & Cause Partnerships team at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Alexis has a professional history in brand and engagement marketing, event/experiential marketing and production, as well as partnership strategy and management. She has a deep history of love for the arts, having grown up in a very creative, passionate, arts driven household where she started playing classical piano, participating in theatre, and singing in choir at a very young age. Alexis is always looking for ways to stay involved, feed her passion for theatre and music, and give back to the Atlanta community, and could not be more excited to be a part of the Alliance Advisory Board. As a “Triple Dawg” having received three degrees from the University of Georgia, she is a diehard Bulldogs fan. Alexis currently resides in West Midtown with her wife, Jena, and is a mom to three cats (Lila, Oskar, and Bash), and a bunny (Harvey).

Merry Hunter Caudle

Merry Hunter Caudle is the Associate Director for Economic Development in the Office of Institute Relations at Georgia Tech. In support of city, state, and regional economic development efforts, Merry Hunter identifies and aligns higher education resources and capabilities to support the recruitment of new companies and overall industry ecosystem expansion in Metro Atlanta and Georgia. She previously served as Education Policy Advisor, responsible for early childhood, K-12, and higher education policy, as well as Deputy Director of Communications for Governor Nathan Deal. Merry Hunter holds a B.S. in Public Policy from Georgia Tech, a M.A. in Communications with a research emphasis on crisis rhetoric in higher education from Georgia State University, and a M.B.A. from Georgia Tech. She is a member of the LEAD Atlanta Class of 2020, the Zell Miller Leadership Institute Class of 2019, and is an active volunteer with the Junior League of Atlanta. Most recently, Merry Hunter received the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) Rising Star Award in 2020. Merry Hunter and her husband, Dan, reside in Atlanta.

Kirk Rich

Kirk Rich is the Principal of Avison Young Atlanta’s Agency Leasing Group and brings more than 35 years of commercial real estate experience to the nation’s fastest growing full service commercial real estate company. Prior to joining Avison Young, Kirk was Founder and CEO of Rich Real Estate Services, a full-service real estate brokerage company that he founded in 2001, which was acquired by Avison Young in 2017. He specialized in third-party landlord representation and providing brokerage and consulting services for commercial and residential properties throughout the U.S. During his career, Kirk has completed more than 3,000 commercial leasing, property acquisition and disposition transactions, and represented more than 12 million square feet of commercial space while assisting local, national and multinational firms.

Prior to founding his company, Kirk worked for The Griffin Company from 1987 until 2001, where he served as Senior Vice President of Marketing Services.

Kirk was named 2015 Realtor of the Year by the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors.

Kirk is a native of Atlanta, a graduate of Pepperdine University in Malibu California and Leadership Atlanta, Class of 2011. He is highly involved in the many aspects of the Atlanta community with membership in the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Piedmont Park Conservancy, Morningside Lenox Park Neighborhood Association, Lake Rabun Association and Peachtree Road United Methodist Church to name a few.

Zenith N. Houston

Zenith Houston is an inspired nonprofit leader and fundraising professional with more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit senior leadership and fundraising who joined The Posse Foundation in December 2011 as the Director of Posse Atlanta.

The Posse Foundation identifies public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential who may be overlooked by traditional college selection processes. The Foundation extends to these students the opportunity to pursue personal and academic excellence by placing them in supportive, multicultural teams—Posses—of 10 students. The Foundation’s partner colleges and universities award Posse Scholars four-year, full-tuition leadership scholarships. In Atlanta, Posse Scholars attend Bard College, Boston University, Brandeis University, The College of Wooster, The George Washington University, Syracuse University, and Texas A&M University. Highlights of her tenure at The Posse Foundation include the selection and support of more than 660 Atlanta high school students who have earned more than $110 million in full-tuition, merit and leadership scholarships and 28 prestigious fellowship awards, including 5 Fulbright Fellows.

Zenith's nonprofit tenure includes leadership roles at National Jewish Health in Chicago as the Regional Development Director in Chicago/Midwest Region, Meharry Medical College and the Center for Women's Health Research, Doris and Alex Jewish Community High School where she led a $24 million capital campaign, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) leading corporate development, and numerous consulting roles with national and local nonprofit organizations including The Wonder Foundation (Stevie Wonder).

