The Athens Area Community Foundation announced its new Board of Directors for the 2020-2021 year. Newly elected is Board Member Dr. Rod Rutledge, Retired, Healthcare Executive. Rolling off of the board this year are Alex Patterson, Retired Partner, Alston and Bird, LLP, Kelly Holloway, Attorney, Epps, Holloway, DeLoach & Hoipkemier, LLC, Hank Huckaby, Retired, Higher Education Administration, and G. Michael Smith, Managing Partner, G Michael Smith & Associates, CPAs. 

The Athens Area Community Foundation is led by a twenty-six-member Board of Directors.  These members will guide and support the Foundation as a trusted leader in the active philanthropic community of Athens and its surrounding counties. 

“Many of our community’s problems are correlated, and only by working together can we address the complex causes of poverty, school/work readiness, healthcare access, and many other issues in a way that no single agency, donor, volunteer, or sector of the community can do alone. The Athens Area Community Foundation effectively confronts these challenges by connecting local donors to causes they care about and helping families and agencies create a dynamic legacy for long-term community support. We are grateful to the board members who have contributed their time and energy over the years to shape the Foundation into the success it is today.” – Rhodes McLanahan, President, First American Bank, 2020-2022 Chairman of the Board.

The 2020-2021 Athens Area Community Foundation Board of Directors includes:

Chair - Rhodes McLanahan, President & CEO, First American Bank & Trust                                                                                                                                                         

Vice-Chair - Sara Schramm, Attorney, Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley, P.C.                                                                                                                                                         

Secretary - Jinx Patel, Scientist, Athens Research and Technology, Inc. - Retired                                                                                                                                                         

Treasurer - Clark Brown, Wealth Strategist, Vickery Financial                                                                                                                                                         

Immediate Past Chair - Phil Bettendorf, Senior Vice President, Synovus Bank                                                                                                                                                         

Alicia Battle, Director of Workforce Development, Goodwill of North Georgia                                                                                                                                                          

David Bradley, President & CEO, Athens Area Chamber of Commerce                                                                                                                                                         

Bob Carson, President, Carson Advisory, Inc.                                                                                                                                                         

Kevin Clark, Regional Sales Representative, Pop RV's                                                                                                                                                         

Sally Coenen, Community Member                                                                                                                                                         

Myron Downs, Co-Founder, Athens Veterinary Surgery Center                                                                                                                                                         

Rob Fezekas, Wealth Adviser, Vickery Financial Services                                                                                                                                                          

Dexter Fisher, Chief of Operations, Clarke County School District                                                                                                                                                          

Jennifer Frum, Vice President for Public Service and Outreach - University of Georgia                                                                            

Patrick Garrard, Attorney                                                                                                                                                         

Kelly Girtz, Athens-Clarke County Mayor                                                                                                                                                         

Tim Johnson, Executive Director, Family Connection-Communities in Schools of Athens                                                                            

Tawana Mattox, Board of Education, CCSD                                                                                                                                                         

Pat Mercardante, First Vice President – Investment Officer, Wells Fargo Advisors                                                                                                                                                         

Edward Perkins, Johnson & Johnson - Retired                                                                                                    

Rod Rutledge, Healthcare Executive, Retired                                                                                                                                                          

Manan Saxena, MBA Board Fellow, University of Georgia                                                                                                                                                            

Kirk Smith, President, The Adsmith                                                                                                                                                         

Lawton Stephens, Judge of Superior Court                                                                                                                                                         

Neil Stevens, President & CEO, Oconee State Bank                                                                                                                                                         

Justin Widener, Research and Development Leader, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health