Extra Special People, Inc. (ESP), a leading organization dedicated to creating transformative experiences for people with disabilities and their families, changing communities for the better, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Craig Portwood, a senior management professional with experience in not-for-profit organizations, as its first Executive Director of Athens in 19 years. He will officially assume the role on January 22nd, 2024. 

Craig Portwood, who brings over 29 years of experience in not-for-profit organizations ranging from secondary education to local churches and higher education, is poised to lead ESP Athens into a new era of growth and impact, overseeing the strategic implementation of ESP’s programs, operations, and fundraising specific to Athens. His expertise, combined with a deep alignment with ESP’s vision of a world where every person, of every ability, in every community has universal access to transformative experiences, makes him an ideal leader for our organization.

“The opportunity to serve as executive director of ESP Athens has been a dream for me,” according to Portwood. “There are so many great initiatives underway with the programs and families, each serving a true purpose in the lives of so many. I look forward to becoming a part of the team that celebrates the participants and their families by recognizing their special abilities.”

Laura Hope Whitaker, formally the Executive Director and now CEO, will remain local but focus her efforts on the organization as a whole, supporting Craig in Athens and the other Executive Directors in Georgia.“ESP has grown into other communities; the time has come for a local leader who can focus on the local mission of our organization. Over the last 19 years, watching the organization grow and evolve has been a gift, now serving over 900 families in Northeast Georgia. Now, it’s time to pass the baton and support this very important work alongside Craig as he takes the helm and nurtures the organization in our Athens community.” 

Portwood currently serves as associate vice president of alumni and main campus operations at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, Georgia. He has also held the director of alumni and community engagement and director of development positions with the college. Other positions Portwood has held include chief operating officer / senior communicator with Northridge Christian Church in Milledgeville and youth pastor of Tomoka Christian Church in Ormond Beach, Florida.

Craig and his wife Dana have been married since 1994. She is the Branch Manager for the local public libraries in Baldwin County as part of the Middle Georgia Regional Library system. They have three adult children, Lindsay (and her husband Griffin), Bailey and Olive.

The official introduction of Craig Portwood will include a series of events and engagements, starting with a social media campaign, followed by a local meet-and-greet event. These will provide opportunities for stakeholders, supporters, and the community to engage directly with the new Executive Director of Athens and learn more about the future direction of ESP.