Zenith has served on several national and local boards including Hands on Network (now Points of Light Institute), Holyfied/Warren Boy and Girls Club, Association of Fundraising Professional (Chicago Chapter), Friends Against AIDS- Cromer Children’s Hospital, University of Chicago, Circle Urban Ministries, Chicago Council on Planned Giving, Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, and the Friends of East Lake First Tee. In 2014, she received the Harvard Business Club of Atlanta Scholarship to attend the week-long, Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (SPNM) program at Harvard Business School. Recent honors and recognitions include 100 Black Men of North Atlanta Image Award, United Way Volunteer Improvement Program (VIP), and Golf Women Mean Business for Outstanding Work in Youth Leadership Development, and Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Award. She currently serves on the board for the Harvard Debate Council Diversity Project, Vice Chair-Leadership Buckhead, member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter, Second Century Circle and Camp CEO with Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. Her leadership extends to being selected in 2018 for the Atlanta Regional Leadership Institute and in 2019 by the Schusterman Foundation as Nonprofit Changemaker for the REALITY Impact in Israel. She has been featured in Kenny Leon’s True Color Theatre Company’s 52 Weeks of Women featuring women leaders of color in education, the arts, politics, religion, law, nonprofit. She was recently recognized in the 2020 Atlanta Business Leagues Top 100 Women of Influence. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and Leadership Atlanta Class of 2020. Zenith is a native of Columbia, South Carolina and holds both a bachelor’s in science and master degree from the University of South Carolina in Criminal Justice.

Dr. Everett Flanigan

Everett Flanigan, born in Marietta, Georgia, is currently associate pastor at Christ Our Hope Lutheran Church in Riverdale, GA. He recently retired as administrative Dean for the Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta. He has held leadership positions with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at its churchwide offices in Chicago and in Atlanta over a fifteen-year period. Prior to deployment to Atlanta, he directed outreach leadership efforts, as well as the office of African American/Black Outreach Strategy for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Dr. Flanigan spent 32 years in the biopharmaceutical industry, as a research scientist, leading and directing the Research & Development unit, and heading the US Technical Operations Group for Sanofi-Aventis, operating in the US and in Marburg, Germany. He retired from the biotech industry as an executive vice president.

In local community volunteer work Dr. Flanigan was founding president of the nearly sixty- seat Kankakee Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra; president of the governing board of a community action program; developed a program design for training ex-convicted felons in Chicago as well as an after-school tutorial programs for middle and high school youth. He has been a president of a county branch of the NAACP and treasurer of the Dr. M. L. King Foundation in Illinois. In Atlanta he works with voter registration initiatives.

At the national community level, Dr. Everett Flanigan was acting chair of the biotech sub-committee of the United States Pharmacopeia. He also served as Chair of the United States Adopted Names Council, a group chartered by the U.S. Government to provide official nonproprietary names and formulary for new drugs. He has also worked with the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation on contract and grants initiatives.

Dr. Flanigan was ordained in 2015 into the ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America having earned his Certificate in Theological Studies at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA.

Everett Flanigan holds degrees in chemistry from Clark College in Atlanta (now Clark Atlanta University) and from Howard University. He earned his PhD degree in Molecular Biology from Washington University in St Louis and completed post-doctoral research at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York, He holds continuing education certificates in research management and leadership from Harvard School of Public Health and Northwestern University’s Kellogg Executive Management program in Evanston, IL.

Everett Flanigan and Annette L Flanigan, herself a retired master science educator, have been married for 53 years. They have 4 adult children, and 4 grandchildren. Their children are university graduates and two of them hold PhD degrees. Everett enjoys reading, music, theater, teaching and hiking

MaryBeth Flournoy

MaryBeth is passionate about her work in growing the state of Georgia and bringing new opportunities to every citizen. As a business recruitment manager, MaryBeth (affectionally known by the team as MB) supports companies during the search for their new Georgia location. With a focus on information technology and manufacturing projects, MaryBeth facilitates the site selection process by identifying potential buildings, providing access to engineering products and services, market research and data evaluation, construction information, and anything else a company might need along the way. She also serves as a liaison between prospective companies and partner government agencies throughout the process.

MaryBeth began her career with Georgia Power in 2008 as an intern in Tactical Marketing before moving to Community & Economic Development the following year as a research intern. After completing her undergraduate degree in International Relations, she was hired as a full-time employee with the research group in 2010. In 2014, she assumed the role of business recruitment manager. MaryBeth has supported the recruitment of companies such as Salesforce, Stitch Fix, PVH Corp, Coyote Logistics and Rivacold in locating operations in Georgia. MaryBeth is a board member of the French American Chamber of Commerce Southeast and an active member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association. She graduated from Agnes Scott College with an undergraduate degree in International Relations and just recently completed an Executive MBA in the Scheller College of Business at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

A Midtown resident and millennial through and through, MaryBeth loves exploring Atlanta's art and live music scene. She also enjoys water and snow skiing, sailing, and lively Rummikub battles with her family. A self-proclaimed world-wanderer, there's nowhere MB won't travel- but her favorite destination (so far) is Morocco.

Pastor Beverly Brown Shaw

Beverly Brown Shaw is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, the mother of two and grandmother of three. She began her education in the Atlanta Public Schools graduating from Henry McNeal Turner High School. She is a graduate of Spelman College with a BA degree in Sociology and an Allied Health degree from Georgia State University. Her graduate degrees were earned at The Interdenominational Theological Center, where she earned a Master of Divinity, and the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary where she completed a Lutheran experience required for ordination. She is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and currently serves as pastor of The Lutheran Church of the Atonement (Atonement), Atlanta, Georgia.

Pastor Shaw began her working career as a Registered Nurse at Grady Memorial Hospital where she worked as a labor and delivery nurse, delivery and operating Room charge nurse, and finally as Assistant Director of the Obstetrical Ultrasound Department. She also served as a clinical specialist for Emory University School of Medicine. She left Grady Hospital in 1993 and founded an obstetrical ultrasound service, Sound Advice Sonography Services, Inc. She continued as President and CEO of the company until, encouraged by her mentor, the Rev. Dr. W. Arthur Lewis, she began to find interest in the ministry.

Pastor Shaw comes from a pastoral family. Her father was a minister of Word and Sacrament and her brother is the pastor of New Bethany Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Her mother was, and her sister is, an Evangelist Missionary. Although it was not her plan, it was God's that she too would follow in that path. With the encouragement and support of her home church, The Lutheran Church of the Atonement, Pastor Shaw was ordained in 2012 and installed as an Associate Pastor at St John's Lutheran Church in Atlanta. Prior to that call, she served as Interim Pastor at Emmanuel Luther Church, Atlanta, and bridge pastor at Atonement.

Pastor Shaw's passion is service. She has served on the board for the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Board of Directors for Lutheran Services of Georgia where she served as corporate secretary, and on the board for Lutheran Campus Ministry- GA Tech. She is an active member of the African Descent Lutheran Association. She also serves on the Advisory Board and as a Teaching Pastor for the Lutheran Theological Center at the Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, Georgia, where she offers workshops on issues that form discipleship and faithful living.

Pastor Shaw’s interest in the theater began as an elementary school student when she had a teacher who was heavily invested in the arts. As a Morehouse-Spelman College precollege student, she was exposed to the arts and particularly enjoyed the plays at Chastain Park. It was there that she saw Yul Brynner in The King and I, and was further hooked. As a high school student, Pastor Shaw was a member of her high school's Drama Club. There she worked on sets and back stage with Adrienne Lanier and Andrea Frye and served as president. Latanya Richardson Jackson was a classmate and an excellent stage presence. Pearl Cleage is a member of Pastor Shaw’s graduating class at Spelman College. How she envied those performing artists and writers. However, her admitted lack of talent in these areas did not keep her from loving the theater. As an adult, Pastor Shaw has enjoyed the Alliance Theatre and has had season tickets for many years starting as a fan of Kenny Leon who was artistic director at that time. Since then the Alliance Theatre has brought Pastor Shaw so much joy and she would like more in her community to enjoy it as she does. She firmly believes theater and dramatic arts should be a major part of the curriculum in schools today. Pastor Shaw would love to be a part of that creative effort in Atlanta.

Elizabeth Wiggs Cooper

Elizabeth Wiggs Cooper has been active in the Atlanta nonprofit community since arriving in the area nearly a decade ago. She is on the Board of CARE Women’s Network, advocating in Washington and Georgia for the priorities of this international organization.  She also serves on the Board of the Shepherd Center Auxiliary and Chairs a Committee. She has just rolled off the Board of the Circle for Children, where she was Chair of the Scholarship Committee. 

Ms. Cooper is a graduate of Vassar College, and also has a Master’s Degree in International Management. Her career was in the banking in New York. While there, she also pursued evening studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In her thirties, she traveled the world, volunteering in various countries until settling in France for twelve years before returning to the US. 

Ms. Cooper’s husband, Larry, is an attorney with his firm Cohen, Cooper, Estep and Allen. Elizabeth’s son, James, is pursuing a degree in the arts at Rhode Island School of Design, and Elizabeth serves as a RISD Parent Ambassador to help other families making the transition to this university. This is Ms. Cooper’s last semester volunteering at his high school, where she has been active with the National Art Honor Society, SkillsUSA and the Walton Foundation.

Aixa M. Pascual

Aixa M. Pascual is an organizational leader with experience in external affairs, media, communications, marketing, publications, partnership development and community engagement.

She currently works as a senior communications & marketing strategist for the Atlanta Regional Commission. Most recently, Aixa was managing director of communications/marketing, advocacy, community relations and arts/culture at the Latin American Association, the largest agency in Georgia dedicated to serving Latino immigrants. Aixa moved to Atlanta in 2000 to work as a correspondent for BusinessWeek magazine. She worked as a Metro reporter for the AJC after that. Prior to moving to Georgia, Aixa worked on staff for Time and People magazines. A native of Puerto Rico, she started her journalism career the summer after graduating high school at El Nuevo Dia, the commonwealth’s largest newspaper.

Aixa has a bachelor’s in international affairs from Princeton University, and master’s degrees from Columbia University and Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. She is multilingual and spent time living in Athens, Greece.

Aixa currently serves as president of the Princeton Alumni Association of Georgia. She serves on the Brookhaven Social Justice, Race and Equity Commission; the MARTA Arts Council; and the advisory board of the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art. Aixa leads a Spanish reading club that she founded in 2017. She served on the Brookhaven Arts Advisory Committee from 2018 to 2020. In 2019, she co-authored a report titled “When Extended-Stay Hotels Become Home.”

In her free time, Aixa enjoys taking long walks, baking, reading works of Latin American literature and writing prose.

Linda Robinson

Linda Robinson is a career consultant and corporate trainer with well over 30 years of experience. She holds an M.Ed. in educational psychology and a BS in psychology, both from the University of Florida. Much of her career has been working in career consulting and corporate training/group facilitation. Her passion is creativity and connection.

She serves as a vendor for the state of Georgia, and she and her team provide career assessment for persons with disabilities/challenges to help them obtain meaningful employment. Her special love has always been her private practice, First Choices, which focuses on high school students and young adults.

Linda has over 20 years of experience as a corporate trainer and college instructor. She has taught communication techniques, improvisation skills in business, conflict resolution, Myers Briggs personality styles, and provided team building activities for organizations, such as BellSouth, AT&T, the FDIC, the Carter Presidential Center, the American Management Association, Emory Center for Lifelong Learning, and the Peace Corps.

As a teenager she danced/acted with the Orange Blossom Playhouse in Orlando. Back then she promised herself that she would some day devote her energy to theater and community building. Perhaps serving as an active member of the Alliance Advisory Board will help her fulfill that lifelong goal.